The garden’s doors open once more…
A young man in a multi-color sweater enters with an entourage of illustrations fading in and out of sight around him. The images change with each step he takes, seemingly with no connection or through-line.
His brief freeze noticing the others turns into excitement once he sees...
“Uncle Vy!” He grins and throws his arms around Vy. “You’re finally back!”
Vy smiles, letting his nephew’s joy influence his own mood. This kind of emotion, he can afford, and honestly needs. “Hey, Art. Keeping out of trouble, kiddo?”
Art nods. “Yep! I mean, I work in the art department. You know how quiet it is there. Hugo’s been causing more trouble than me.”
“Oh, I bet. Your parents say hi, by the way. Said for you to visit them more often.”
Art wrinkles his nose and scoffs indignantly. “I’ll visit them when I can get a ride there. I’m not riding my bike all the way to the next town over just to see them. Besides, Helen and Shawn visit Grandpa Hector all the time, so they should visit me too...”
Roman lights up. “Grandpa Hector? You’re Hector’s grandson?”