What's in the Box

What’s in the Box

“Ulias!” the older man shouted. “Where’s the toys your mother and I got you? Did you take them apart?” he looked under the bed and then in the closet. One of his eyebrows shot up to see all the cars, dinosaurs and action figures all in their containers, neatly organized how his wife arranged them. “What the…?”

Ulias walked in just then, whispering quietly into a small, brown paper box he was carrying around. He stopped upon sensing his father stare at him. “Uh...why are you in my room?”

“Because you’re six and I’m your landlord meaning I can go where I please,” he pulled down one of the plastic containers and set it on the bed. “You’ve been begging me for almost eight months every morning to get you these,” he nodded to the dinosaurs. “I haven’t seen you play with them once. What gives?”

The boy laid a finger on his chin and pursed his lips. “Well. I played with them for one day and they made laugh at me so I don’t play with them anymore.”

His father paused for a second as he translated his son’s words.

“You’re saying because your toys made fun of you, you’re not going to play with them anymore?” he removed the lid.

Ulias nodded.

The older man dug through the small plethora of ancient reptiles. “Who started it? Was it the raptors or the brachiosaurus?”

“The raptors.”

“Okay. They can go on the top shelf if they’re--”

“No, wait. I like the raptors. It’s fine. I don’t care anymore.”

“You sure?” the dad asked. “They’ll never learn if there’s no consequences for their actions.”

Ulias shrugged. “They’ve been grounded since I got them. I think they’ll be okay from here on out.”

His father nodded. He placed the raptors back in the bin and pointed to the brown paper box. “What’s in the box?”

Ulias averted his gaze and looked out the window. “It sure is a lovely day to go for a walk.”

“It’s night time Ulias.”

The boy nodded. “You are correct. You passed the test.”

His father began to reach forward for the box.

Ulias pulled it away. “Wait wait wait. Wait. I need to tell you something first.”

His father folded his arms. “And what would that be?”

“You remember the time when I saw that dog with the spots by the church on our way home from that place where we ate the bread?”

The older man looked bewildered. “I don’t...what?”

“Remember when we went to the place with the guy with the cowboy hat on the door, with the suit lady,” the boy’s eyes were open a little wider than normal, as though he couldn’t make himself any clearer. “Remember--”

“Is there an animal in the box?” his father demanded, cutting him off.

“Like...one that’s alive?” the boy asked.

His father closed his eyes and shook his head. “Ulias, is a creature of some kind inside the box?”

“Daddy, I’m not allowed to have animals until I’m eight.”

His father stared at him in silence. “Boy. You are damaging my calm.”

“I don’t know what that is.”

“Give me the box.” his father said. “Now.”

“Wait, you have to see this.” Ulias lifted the box sliding his hand underneath. He held it up and said, “Okay you can open it now.”

The father narrowed his eyes at his son, his hand going to the lid. He flipped it open to reveal a hand with two eyes drawn onto the knuckles of a small hand.

In a strange voice his son said as he opened and closed his hand, “Hello stinky, what do you want?”

The boy’s father massaged his temples. “Who might you be?”

“I am Sharpee, named after the magical stick who gave me sight.” Ulias replied through his hand in the strange voice.

His dad looked up. “Wait. What?”

“I have to go now.” Ulias shut the box. “Dad he’s tired and needs his sleep.”

The older man opened his mouth as though he was going to say something but then stopped.

“Are you mad?” Ulias asked.

“What?” his dad asked, confused. “No. Not at all. Just thinking.”

“Can I keep him?” Ulias asked. “Sharpee is my best friend. I told him you’re the best daddy ever. Please?”

His father looked up to the ceiling and shook his head. “I don’t...sure Ulias that’s fine. It’s not weird at all that your best friend is a hand in a box.”

Ulias got into bed. “I know. Goodnight daddy.”

His father kissed him on the forehead. “Goodnight buddy.”

Just before his dad left the room, Ulias said, “You wanna kiss Sharpee goodnight?”

Ulias’ dad turned around to see the hand staring at him. In the weird voice, the hand said, “Gimme a kiss stinky!”

The man stared at the hand for a bit and then left the room without a word.