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“How come Uncle Sunny’s not here?” Rook dipped a piece of newspaper into the glue before dragging it to the balloon that would support his paper mache sculpture until it was dry. “Doesn’t he like this kind of stuff?”
“Yeah, he does like art projects.” Sideswipe dipped his own newspaper into the glue and started wrapping it around his wire frame. “But there’s a lot of people here, and he doesn’t do good with crowds.”
Rook’s forehead creased as he frowned. “But he goes to the cafe all the time!”
“Yeah, but he doesn’t stay very long, or he only comes when we’re slow. He might stay longer when he’s having a really good day, but its still hard for him.”
“Oh. How come?”
“He’s always been that way. I like a good party, or a busy cafe, and Sunny likes the quiet and being as far away from people as possible.” Sideswipe reached for another piece of newspaper and considered his next words for a moment. “When we were younger, he said it was like being sucked dry when he was in a crowd, even if it was a bunch of people he liked. It’s fun for a little bit, but he gets tired real fast after that.”
“Is that why he had to leave Glyph’s birthday party early?”
“Yeah, it is.”
Rook nodded. “I think maybe Glyph might be like that, too. And mama.”
Sideswipe nodded. “You might be right, though your sister does better in crowds than my brother. But they’d both rather sit down with a book and a cup of cocoa.”
“Do you think Uncle Sunny would like it if we brought back the stuff for him to make his sculpture? The paper sculptures are kinda important for the spring festival.”
“I don’t know if he was planning to make one, but if you want to text him and ask, I think that would be fine. But wash your hands first.”
“With soap, I promise.”
They both laughed, remembering a past festival where he hadn’t been so smart about it and ruined Cosmos’ phone by getting glue in the buttons. “If he says no, though, don’t–”
“Don’t beg, I know.” Rook sighed. “I’m not a baby anymore, Uncle Sideswipe.”
“I know, kiddo.” Sideswipe smiled, and he hoped that Rook could see his pride in it. “Believe me, I know.”