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Part 62
Craig smiled as he put the finishing touches on his work. He wheeled back from the canvas and put the brush in its tray, before turning around and raising his hands. Okay? he fingerspelled.
Becky moved to look at the work. Her jaw dropped in awe... it was a painting of a beautiful pastoral scene, complete with a shepherdess who looked astonishingly like her! This is beautiful! she signed. I didn't know you could paint!
He shrugged and spoke, since his signing was still very slow. "I can do lots of things," he said. "Just kept it hid so long..."
But never again, he thought. Never again will we be locked away. It's our time to shine, Brice. Your orderly little world will be turned upside down once our talents come out. You've been in control long enough. Now it's OUR turn.
"Why'd you keep it hidden?" she asked.
He beamed, proud of his ability to read lips. Brice couldn't, he knew. But CRAIG could. "Because for years I thought being perfect was the way to go. It would seem I was in grave error."
Becky laughed, then sighed. I have to go, she signed. I'll come for supper.
Bye, Becky, he signed. As she left, he sighed and whispered, "I love you."
After swiftly cleaning his brushes, he closed his eyes and thought, Okay, who wants to play awhile?
You won't get away with this, Brice hissed mentally. All you want is revenge!
No, Stick, Craig countered. All we want is to live. You denied us that chance for years. Now we're here, and we're gonna stay here. Who's next?
ME! came an irrepressible cry. Me, let me play awhile!
A nod and then, slowly, a charming if somewhat impish smile crossed the multiple's lips. Wide eyes opened and a hand reached to remove glasses which this personality didn't need. He grinned as the sounds of the hospital reached suddenly-hearing ears. Craig and Brice were limited by the body's deafness. This one compensated, though the paralysis was the one limitation all of them shared.
Disengaging the brake, the blonde wheeled to the elevator and off the floor, heading two floors up to where a kindred spirit rested.
"Rise and shine!" he called as he wheeled into the room. "It's a beautiful day, time to play!"
John blinked and turned his head slightly. He'd just been returned to his room after agreeing to be godfather to one of Dixie's twins, and Roy had gone to the cafeteria. "....who?"
"Name's CB," he said, wheeling over and taking John's hand. "And you're John Gage."
Again, John blinked, confusion written all over his face. "I....do I know you?"
"In a way," he chuckled.
John listened closely. The voice was familiar, almost like Brice's...if Brice would ever let go and have fun. This man was obviously enjoying himself, and it showed. He allowed himself a smile. "Well, CB, nice to meet you. You seem to have me at a disadvantage."
"Don't worry about it, you know my twin brother." The imp in CB could NOT resist this! "He's recently a paraplege himself. Think he worked with you. We're about as different as night and day."
"Yeah? Who's your twin?"
"Craig Brice."
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