Charlie rises, leaning his weight on a cane. “What have you learned, children?” This is a classic Cobalt word game. What have you learned, children? Whoever asks this directs the game to those younger than them. Beckett is next in age and supposed to pick a line of poetry, the others will then add to his opening line. He stares at the table. “I’m not playing.” Eliot rises. “It was all decaying.” Tom leans back. “I can feel us fraying.” Ben opens his mouth to finish the poem. His eyes start filling with tears. And he buckles forward and cries into his palms.
