Gastone Scheletro made his way down the grey stoney pathway connecting the little house on the hill to the rest of the Cristallo. Gastone enjoyed the walk, as it helped him clear his mind of the worries he held for Mr. Nick-Nack. The young apprentice looked down at his feet, as he couldn’t help but wonder if the man he looked after for so many years had much time left. Mr. Nick-Nack was a man of about eighty, unable to move on his own, no clear purpose in his eyes, and hobbled away the days in mourning. Gastone was a boy of only five when Mrs. Nick-Nack died, but he remembers the day as if it was just yesterday. He remembers her lead-lined coffin being carted around the cobble streets of the town, with mourners holding candles, lighting up the dark roads. He remembers Mr.Nick-Nack had to be physically pulled off the open-casket at the funeral, crying in great pain. Seeing the widower in such pain is what made Gastone want to work for him in the first place, to show Mr. Nick-Nack that he still had someone on Earth that cared for him.


    Gastone shook his head, breaking his daydream as he looked around him. The streetlamps were being lit by a man in an old coat, a mother was holding her newborn and trying to take control of her toddler, and an elderly man was sitting on a bench with his cat. Many of the houses looked similar, standing side-by-side, made of plaster and bricks, with almost every window having a small balcony attached. The once-white plaster walls were now various shades of yellow due to age, and the once bright orange rooftops were now a mud-brown. Gastone sighed as he looked around the mellowing settlement. He knew he didn’t want to stay in Cristallo forever, but he had a duty he was happy with upholding to Mr. Nick-Nack.


    Gastone finally made his way onto 4 Jasper Blvd, the home he shared with his parents and brothers. Gastone looked up at the abode, admiring it. The home was made of an imposing brick, with cream-coloured windowsills, and a mahogany door to welcome visitors. Gastone quickly hopped up the stairs, turning the bronze key into the keyhole until he heard the familiar click. Upon opening the door, Gastone was greeted with the comforting sound of a piano, his mother was home.


    “Mum?” Gastone asked as he took off his boots and coat,” I just got home!”


    “I’m in the den!” A soft voice answered, “your father and brothers won’t be home for a while longer!”


    The young man walked up the grand hallway, its walls drowning in the portraits of generations past, and made his way into the den. His mother, Arielle, was sitting at the deep red piano, her long fingers dancing on the keys. When she turned to face her youngest son, Arielle gave off a soft smile.


    “How is Mr. Nick-Nack doing?” Arielle asked as she poured her son a cup of tea, “did he like the roses?”


    Gastone nodded his head in thanks, taking a sip of tea and making a large gulp, “He said he’s very thankful, said it brightened up his shop.


    “Has he been moving a lot?” Arielle asked.


    “Actually, today-“Gastone quickly caught his tongue. He knew he promised Mr. Nick-Nack he wouldn’t tell anyone about how the elderly master was acting today. Perhaps it was better if his mother didn’t know, at least until Mr. Nick-Nack said so.


    “Actually, today he…. walked around his living room more than usual.” Gastone replied, unsure in his words.


    “Oh, that’s wonderful!” Arielle remarked, “Poor man has been bearing so many crosses, I thought he would never leave his armchair.”


    Arielle took a sip of her tea before looking back at her son, curiosity in her eyes.


    “Have you…thought about applying to King Victor University?”, Arielle inquired.


    Gastone gagged on the tea he was drinking, wiping the drops from his mouth.


    “Mum, we’ve had this conversation before,” Gastone remarked, “I promised Nick-Nack I would be there to support him. I can’t leave, not when his health is failing the man.”


    Arielle put her teacup down, the soft smile on her face slowly melting into a stern and worried expression.


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    “This may sound harsh, my flower,” Arielle began, “but Mr. Nick-Nack’s poor health is why I am asking. The man refused to see doctors for years, he is incapacitated with grief, his story is sadly coming to an end.”


    Gastone looked down into his teacup, his image staring straight back at him, what his mother was saying was true. He knew he had to think about his future, his education, maybe finding a suitable woman and settling down. His older brothers, aged thirty-two and twenty-eight, had already finished their education and were moving to the capital. Sergio, the eldest, was going to medical school and the second eldest, Piero, was training to be in the royal guard. That left Gastone, twenty-five with no romantic or economic prospects.


    Arielle placed her hand on her son’s arm, giving him a soft smile. Gastone looked at her hand, not making eye contact.


    “It’s not too late,” suggested Arielle, “King Victor’s is still taking applications for the autumn semester.”


    Suddenly, the door opened, and Guglielmo entered the room. He bore a strong resemblance to his youngest son, but was thinner, with grey hair and soft hazel eyes. Arielle stood up from her chair, giving her husband a light peck on his cheek as she helped him remove his coat.


    “Hello, dear, “Arielle beamed, “How was the lab work today?”


    Guglielmo let out a deep sigh as he lit his cigarette and took a puff before removing his hat.


    “Oh, my Arielle,” The tired man began, “I haven’t seen a person this stupid since one of my students used the burners to burn his paper.”


    Arielle stroked her husband’s back, turning her attention away from her youngest boy and guided him to the velvet couch. She rubbed his right hand as his left held his cigarette.


    “This new student is testing my patience,” Guglielmo snapped, “This new apprentice we took in has no idea what she is doing! She interrupts the other apprentices, we’ve caught her eating sweets by the chemical storage, and she is the very definition of annoyance.”


    Gastone looked down as his father ranted, this wasn’t the first time an arrogant student had given his father a migraine. Arielle gripped her husband’s hand, hoping to soothe him as his breathing grew heavier. Guglielmo took a deep breath and a puff of his cigarette before finally noticing his son.


    “Ah, Gastone,” Guglielmo remarked, “I hope your day was better than mine was.”


    Gastone left out a soft sight as he placed his cup of tea on a nearby side-table, dusting himself off.


    “It was…,” Gastone whispered, “the same day as usual.”


    Guglielmo chuckled as he took another puff, before putting it out in the well-utilised ashtray.


    ‘Did you meet any girls while walking through town today?” The father asked his son, whose expression soured.


    “No,” Gastone retorted. “I haven’t, Father.”


    “I’m nearing fifty-seven,” Guglielmo signed, unsurprised, “I’d like at least one of my three sons to settle down and have at least one grandchild to spoil before the reaper comes knocking for these knotty old bones.”


    Gastone sprung up like a Jack-in-the-box from his seat, spilling some tea on his sweater, his right eyebrow twitching.


    “Excuse me,” Gastone stated, teeth clenched, “I suddenly remembered that I have to finish something for Mr. Nick- Nack.”


    Gastone silently but firmly placed his teacup back onto the silver tray, then hurrying out the door with a thunderous behind him.


    Arielle looked at the door before giving her husband a slightly annoyed look.


    “What?” Guglielmo asked, with a snicker on his lips, “My father told me the same thing and that’s how I ended up with you, darling.”


    Gastone hurried to his bedroom, the dark walls decorated with posters and news clippings of scientists, engineers, and inventors from the major cities. He sat at his desk, turning on the lamp and massaging his temples. He had just about enough of everyone telling him how to spend his time. He knew he came from a family of geniuses, but did not need to be reminded every five minutes.


    Then, Gastone started thinking. He did wish that he had someone to care for, look after, provide for, but he didn’t have time for anything romantic between taking care of Mr, Nick-Nack and helping his parents, so he never gave the idea much thought before. It wouldn’t be fair to any girl he met if he wasn’t able to spend time with her. Gastone sighed and looked up at the window, the moonlight dancing on his pale skin.  He looked down at the cobblestone streets to see a young man giving a small bouquet of flowers to a young woman. Gastone smiled at the gesture.


    Suddenly a soft knock at the door filled the emptiness of the room, Gastone plopped his head on his arms, just wanting to be left alone.


    The door opened with a creak, and Arielle walked into the deeply lit bedroom of her youngest son. She placed a hand on his boney shoulder and gave him a light kiss on the top of his head.


    “I know, Gastone”, Arielle spoke tenderly, “that you promised to look after Nick-Nack. However, there’s a whole world outside of that workshop that you’re not exploring.”


    Arielle placed a flyer by her son’s notebooks, her blue sleeve gracing the top of his head, before turning on her heel and walking back to the door. She opened it, the door once again giving a soft creak.


    “At least think about it,” Arielle pleaded, her eyes flooded with worry, “for your sake.” Arielle closed the door behind her, the click-clacks of her heels slowly dimming as she walked away.


    Gastone looked up from his arm, and took a glance at the flyer. It was for King Victor’s University, one of the most prestigious schools in the entire country. The flyer had the phrase, “Forming the future, today!” written in large golden letters. This was the school Gastone’s father had studied at years ago and where his parents had originally met. He looked at the bottom of the crinkled flyer, “Admissions for the new semester open July 12th, 1876!” Gastone looked at his calendar to the left of his desk, the date read: March 4th, 1876.


    Gastone sighed, and began tinkering with the old music box from his childhood on his desk. His father would play the music box to Gastone when he was young, a way to combat the monsters that only seemed to appear when the night came. Before long, a sombre tune began playing from the music box, causing Gastone to smile. He looked up from his window, to see a bright star in the sky.


    Placing the active music box down, Gastone closed his eyes and firmly placed his hands together.


    “Please,” Gastone whispered, “help me find my way in life.”


    The young man opened his eyes to see a cloud covering the star, leading Gastone  to shake his head. He then got up out of his rather uncomfortable chair. He moved to his bed, spread his arms wide, and fell onto his back. He wasn’t sure what to do with his life exactly. So much was expected of him, but he had so little time. Gastone closed his eyes, music box still going, and hoped tomorrow would be a better day.