Bee and the Boy

Chapter Three

I gaze out the vardo wagon window, thinking about Skater and what he did when my thoughts are interrupted by the woman handing me a cup of tea. I take it with a smile and a nod as I take a sip, grateful for the distraction. She holds up five fingers to me before stepping outside.

The wagon bumps along as we head down into a rocky patch among the grass. So much, that I don't hear or feel the thump on the roof.

We stop for the night. I take my spot on the floor as I stare up at the ceiling, trying to clear my thoughts.

After half an hour, I toss off my blanket and head out into the night.

As the coldness begins to clear my head, I pick up a stone, turning it thrice in hand before throwing it into the pond. Suddenly, I feel two hands hook under my armpits, and I'm lifted into the air. As I'm set down on the roof, I know exactly who it is.

"I told you I never wanted to see you again." I refuse to face him.

"Can you let me explain?" Skater pleads.

"Oh, what? Explain how you gave me hope that my parents were alive?"

"It was a lot, I..."

"No." I finally turn to face him. "Nothing you can say will ever be good enough. Don't you get it, I hate you."

"You don't mean that."

I punch him in the face to show him that I mean it. "Get the hell away from me." I climb down the wagon and lock myself in. I throw the blanket over myself as I cry myself to sleep.

~

The next day, I help set up breakfast outside. I listen as the woman and her husband talk about how they met. It reminds me too much of my dads' story, so I look up to the sky. And I see that Skater is still on the roof of the caravan. He gives me a small wave. Knowing I won't be able to get rid of him, I choose to ignore him. His shoulders drop as he pulls himself out of view. I thank the stars as I'm called to breakfast.

On the move again we sing a little ditty as the wagon bumps along the bumpy dirt road. The wagon pulls to a stop. The man opens the door for me as I step out.

"Welcome to our home."

Outside is filled with tents and animal cages, and food stands that waft a sweet aroma throughout the air. "Wow." is all I can think to say from witness to the marvel of it all. I'm lead on a tour of the circus, ending with being handed a tent kit. I unpack the materials as I puzzle over the metal rods.

"They never were much help." A female voice sounds out from behind me.

"Yeah. I never pitched a tent before." I attempt to attach the two poles in my hands before they slip out of my grasp. They hit the ground with a clang as my cheeks redden.

The girl picks them up. "Let me help." She gets to work on my tent before I even have a chance to object.

"Thanks." 

The girl slides a pole into the tarp holes. "By the way, my name's Marina. Marina Berry."

I blush with jealousy over her name. "Beatrix," I say in response to her.

After successfully setting up the tent (Marina did most of the work). we get to talking. I tell her all about Alex, and my dads. And lastly, Skater, and how he lied to me. Marina nods as she tells me that she lost both her parents many years ago. 

"No one tells you just how hard it is." I pull up my knees to my chest. "At least if they only abandoned me, there would still be the chance that I would see them again, someday."

Unexpectedly, she hugs me then and there, and it feels like I belong somewhere. So I hug her back.

The moment breaks when Skater flies down and lands in front of us.