…We all live in a yellow submarine, yellow submarine, yellow submarine. We all live in a yellow submarine, yellow submarine, yellow submarine….
“Mikey?”
Glancing up from where I was sat on the hideously tacky purple, leather sofa Dad had picked out after he and Mom got divorced, I watched as Destiny slipped into the room.
“Are you okay?” she questioned softly.
Chewing my lower lip I held up the sleeve of the record which was turning slowly on the record player in the corner.
“The Beatles?” Destiny said slowly.
“This was his favorite song.” I mumbled, “This and….”
“Bohemian Rhapsody.” She finished for me.
Smiling sadly I nodded.
Crossing over to the stack of CDs, cassettes and records lying on the coffee table infront of me, Destiny looked them over before reaching out and picking up a Journey album fondly.
“Do you remember this?” she asked.
“How could I not?” I sighed running my fingertips through my hair which was as blue as my mood, “Any Way You Want It.”
“He used to play that.” She sighed sitting down beside me, “And dance around with us in the kitchen.”
“I miss that.” I mumbled leaning over and picking up a picture off of the table on the end of the couch.
It was Mine and Destiny’s first Halloween as siblings. It depicted three year old me dressed as Cookie Monster, two year old Destiny dressed as Elmo and Dad dressed as big bird. Stella who had been eight at the time wore an Oscar the Grouch costume while Noel, who had pitched a fit went as the blonde Power Puff Girl.
“I remember that!” Destiny laughed.
“How?” I cried, “You were two!”
“I don’t know I just do.” She replied with a shrug, “You fell running up a driveway and hit your chin so hard you bit your lip and it bled everywhere.”
“I remember that.” I chuckled, “We went home and then Dad went out and bought five shopping bags full of every kind of candy you could think of.”
“And then we watched Halloween.” She said slowly, “And you cried.”
“I was three!” I laughed elbowing her lightly, “It was a normal reaction, the way you were laughing, I think everyone was sure you’d grow up to be a serial killer.”
Smiling Destiny scooted closer to me and rested her head on my shoulder.
“Remember elementary school?” she sighed, “When he lost his job and was home all day?”
“Oh God.” I groaned, “How could I forget that?”
“And he packed us the same lunch, every day, from first grade through fifth?”
I nodded, “A mixed berry juice box, carrot sticks he never remembered to wash, Oreos and a peanut butter and pickle sandwich.”
“I can’t even look at peanut butter without wanting to hurl.” She admitted.
“Carrots.” I said in way of reply, “They make me gag.”
“Remember!” Destiny laughed, “My six birthday fiasco?”
“Oh God.” I chuckled, “How could I forget that.”
“Who knew other kids weren’t into red velvet guts cake, classic rock bands and eighties movies?”
