The Red Doves

Chapter XXI

          Hana Clair. Last time Suziky met her was a week ago, in a store, to talk about life together. Suziky was the one who brought Hana there, with her car, when Alan was at work. They went for a girl moment together and bought some clothes. Hana added some short dresses in the collection she already had, while Suziky was getting some new jeans.

But the last time Suziky saw Hana's sister was the first time she went to her house, which makes at least a month. She remembers the look of the young girl, just staring at her almost all time long. It was almost scary.
When Suziky rang at Hana's door, this one opened right away with that perfect smile of hers.

- Hi Suzy! Come in! Hana said, holding the door open as the other woman entered in.

Suziky took a look at the hall. Last time she came, the carpet on the ground was black. This time, it had a grey shade with some white spots. The long hall had coats and boots against the wall. Soon, these coats would change into vests and shoes. The lights weren't on but Suziky could clearly see where she was going since the weak sunlights was brightening the place.
Hana walked in the next room : the kitchen. The walls were white, like all the rest of the rooms, except for the room of the girls, which had a purple tone. The dinning room had a table with 6 seats. As for the kitchen itself, the counter made of wood was separating the furniture – such as the refrigerator, the oven and the sink – of the dinning table. There were still some rest of the lunch of noon.

- I forgot to clean since Jasminia wanted me to give her the new dress I bought for her last week. You know, the black and white one?

- Yea, I remember, said Suziky, sitting on one of the chair of the dinning room.

- She wanted to put it on before you arrived, continued Hana, cleaning the counter and smiling.

- For me? said Suziky, looking at Hana.

- I don't know, you should I ask her. I can't say if she'll answer or not but you can give it a try.

- Speaking of her, where is this tiny girl? asked Suziky as a joke.

- I think she's in her room. You can go and say "hi" if you want.

- Ok, I'll be right back.

Suziky stood up from her seat and walked to the bedrooms. On the left, the room of Hana and Jasminia's parents was there, and the room of the girls were on the right. Suziky pushed the half-closed door to open it and took a look inside. The purplish wall were still decorated of the drawings of Jasminia. The favorite plush of the young kid, a bunny, was standing on her bed, beside her sister's.
Jasminia, Hana's younger sister of 10 years old, was sitting on the ground with her crayons and her sheet soon covered of black drawings. Like Hana mentioned, she was wearing the short white and black dress they bought last week at the store : it looked like a doll's dress. Her very long black hair were scattered all over the floor as she was now drawing the face of a weird doll with her pale hand.

- Hey Jasminia! said Suziky, which didn't take the attention of the kid away from her drawing.

The young woman sat next to the child and looked at her sheet more closely. Jasminia drew a kind of puppet with strings holding it up. There was also Jasminia's bunny plush, surprisingly realistic, beside the puppet. Both of them had buttons for eyes and stiches for the mouth. Suziky never understood the fun into drawing things like that but it seemed Jasminia was a lot into this.
The young kid kept drawing the tiny legs of the doll while Suziky was just sitting next to her, silent like Jasminia. After signing her name at the bottom of the page like she did with every drawing, Jasminia stood up and walked to the brown desk at the back of the room. After picking some scotch tape, she put the newest drawing on the wall. Then, she turned around and stared into Suziky's eyes. This one had a little shiver.

- How are you today, dear? asked Suziky.

- I'm fine, thank you, answered Jasminia with a cute little smile. But what are you doing here, miss Suziky?

- Your sister wants me to look over you. Do you know if she goes somewhere today?

- Why do you need to look over me? asked Jasminia, ignoring Suziky's last question.

- Well you are still really young and...

- Teiko can look over me, the kid said, making Suziky confused.

- Who?

Jasminia walked to her bed and picked her plush up. She turned back to stare at Suziky's eyes again, holding the bunny tight in her arms.

- Teiko, my friend, she then answered.

- Oh! Your little bunny is called Teiko? asked the young adult before walking closer then sit on Jasminia's bed.

- No, my friend is called Teiko, said Jasminia after sitting on her bed too. My bunny has no name.

- Is Teiko a school friend?

- I don't have friend at school. They all think I'm a weird witch.

- You are not a witch. Why would they think that? asked Suziky softly.

- Teiko is the only friend I have, continued the kid without taking care of answering the question, once again. Teiko follows me all the time and we have funny conversations.

- Will I be able to see him one day?

- He is too shy so he doesn't want to, answered Jasminia with a little voice.

- It's fine. One day, he may accept. I'm not a monster, right?

- Teiko says you are beautiful.

- Aww, that's sweet.

- But he says you look awful and dark deep inside, concluded Jasminia, still staring at Suziky with her light blue eyes.