Beyond The Mirror

Chapter 3

Could she have seen a demon or was it all a dream, Mareth thought. The perfect explanation for what she had seen would be that she had perhaps been dreaming. She knew it would be ridiculous to say that she had seen a human figure transformed into a bird. And besides, she believed not in magic. Even when Lilian would read her bedtime stories about magic and fairytales. Mareth got out of bed and went straight to the bathroom. Flora was standing in front of the kitchen stove, making grilled cheese sandwiches. Mareth was out of bed, she thought, with a glance up at the ceiling. She could hear the shower running upstairs. Just few minutes later, there was a clatter of small feet in the inside stairs. Mareth appeared at the kitchen doorway, clad in her jeans and sweater, her hair still damp from the shower. "Good morning aunt Flora." she said. "Morning Mare. Slept well?" Mareth nodded. Having been granted permission, Mareth sat down in front of Ben's old computer and went on checking e-mails. Ron had not called since her arrival in London. She thought perhaps he had sent an e-mail, but then, she thought again, why would he when he could just give them a phone call. But she had to check anyways. It seemed to Flora that children today came into the world already hard-wired for all forms of technology. When she was Mareth's age, she reflected, personal computers were just coming into common use, and things like digital cameras had not even been invented yet. She had listen to CDs and watched movies on VHs and wondered how her parents, not to mention her grandparents and great-grandparents, had gotten by with vinyl records and analog TV. She was considering all this, and keeping one eye on Mareth and the display on the computer monitor, plus chopping vegetables for a salad, when the wall phone jangled. "Hello?" "Flora," Ron's voice responded. " It's Ron." "Oh hello, Ron!" she said, smiling into the mouthpiece of the phone. "Sorry, I meant to call earlier but something came up. How's Mareth?" he asked. "She's doing just fine," Flora answered with a fond glance at Mareth. "How's work?" "Great," Ron replied. "What about Ben?" "Ben helped out with the baby all night and now he's too exhausted to get out of bed." "Allright, do tell him I called." "Definitely." When Flora and Ron finally said goodbye, Mareth, eavesdropping shamelessly, walked into the kitchen and stood before Flora, hands on her hips. "My Dad?" she demanded. Flora nodded. "He wanted to know if you're doing fine." Now that he had called, Mareth thought that going back on checking e-mails on Ben's computer would be a total waste of time. As the week wore on, Mareth spent most of her time in her room. Sometimes when she came downstairs, she would either find Flora busy with Cara or the chores. While Ben would be at work or dealing with some paperwork. The entire week had been a busy one for the couple. "Knock, knock. Mind if I come in?" Mareth looked up and saw Flora standing at the doorway. Flora knew she would find her in her room reading, a habit she developed few days after her arrival. Mareth nodded at her to come in and, placing the book beside herself, she sat comfortably in bed with her back pressing against the wall. "Lunch's ready." said Flora as she entered and sat on the edge of the bed. "What're you reading?" she asked, stretching her arm to pick the book. "Some new Scottish author." Mareth replied. " 'Mythical Land'," Flora read the front page aloud. "I actually very much like the writings of the author. Frightfully good. Back home my room is full of them. I can't seem to get enough of the author's writings." "You don't say," Flora smiled and then kept the book beside Mareth and sat comfortably, facing her. "So, are you excited about starting school here in London?" she asked. "Ron said you can't continue school in Bristol." "That's what he thinks," Mareth scoffed. "I can manage really. I can stay in Bristol while he's at work. I'm eleven now, I'm not a child." Flora burst into laughter on hearing the girl's words. Mareth, on the other hand, frowned for the child did not understand her aunt's sudden reaction. What's so funny? she thought. She watched Flora laughed for about a minute before she eventually stopped and faced her again. "Mare, you're still a child. You can't possibly live alone in Bristol." "And he can't possibly be in two places at the same time." Flora went quiet for a while before she spoke again. "That's right, Mare. And that is why he's sent you here. He knew he cannot be in two places at a time." "But he's always busy with work. Busy, busy, busy!" she said, hitting her palm on the soft mattress. "Being an architect it's not quite easy, Mare. Architecture requires traveling almost all around the world. As we speak Ron's in Rome." "Rome?" Mareth gazed up at her. "He's in Rome?" "He called last night and said he had to fly to Rome. I meant to tell you but you were fast asleep." Flora added, as she saw the child's eyes went wide, a sign that showed she was surprised Ron had called. You should've woken me up, Mareth could not bring herself to say that. Mareth knew that the only reason Flora did not wake her, was she did not want to terminate her sleep. Perhaps, she slept like a baby, she thought. Something Lilian used to say. There was silence. Mareth picked up the book Flora had kept beside her and absent-mindedly glanced through it. Flora could see that Mareth was not paying much attention on the book. She took the book from her and Mareth looked up. "You haven't done anything exciting since you got here. I'm sorry we've been busy for the past couple of days. I want to make it up to you," she placed the book beside her again and held her hands. "Let me take you on a picnic." she said. Mareth stared at her wondering what she expected her to say. "This Saturday," Flora quickly added hoping the girl would at least react. But Mareth remained silent. She looked away from her and down at their hands, it was then that it occurred to her that Flora had been holding her hands. Flora felt somewhat awkward. The child must be crestfallen for having not spoken with her father, she thought. She let go of her hands, picked the book beside her and, placing it on the bedside table, she climbed on to the bed and sat next to her. "Mare," she began, "I'm sorry you couldn't talk to Ron last night. Actually I wanted to wake you up, but Ron stopped me. He said he wasn't saying much except his flight to Rome. You must be sad you haven't spoken to him for days now. But he promised to call when he gets the chance and also visit once he's back from Rome." "He'd promised lots of things that he never did." Mareth said, still avoiding her aunt's eyes. "Things like what?" Flora asked. This time Mareth looked up. "Picnic," she said, "Camping, and few other things I can't recall." "Camping?" Flora sounded almost astonish. "He's never taken you on camping?" Mareth replied with a shake of her head. "Mom couldn't take me either, due to her illness." Another silence followed with Mareth staring at her fingernails. "Oh! Speaking of camping," Flora said suddenly, breaking the renewed silence. "I overheared the florist and the dentist next door discussing about children going on a summer camp. It'll be your first experience. Meet people, make friends." "You want me to associate with different people. In different places?" Mareth asked. Flora nodded. "Ben told me you had no friends in Bristol. But how's that even possible I'd asked him." "Because I'm not quite the approachable type." "Of course you are," Flora smiled. "If you're not we wouldn't be having this conversation, would we?" Mareth went quiet. "So... what do you say?" Mareth replied with a shrug. "All right then," Flora ruffled her hair gently and climbed down the bed. "I'll ask the florist for more details. Come down for lunch when you're ready." When Mareth came down for lunch, she could hear Ben and Flora's voices coming from the kitchen. But with the door closed, it was impossible to make out the words. Mareth pushed the door ajar and entered. "There you are," said Flora, brightly. "You came just in time. I was just telling your uncle about the camping trip." Flora rose and went to the stove for the casserole dish. "You're not bothered by spending your holiday at summer camp? You know, seeing different faces, meeting different people?" Ben asked. "Not at all," Mareth answered, receiving the plate of casserole Flora held towards her. "First experience I was told." "Uh-uh," Mareth replied between mouthful of casserole