Memories of a Life That Never Happened

Chapter 20 - Greetings

"I'm so sorry," Abel told Mica in a hushed voice.  

She frowned.  

"For this," he explained, rolling a finger in the air to indicate the car.  

His dad's white kombi was crowded. Mr. and Mrs. Gentili had taken the front seat, which left Abel and Mica to share the back with Abel's sister, Gina. On the expanded trunk, Abel's springy chocolate Labrador, Sherlock, barked and drooled all over the floor.  

He shrugged and laughed. "They all insisted to come." 

Mica looked upfront, at his parents. Two people for whom she cared and who cared for her. Two magpies fussing about a party they would not even attend, she thought. That had been her, a few hours ago. 

"I don't mind." She dismissed his apology. "I just can't believe this is real. We're going to the party!" Mica cupped her hands into a fake binoculars, leaned them against the window. She ogled outside. How far were they?  

"Now what do we have here?" Mr. Gentili said as the vehicle crawled into a halt.  

A mile-long row of big, expensive cars lined-up in front of them. Abel craned his neck to assess how much further until they reached the main gate. All he saw through the dusty windscreen were two tidy rows of static red lights. Despite the long line, not one horn honked outside. Rich people were polite, she realized.  

"Is it ok if we pull out here?" Mica asked from the edge of her seat. 

Abel's dad looked at them from the rearview mirror. "Are you sure?" he asked sounding a little disappointed. "We can drive you to the gate. It's close now."  

His wife laid a hand in his arm. "Let them go." 

"But we're so close..." he said. 

"Genaro!"  

Abel's mother gave her husband a mildly disapproving look. 

"Oh, all right then." Genaro swiveled in the seat as Mica and Abel stepped out. "You two take care of each other."  

"Thank you, Aunt Sofia. And thanks for the ride, Uncle Genaro." 

The truth was Mica was relieved she did not have to take the risk of being spotted by Nick Chuster stepping out of a kombi. 

Abel kissed Gina goodbye, then each of his parents before hopping off. 

"Thanks, mom-and dad."  

Mr. Gentili waved a hand through the window. "Anytime."  

"You two have fun," Abel's mom shouted before her son slid the door shut. 

"We will. Happy New Year!" Mica waved goodbye, then headed off to where the line of cars began.  

Two statuesque gatekeepers were standing at each side of the entrance. With military decorum, they stood still and silent, hands folded behind their backs. A fifth one, who seemed otherwise able to move and talk, waved the guests through the iron gates.  

When Mica and Abel approached him, alone and on foot, he must have found them an incongruent duo. He gave them the once-over.  

"Invitations please."  

Mica was quick to produce the tickets and he let them in with a nod.  

Walls of fairy lights and luscious greenery welcomed them to the tunnel. As they went down the walkway, the scent was divine.  

Mica felt her bladder twitch with anticipation. Her hand hooked around Abel's arm and they swapped excited looks.  

At the end of the path, a young woman waited for them. She was wearing a lavish Carnival disguise.