The Chime of Bluebells

22

"Goddamn..."

"No swearing, Noli," Dad yelled from the kitchen. "How will you become a role model for the children if you do?"

"Blame the parents?"

He poked his head around the corner. "Very funny, miss."

I threw off my raincoat and tried drying my hair with a towel on my way to the kitchen to get a cup of steaming hot newly brewed coffee. Dad's coffee, even, which was the best kind. Everybody were stunned regarding how incredible his coffee tasted, considering him never measuring the beans before the brew.

"Good day?"

I gave him the look.

"Oh no...spill the tea," Dad took a sip from his coffee. "Any boys I need to worry about in between my meetings?"

I rolled my eyes as I poured myself a cup to join him. "Just a lot of running around."

"So...no success then?"

I shook my head, small drops of rain splashing over the table.

"Well, they'll probably find you someone to help soon enough. Wasn't the waiting list long a couple weeks ago?"

"It still is. It's just... I don't have a licence and it's kinda putting some sticks in the wheelhouse you know?"

"Perhaps getting a drivers licence would help...?" He looked at me over the edge of his newspaper.

"Don't go there." I rested my head in palm. "I'm not in the mood to think about more studying right now."

"Not in the mood... If only I could use those words more often."

Funny.

"Just want to have a little more...tranquility, is all," I sighed and plucked out my phone, waiting for Leeza's report for today.

The last couple of weeks, we'd been in contact daily and met up during the short breaks from the SAP. Our schedules were equally as busy, with more than one person to keep company. They hadn't found any in our age to settle us with, so we were as much replaceable as moveable. Leeza had texted me that morning, exciting to tell she was going to meet up with a youth our age and perhaps find a good match. She'd heard this specific person was a troubled case, SAP had a few of those—often children, but was willing to take on a challenge.

Just got back, she wrote.

How was it? 🤩

Short or long version...?

Uh-oh...doesn't sound too well 😬

Current mood: 🫠

Call me!

"Are you heading upstairs?" Dad asked when I rose.

"Yup. Gotta call Leeza."

"Tell her hi from me." He added a frown when nodding towards the hallway. "And can you tell Quinn to do the laundry she was suppose to do yesterday?"

I nodded and sprinted up the stairs as the first ring from the cell was heard.

"Dad says to do the laundry," I yelled as I passed Quinn's room and headed straight for mine while answering: "Hello."

"Hi, everything ok?"

"Yeah, yeah, but I wanna hear all about your day." I shut the door. "Rough?"

"Tell me 'bout it..." she sighed. "This...kid...is getting on my nerves."

I swallowed a chuckle. "Wanna change? I think my mom will be home any minute, if you'd like to—"