Contemplative Sensitivity

The Party

It was December. It was hard for Erwin to believe how fast time flew. It had been five years since they were adopted from Saint Carolina Orphanage and things have changed for the better. Erwin had skipped the fourth grade because he was so smart and he grew about six inches. Cecily had grown tired of trying to maintain her hair, so she cut it off (in solidarity, Desmonia cut off her own hair, much to Harold's surprise) and she dressed more boyish. Mike has gotten tall, and gotten himself acquainted with the piano and can play like no one's business. Levi's art skills have improved and he began to sell his paintings, thus making him a young entrepreneur. His relationship with John and Martha remains the same--tiresone and tense but he enjoys the company of his friends.

"You are gonna be eleven soon," Martha started. The four were at a dinner party hosted by one of John's close friends.

Levi and Erwin were buttoned up with their suit and tie. Levi had ordered a huge steak and was feeding on it when Martha mentioned his up and coming birthday.

"Yes," he said simply.

"Do you want to have a party?" She suggests.

Erwin rolled his eyes discreetlty. John and Martha has been trying to throw Levi a birthday party for the last three years. Levi rejects the idea because he knows it irks John. He has always wanted a normal family yet one of his children is far from ordinary. Levi was his rebellious rebuttal.

"I'll have one," Levi was desperately trying to cut his steak up. His response sounded absentminded. Erwin's eyes widened in surprise and Martha looked as if she had seen the second coming of Jesus. 

"You will??" She asked breathy.

"I want to invite Isabel, Farlan, Hanji and Petra," Levi finally managed to cut his steak and he put it hungrily in his mouth.

About two years ago, Cecily had spilled the beans that she and Mike visited the orphanage every three months to see the Headmaster and the others. Levi demanded to do the same and that didn't sit too well with John who had accused him of being ungrateful. Even though the Browns allowed them to accompany the Dwyers to the orphanage, that drove a bigger wedge between John and Levi. Of course, Erwin had longed to visit the place where he was reared but he hadn't approached the Browns like Levi had.

The memory starts to unfold in Erwin's mind, but before he could replay it, Levi's voice pulled him from his thoughts.

"--then I won't have a party," Levi said adamantly.

"But your father won't be pleased," Martha rubbed her hand to her temple in tiredness. "Why can't you just invite Isabel and Farlan?"

"No party," Levi glared at Martha.

"I think the Headmaster would love to come," Erwin brought up tenderly. "It is rare for her to have any contact with the adopted. It'd be nice."

"Stay out of this Erwin," Levi commanded. "Hanji and that Petra brat are my friends and I want them there. Its about me--it'd be my party. I should have a say."

Martha swore underneath her breath. "John is going to think you're incorrigible, Levi."

"Perhaps I am," Levi shrugged, "but that's my guest list."

"I'll ask your father," Martha began stabbing at her chicken Alfredo.

Over the years, Martha softened to the idea that the children had found memories at the Orphanage . She could understand why her boys would want to visit Saint Carolina, but it made John furious. He couldn't understand why the boys craved nostalgia. At the orphanage, Erwin and Levi were kids with unanswered questions. In John's eyes, their future was much more promising if they stopped visiting the past.