The Last Chapter

Bad Poetry

Zephon stayed in bed for a while, staring at the ceiling, stifling a sigh. He sat up, staring off into the distance. Distracted by too many things at once--his father, Onika, Adell, Johnny, and his mother. He felt as if he wouldn't be able to get through the morning due to all the drama. He wished desperately for a way to shut Adell and Johnny out. Somehow, perhaps, if he could do that, things would be better. Then again, he could never do that and nothing would change the fact that his father was sick.

He got up and got dressed for the day, heading down to the library where the king and queen sat happily with a book.

Zephon yawned. "Good morning."

The queen chuckled quietly. "Zephonic, it's noon!"

The king chuckled loudly. "Yes, you slept in."

His eyes widened in shock. "You're sure?"

They both nodded.

"Oh, I must've needed the extra hours." He plopped down on a chair, opening up his journal and took out his new pen. He slapped the words onto the page, deciding to write a poem:

The autumn leaves are red
The winter trees are naked
The spring grass is green
And the summer sun is forever smiling.

Zephon burst out in laughter at the cheesiness of the poem, but it was true. The queen glanced up in amusement, but the king laughed along, finding humor from his burst of happiness. He got up and walked over to his parents, showing them the poem.

She smiled. "Are you going to be a poet?"

He burst out in laughter, once again, but the king interrupted. "This is pretty good."

"Really?"

His father nodded. "Why in the world not?"

He shrugged. "I don't know."

She smiled. "First if you're going to become a poet, you're going to have to act like one."

The king interrupted. "Meaning that you have to behave."

Zephon burst out laughing. "When have I ever misbehaved?" The queen lifted his eyebrows. "That's true..."

He got up to eat "breakfast" although it was noon and sat in the garden. The birds chirped around happily. Onika strolled over towards him. Zephon rolled his eyes.

"How do you know where I am all the time?"

She punched him in the arm. "Are you complaining?"

He hesitated. "Yes- er..." she punched his arm again and they laughed.
~
That night, Onika finished chapter nine and the king fell asleep, knowing that only one chapter was left. She places the book on the bedside table, blowing out the candle and meeting Zephon at the doorway. They stroll outside into the cool July breeze.

Onika took a deep breath. "Zephon?"

He looked at her expectantly. "Yeah?"

She looked down at the grass. "Your dad has been falling asleep earlier than usual," she sighed. "We used to read two chapters and now it's only one chapter or less before he's already asleep."

He sighed, walking through the night. "He's older. He needs his rest, you know?"

Everything was quiet. "I don't think that's it, Zephon."

"What do you think it is, Onika?"

Her bright blue eyes stared into his soul, sadly, and Zephon jumps up in the middle of the night, soaked in sweat and realizes that nothing is wrong and goes back to sleep.