RAVENNA

Part 2

Bidding good bye to my friend I drove my bicycle to home. It usually takes ten minutes but I take longer route, the road where only three types of people can be scene. One, the visitors which came to visit their relative here. Two the junkies and three, well you'll know after reading further.

I put my bike on stand took out the flowers and head towards the graveyard, yup. This road also has graveyard and morgue. The only question I had when I was kid why they didn't built church near the graveyard? Was God also afraid of the dead? Well, the questions remain unanswered. Every Saturday I put flowers on every graveyard including the ones which doesn't have names hoping that un-named soul would pray for my parents. I don't know where my parents are buried or even, they are buried. I only wish at least they got a place where they remain peacefully.

Upon reaching home, a delicious aroma hit my olfactory cells and that means my gran is home, my grandfather, Bronwen Winston also called wen by his closer ones. He has a small-scale iron factory.

"Nivi, my dear! You came exactly on time." He exclaimed. "Look what I made today."

"Burritos!! Yes!" I inhaled the smell in my nostrils.

"Where's Grammy?"

"In the attic since morning"

"What? Why?"

"Probably making juice to curse her rival in kitty party."

we laughed. Yeah, my Grammy, my grandmother aka Debolina. She is a little jealous type of women. Lately, she is having conflict with one of her long-time rivals, Pauley over which topic, don't know. Rival don't need any topic, do they? when it comes to rivalry, she is total witch. And by a witch means, real one. I remember once I did something un-pleasant to a bully because he said something un-pleasant to me and I ended up beating him "un-pleasantly." So, my Grammy brew a wonderful coffee to his parents which contained an herb to manipulate their memory. Though my gran is a warlock but he doesn't practice, he said I am taking voluntarily retirement from witchcraft. *shrug*

A little later her grandmother came down. joining them on table, she asked

"How was your day?"

"You know same old same old. Howa's yours?" I asked taking a bite of burrito.

"More boring legal things"

My grammy has always been a phenomenal forensic expert. She even made her name in Canada's top ten forensics expert, was offered the job in Washington but she declined. She said I don't want any fame, just little money to provide me a good life.

As we were eating gran and Grammy kept glancing each other like they were speaking with eyes, which didn't go unnoticed by me.

"Okay guys spill it" I ask putting my burrito down.

"What?" Wen asked.

"The thing you guys try'in to say"

"Oh. Um-mm—" he exchanged glances with her again. Sighed. "Go'on tell her!"

"Umm sweety you are gonna complete your high school soon, right? and then you'll gotta go to uni. And remember we told you about the school —"

"Yes, I do! The alma mater of my parents, where only selected people go. And the answer to my all questions"

"Umm yes, yes! So... the thing is we got your letter of acceptation two days ago"

As she finishes her sentence, Nieve just sat there staring into space blankly. she was not shocked. she doesn't know what to feel. Just blank. Just then her gran gets up bringing the letter and forwarding to her.

Slicing the envelope open she pull few brown colored sheets out and started reading.

"Dear Nieve Winston, we at the school of sylvian pleased to inform you that you have been selected at our school. Please find enclosed a list of necessary books and supplies. The term begins on1 July. We eagerly await your arrival. Your sincerely Sybbyl Emberly Headmistress."

She put the letter down only to find two pairs of eyes staring at her intensely.

"what" she asked startled.

"what do you think? You'll?" grammy asked.

"that's not something to be questioned huh" she replied.

Her grandparents yell in excitement, walks around the table and pulled her into squeezing hug.

"I am happy for you" Gran said

"Okay, only ten days are left to my term, don't we have to buy the item?"

'Worry not, your gran has already done this job for you" he winked at me

"Okay then I'll go finish all the works I have here" I say bergrudingly and run to my room.

"But what work? Yo—"

"Shh. Have you forgotten her important works? There only two, her friend and her other friends" grammy say stopping him.

Placing flower on each grave praying for the souls, a woman approached me, but I didn't speak. I was never a social butterfly always kept to small circle.

"I heard ya leavin"

"Uh-huh."

"I always wanted to see ma grandson to go to school, I droppin him to school packin him lunch" he sighed. "I guess wasn't so lucky."

"Is that why you still wandering?"

"Nah! He's got good parents."

"So- why still here? Shouldn't be there, on other side?" I inquired.

Sigh "hmm, I am waitin for my husband. So, I can apologise to him." I look at her with questionable eyes.

"I hurt him. cheated on him. He was always been busy to build us good life given me everythin never said no to me and I on other hand took it as a free pass to everythin—clubbin, gamblin, everythin but he still stood by me until I completely broke him" she sniffed.

"He must be in pain." I said plainly.

"I made his life so hard back then" sniff "I-I couldn't do anything. So, I thought just to make his life easy—"

"By suicide?" I give her done face. "No matter how miserable thing you did he was beside you, all you had to do was ask for forgiveness maybe he would have."

"Maybe" she murmurs after few minutes of silence she say. "Why are you like this?"

"Like what?" I ask in monotone.

"Like being positive every time. I saw you talkin' to other souls. no matter what gruesome sin they committed you never judged them or say harsh words"

Listening to her I simply put last flower on the grave. "Doesn't matter. They are dead anyway. It won't change anything no matter what I say"

I move towards exit, turn to her "about judging. There someone up there" I point to sky "It's his job"

I told you about three kind of people and the third one are souls, not exactly people though.