The lonely sky

Start- to end

I always loved the stars above the sky, I would go on my roof everyday so I could see them. You might wonder why... Well, it's all because of that boy, the boy who I used to like. He used to teach me that the stars are the eyes of the dead. But some Tswana people believed the stars are spirits unwilling to be born. Other Tswana people believed the spirits are so long dead that they aren't the ones that's our ancestors anymore. He believes that the dead people are the stars, and they are watching us from above.

It goes all back to 1995, I was around 5 at that time. I saw this boy who had long hair. Well I mean it wasn't that long but it was covering up his ears already. He was reading a book called To Kill a Mockingbird. I thought he looked like a nice person, especially with his green eyes.

"Hi, how old are you?"

He started to laugh, and patted me on the head and answered, " 20, 20 years old, what about you?"

I started to count on my fingers and it took quite a while but I still figured out how old I am. " I'm 5! What is your name?"

"Vincent, Vincent Tuffin. Call me Vinny for short, What about you?"

"Ummmmm.... My name is Ottiline, my last name is.... Umm.. Lexington."

He couldn't help laughing, "I live in that purple house, just in case you want to come find me!"

I nodded and walked off, he smiled and shook his head. I then walked back, " what are your favorite flowers?"

"Roses are what I prefer."

"Any color?"

"Red roses."
I continued to question him. I asked him, "When is your birthday?"

"May 12th. Hey, what do you like?"

" Chocolate cake!!!!!"

Before he could say anything else I ran off to my house with a smile. I went home and was really excited. Because I knew that I now had a true friend, a real actual human that is not just some sort of an imaginary friend.

By the time I finished dinner I wanted to walk outside and take a look at the stars. My dad said no unless he comes with me. When we were out there I pointed to the direction where Vinny lived, that purple house. I pulled on my dad's sleeve and I said, "Dad, that is where my friend lives!"

"That is just a 20 year old boy there, what do you mean he is your friend?"

"Daddy, so you know Vinny lives there?"

"How did you know him? You are always stuck with your imaginary friends, like Joe, Charlie and Bob!"

I explained everything to him. He started to smile when he figured out how I got to know Vinny. But he was also happy that I have gotten a friend. I looked at the stars for quite a while, still wondering what exactly they are.

The next morning when I woke up, breakfast was already made. Around the time I was finished with my food, I heard the doorbell ring. As my parents opened the door, Vinny's face blushed super fast. My dad laughed, and asked, "Do you need help with anything?"

Vinny didn't say anything but he handed the cake over to my dad. My dad stood there not understanding what he was trying to say. "This is?"

"I've heard that Ottiline likes Chocolate cake. I am new to this neighborhood, and she has kind of considered me as her friend, I guess."

My dad nodded and said thank you. He closed the door and walked up the stairs. When I saw the cake I got really excited, because I was kind of listening to dad and Vinny's conversation. When I went to go grab the cake my dad took it away from me and set it in the fridge.