The Real Heroes | ☆

007| Clouds

October 25th, Year 42, 10 years ago

Blue sheets, blue pillow cases, a fluffy blue comforter. A fluffy cloud-shaped pillow next to a bird stuffed animal. A bookshelf in the corner, next to a worn-out bean bag that was missing a few too many beans. An open toy box next to the book shelf was filled over the brim with all sorts of toys, from teddy bears to action figures to remote-control trucks. The curtains were open, the morning light seeping into the room and reflecting across the home-made sun catchers I had painted with Grandma and Mom not too long ago. Plastic glow-in-the-dark stars were randomly placed around the ceiling, their glow non-existent in the light. The carpet showed no signs of the Legos that had once been littered across it just a few hours ago.

I shoved the last pile of clothing under the bed hastily, just in time for a light knocking on my door. The door opened and my grandmother peered inside. She beamed at me, her eyes sparkling.

"Min! Your room looks amazing!"

I nodded, proud of myself for cleaning my own room. I had even tried tying my own shoes and dressing myself. My pajamas hung over the side of my laundry basket behind me. My shirt was on backwards and my shoes on the wrong feet, but I had been too excited to notice. Grandma only chuckled at me. I was rather energetic for eleven in the morning, at least to my mother, who was walking around the kitchen with an oven mitt and an apron, going back and forth between the stove and stirring a bowl on the counter.

Grandma nodded in approval at my bedroom, ruffling my hair and complimenting my outfit. She called me handsome, and I grinned. There was something about being complimented by Grandma that always made me so happy.

"Min! Come here, honey! I've made a snack for you!"

I laughed as I stumbled over to my mom, her back bent slightly as she grinned, holding a plate. She placed it down on the table and I scrambled to get into the seat even if it was taller than I was. I blew the chair over by accident with a sudden burst of wind, still unable to control my newly developed ability.

It had been exactly eight days now since the first time my ability started showing up. I was excited about it, especially since most of the other kids at school had already started being able to use theirs. I thought my power was pretty cool. It went well with Mom's power of weather manipulation, so I knew I got it from her.

The gust blew through the kitchen and swiped my mom's hair over her shoulder as she set the plate of fruit down on the table. She picked up the chair and helped me into it.

"You've got to start being careful about that power of yours, my little Levanter." she laughed as I grinned up at her. "What would happen if I suddenly started making it rain in here every day, huh?"

I shook my head. "But you wouldn't, mama! Everything would get all wet,"

"Exactly," she ruffled my hair, messing up what Grandma had already messed up before. "And if you keep blowing everything over, then the house will be all messy and we'll have to start over cleaning again. So, Min, my mission for you is simple: Don't mess up the house before your friends come, okay?"

I nodded seriously, giggling as our cat jumped up into my lap. She was a Maine Coon and significantly larger now than when we had first gotten her. My grandma had named her Cassiopeia, after a constellation. It was her favorite constellation, and she had tons of little trinkets with it drawn on it. I could hardly pronounce her name though, so I mainly just called her 'cat.' It's a very creative nickname, I know. She purred as she nuzzled her nose against my stomach.

I grabbed a chunk of watermelon from the plate in front of me with my bare hands before being scolded by grandma and handed a fork for 'proper eating,' since I was apparently a grown boy now and needed to be more of a gentleman.