Big Sky Chronicles

Chapter 3: Daybreak in Spring

June 21st 5:37 PM Central Time. Arthur lies awake in his bed. His solemn anticipation of the Summer Solstice has finally reached its conclusion. He hated this day with all of his heart. Each year, all he remembers is the shrieking screams of his mother as two inquisitors sit at their doorstep and inform her that their father is dead. Arthur was too young to cry, or even remember what their dad looked like. But the screaming resonated in his head for years after.

Arthur always did his best to console his mother. He knew the pain she was going through somehow. Despite Paul's lack of empathy, Arthur did his best to make sure his mother knew he was there for her. So every year he works extra hours for a small amount of change to buy his mother something nice. This year it was a scarf. With energy prices rising, sometimes the heat is shut off in the winter. So Arthur thought a scarf would be an absolutely perfect gift for his mother. The scarf was midnight black with a blue seam. Blue was his mothers favorite color.

He rolled out of bed, grabbed the scarf from his closet and marched downstairs. He found Paul and Ramsey sitting around the table eating supper as usual. Arthur took supper off today to conserve rations, but was disappointed to see that Ramsey was eating two servings.

"Ramsey, you're a fat pig." Arthur said as his stomach rumbled. Ramsey smiled back at him. The same conniving grin he gives everyone when he eats their food.

"Arthur... don't worry! We all will be eating our fill soon. Go grab a ration. Eat up!" Arthur wasn't sure what he meant but brushed it off and called for his mother. She was sitting in the study room. Likely looking at pictures of dad. She quietly walked in with tears streaming down her eyes.

"Mom! I got you something!" Arthur said with an over exaggerated enthusiasm. Arthur pulled out the scarf from behind his back and handed it to his Mother. And just like every other year, her expression stayed the same. No matter how many gifts Arthur gave his mother, she still had the same dead eyes.

"Thank you Arthur... Love ya." She said back while wrapping the scarf around her neck. It was the same response that she gave Arthur each and every year. Paul was always disgusted by this. He knew how hard Arthur worked to make sure she got a present each year, and it was always the same outcome. Paul stood up, fuming with anger.

"You know mom... maybe show just a little more gratitude. Arthur works really hard each year for those presents." Paul said, trying to contain his rage. Mother looked at Paul with her soulless eyes and then back at Arthur. She managed to put together an obviously forced grin.

"Paul, it's fine... Please don't make this a whole thing, ok?" Arthur chirped back at Paul. But Paul was reaching his breaking point.

"No... No, no, no. She doesn't understand Arthur. Don't you get it? She could care less whether or not you got her a gift. When was the last time she went to work extra to buy her own children a gift? Never. And despite all of that, you find it in your heart to give your mother a scarf on the solstice when she doesn't even know we exist! I mean... I don't even remember the last time we had a genuine conversation—" Paul stopped abruptly when Ramsey smacked him on his arm. Mother was sobbing, holding onto her scarf like it was a precious jewel. Paul instantly felt regret. Arthur looked at him with sadness in his eyes and then went over to walk their mother back into the study. Paul sat silently at the table, he lost his appetite so he decided he would give the rest to Arthur. Ramsey finally broke the silence.

"You needed to get that off your chest... You could have worded it better by all means... but that was important. So can you promise me something, Paul?" Ramsey said with sobering intensity. Paul looked at him with anticipation. "Don't go back in time and take those words back." Paul looked shocked at what Ramsey had just said, they haven't spoken about the fourth dimension in weeks.