REBORN

Burning Wood & Moss

The Monaghan's were the type of family that walked barefoot in the summers, grew vegetables in their garden, and soaked up cultures like milestone badges. I wish I could say that I hated them, but living with them was better than what I was born into. In their home - in our house - shouting only happened on Wednesday nights during heated games of charades. I watched with a smirk as John flapped his arms and lifted his legs to his chest.

"Flamingo!" His wife Amy called out. She was the type of woman men would write sad songs about. She carried a wild carefree nature that seemed to solve all of your problems. She cursed like a sailor and always chose whiskey over wine. Still she was delicate - a skill that I could only imagine took years to build up.

"Stork! Stork!"  I looked over at their daughter Birdie. She was the perfect combination of her parents.

I spent the summer tagging along with her to what felt like an endless stream of events. Nights of bonfires, hiking, shopping, and raiding Amy's liquor cabinet. She never had a shortage of friends and was confident enough to force them into silence about me being around. I'm sure they had questions, but Birdie was the type of person who killed negativity with a smile. She introduced me often as sister. A choice which spoke to her color blind ignorance, but still very charming. I equally loved and envied her.

John's lanky hand smacked the red bell that sat on the coffee table.

"We have a winner!" He announced. Birdie jumped up from her seat and joined him in the celebratory Monaghan shuffle. I chuckled at the display while Amy packed another bowl and passed it in my direction.

"It should have been a Flamingo." She winked at me as I took the frog shaped pipe. I laughed a little before filling my lungs with smoke and exhaling slowly.

The Monaghan's introduced me to pot in the same way that they introduced me to charades. It was a regular past time in and in John's words "You're going to smoke it anyway so it might as well be where you're safe."

I passed the frog back to Amy, nestled my knees to my chest, and relaxed into the plush arm chair. Wednesday evening faded into night as Birdie gestured around to the gleeful tune of her parents.

~~~~

"I fucking hate charades." Birdie said as she worked her hair into a long braid. She looked beautiful under the orange hue of my bedroom light. I caught a glimpse of shadow that bounced off the curve of her shoulder and threw my eyes down to the floor.

"You seemed to really enjoy pretending to be a farmer earlier." I teased. Birdie rolled her eyes.

"That's easy to say when you don't have to do it". She wasn't wrong. I never got up during Charade night and I never wanted that to change.

She sighed and flopped down on the bed next to me. I could smell her rose soap and my stomach knotted.  There was an awkward tension that I could only think to cut with sarcasm.

"Your Monaghan shuffle isn't bad either. You're basically a professional dancer."

"Shut up." Amy playfully shoved my shoulder and I instinctually grabbed her hand. Our eyes locked on each other and suddenly the room felt so small. We had one other moment like this earlier in the summer. A night of camping led to an innocent game of truth or dare and for the first time I wasn't introduced as her sister.

"Are you nervous for tomorrow?" Birdie was cute when she tried to make small talk.  I shook my bonnet covered head and slowly toyed with her fingers.

"I don't really care - I mean it's boarding school so I'm sure I'll have enough time to get used to it."

"Yeah it's easy." She tightened her grip.

"Easy." I said in a soft echo.

We grew quiet with each other as we gently laced and unlaced our fingers together. I leaned down and placed three small kisses along her index finger. This was the Birdie that I loved. I had no idea who she would be once we walked through the doors of Arden Academy, but I also didn't care if I found out. I knew all too well that nothing was permanent. My life made it easy for me to detach in that way.

"Calliope?" Birdie looked up at me through her eyelashes. The deep blue of her eyes made my heart jump.

"Yeah?" I asked in a tone that rode on whisper.

"We can." She said with a soft smile.

"I'd like that." I smiled back as we shifted positions. I laid down on my back and held the base of her waist. There was a moment of hesitation as we stared at each other, but this time it was Birdie who broke the tension. Her soft lips met mine and I swore I could smell the scents of burning wood and thick moss.