Parting Letters

Chapter 10 : The Tree House

The claps and cheers subsided. Once it was almost on the verge of dying Hanah sprinted away speedily as a rushed wind after hastily hugging her family. I would've stopped her but I was distracted by the architecture standing in front of me. I don't know how much time passed. Other surroundings were a blur to me. I kept gazing at the tree house longingly. I couldn't tear my eyes from it. Our space was gone but maybe its essence remained. Maybe that is why the building is pulling me to it.

Uncle Freddie's loud voice jolted me up from my reverie, "Alright folks, I know you had a bad lunch. When I hired this crew I didn't know they would turn out this way. I am sorry. Don't worry though because I already made up for it. I fired the cook and a new lunch has been served. It's pretty delicious and you all will like it I am sure. Please head to the farmhouse beside. You will get your favorites there.", he waved at us, "Somebody get Hanah. I wonder what happened."

Darla volunteered to bring her. I still couldn't wrap my head around Hanah's behavior or what surpassed between those few moments of my absent mindedness. I briskly walk toward the farm house to space myself for a couple of minutes to get back into reality alongside its mood.

There were a lot of items : barbeque fish, prawn and chicken, chicken fry, soup and rice. Uncle Freddie indeed made up for our ominous lunch. The delicious smell and color is already giving off its pleasant vibe. It was much more organized this time. People were flooding in but they were gentle. No adrenaline was talking - you grab the plate one by one and pick the item you want to eat. It was infinite.

My cousins gathered around me ; we planned a table to sit together. I breathed out that I had to sit at the same table as Nolan. I wasn't in the position to digest his death glares even.

Hanah came out standing with us. The color of her skin was all sucked out. We would have been fooled that she was sick if her expressions weren't normal or lighted. She scanned the lunch items and frowned.

"What's wrong?", asked Darla.

"Nothing.....it's just....all meat.", she said.

"So? Is anything wrong with them?"

"No......but I don't eat meat."

Stupidly a silence hung in our circle. I admit I was surprised too but it isn't that big of a deal!

"What do you mean you don't eat meat?", repeated Darla.

"Are you a vegetarian?", I ask. My tone comforts her awkwardness.

"No. I am vegan.", her eyes downcast as she said this. She is embarrassed. I wanted to touch her arm to convey how she shouldn't feel so bad about it. It's no crime.

"Really?!", I was bemused when I saw Nolan verbalize. I assume it's the first time he uttered a word since he has been here.

Hanah looked at him, "Yeah."

She wasn't shocked at his address.

"Since when?", Nolan continued. I wanted to shut him up.

"For two years.", she was uncomfortable.

"Is it because of the animals or for health reasons?", queried Seamus.

What the hell? Is this some sort of interrogation?

Hanah lifted her chin proudly, "For animals obviously. I can't tolerate eating a life to enhance my tastes. It seems illegal to me."

Everyone looked at one another. Our cousins weren't stereotypes or typical unlike the elders. All my years spent with them, I felt comfortable and at ease. But my opinion is about to change based on their puzzled nature. Gradually everyone's face softens.