Eternal Ember

Chapter 4: On A Positive Note . . .

Day 1 - Days Left 4

I wake to a boom which is not what I normally wake up to on a Sunday morning. At first, I think that I'm just dreaming vividly, but then I hear it again. I wipe my eyes lightly with the heels of my hands to wake myself up a bit more. I feel tears on my face. Why are there tears on my face? I realize that I must have been crying while I dreamed. As a third boom goes off I sit up straight. "What do you think that sound was?" I ask my very alert dog. His ears are twitching left and right as he tries to figure out what the sound is and where it is coming from. I swing my legs over the side of my bed, get out of bed, and make my bed. Then I walk over to my dresser, grab my brush, and brush my hair trying to undo and unknot my braid from the other day, deciding to just leave it down. I look a little more presentable, although I am still in the same outfit as yesterday. I end up looking pretty decent. "What do you say to us going downstairs to find out what that sound was?" Jax gives a low puppy growl as another boom goes off. He walks over to the door and paws at it wanting to investigate the sound.

As we get close to the kitchen I hear Noah lightly cursing under his breath.

"Good morning Noah. What are you all peeved about?" I say in a sweet tone that suggests I have not heard anything.

He gives me a big look of annoyance then rolls his eyes clearly onto my trick of voice.

"Well, I was trying to make breakfast, which was going to be cinnamon rolls for you and Mom. But the blasted oven broke again!"

I step in shock as he yells the last words at me, he hardly ever yells at me. He takes a deep breath to calm his tone.

"Sorry I didn't mean to yell at you like that it's just," He sighs, "I feel really stressed right now. You know why don't you?"

I nod my head, yes, stepping a little closer. I leave the unspoken words unspoken. As he opens his mouth to speak we hear Mom coming down the steps.

"What is going on down here kids?" Mom asks us when she gets to our kitchen.

Noah and I both look at each nod our heads then say at the same time, "Picnic Day!"

Our mom chuckles and then says, "So the oven is broken again?" We both nod our heads and Mom laughs again.

As Noah and Mom start to gather and make some food for our picnic day. I start to walk in the direction of the second-floor steps saying that I will go get the picnic basket and blanket. I also decided to change my outfit which is now my dark forest green t-shirt, a fresh pair of black leggings, and a fresh pair of socks. I also grab my new hunting bag from Luke and Jax's leash. I stuff the leash in my bag. Then I go to the hall closet and grab the picnic blanket and basket. As I shut the door Jax comes running up the stairs. Bark, bark.

"Hey boy are you ready to go?" Bark, bark, bark. "Did they send you to get me? Am I taking too long?"

I hear Noah's unquestionable laugh. Subsequently, he shouts up the stairs.

"Yes we did and yes you are!"

I laugh quickly, then say "Ok I'm coming. By the president's name," I sigh in exasperation, "Noah be patient."

As I walk down the steps Jax follows close behind making small puppy hops down the steps. At that moment Jax's collar falls out of the spot where I had loosely stuffed it in my bag. While I bend down to pick it up I see the faded blue spot. That spot marks the day that my dad watched me while my mom took Noah to Dorolem District —area— 24. We live in District —area— 26. To visit some family friends, the Swallows. Since Cordelia who was nine at the time acted like I didn't exist half the time and Caspian who was Noah's age at the time only hung out with Noah, I begged to stay home with Father. And after much pleading from me and help from Noah and Father. Mother finally said yes. Once they left me and Father decided to paint but since we could not find any kid paint we used some adult paint as I used to call it. When we were done I had paint on my hands so my father told me to wash them as I was going up the stairs I tripped. I vaguely remember my fingers grazing the wall but I didn't notice the bright blue smear till I was done washing my hands and heading back down the stairs. When I saw it I panicked and ran to Father to tell him what I accidentally did. And instead of panicking like me he simply went to the basement, when he came back he had a paintbrush and a bucket of white paint he then went to the spot where I had got paint on the wall and painted over it. The next day when my mom and Noah got back you could barely see it and even after three coats of paint, you can still just barely see the blue smear.