In A Matter Of Time

Chapter 2

"Blue come downstairs it's time for dinner!" My mother yelled to me as I put some finishing touches on my painting of Scotty. "I'm coming!" I took my hair out of the towel it was wrapped in and went down. I went to the dining room and took my place. "So uh mom, dad, I was wondering for my party, that we could have a slumber party and maybe go to the drive-in." I smiled as I dished up my ham and carrots and potatoes. Scotty's favorite. "That sounds like a good idea honey." My dad always thought I had good ideas. "Oh I don't know if I'll be up for that sweetheart. Everyone has so much going on. And what party are you even talking about?" She was clueless. Sitting there slicing her ham. "Never mind. Forget it." I took a bite of my potatoes and fed Sunny a carrot. "So David Myers asked me to the dance this Friday!" Lisa always had news about her boyfriends. "That's great honey! We'll have to go buy a new dress!" My mother was so excited for her. It was my birthday. And no one cared. They all talked amongst theirselves. "Devil Child" Scotty tied my hair to the salt shaker before I could notice. And when I lifted my head I was so angry that I could have taken the little brat out in one hit. "You little...pest!" I got out of my seat and ran after Scotty until my legs hurt. "Willy grab your sister. Blue knock it off!" My dad yelled. He never yells at me like that. I let go of Scotty's throat and took my seat again. "What has gotten into you today?" My mother hugged Scotty. "It's my birthday! And no one even said anything! I'm in this family too ya know!" And my voice got choked up and before I knew it, I was crying into my pillow again. I shouldn't have lost it like that, but how could I not? What kind of a family does that? A knock on my door sat me up. "Please leave me alone." I wiped my eyes with the back of my hand. "It's Scotty." A tiny voice said from the outside. "Fine. It's open." I hugged a pillow my grandmother made for me. Scotty came trotting in with a paper bag. "I knew it was your birthday Blue. I just didn't want anyone to know." He looked sorry. The poor little guy. He wasn't so bad after all. Well when he wasn't being a brat. "I'm sorry." He handed me the mysterious paper bag. Inside sat a necklace with a blue jewel in it. It was the cutest thing I'd ever seen! "Oh Scotty! This is so sweet!" I hugged him tight and kissed his cheek. "Happy birthday." We both said. He walked out and shut the door behind him. Then came another knock. And another, until each member of my family came in to say sorry and give me a gift. And I was grateful. When my father came in he had good news. "Your mother and I decided to let you have your birthday party." He smiled with the same smiles we all have. "Oh yay! Thank you!" I hugged him tight and he kissed my head. "Goodnight little Blue." He left and shut my door. Last was Mikey. Something wasn't right with Mikey. He was acting different and I didn't like it. "Baby Blue you got your birthday wish. How does it feel?" He sat on my bed like he was a reporter from some news station and I was a famous person. "Well Mr. Rivers, it really was a great experience and I did enjoy it a lot. However, my favorite brother still hasn't taken me on my birthday adventure." I tried to hold back my laugh. "Oh no no no. How could he even think of skipping it? Why, I think that's him calling." Mikey picked up the telephone in my room and talked to himself. "Yes...uh huh...I see...I'll tell her." He hung up and looked at me. "He said you need to climb out the window. Now." He pointed to my near window and I pushed it open. "If I break a bone...you don't wanna know." Mikey laughed and stepped in front of me. "I'll go first and catch you." He jumped out and landed feet first. Perfectly. "Okay Blue lets go! You got it baby!" He counted to 3 and I jumped down, landing in his arms. "Okay so where are we going?" I was more excited than ever. I finally got to go with Mikey. "I was wanting to introduce you to some people I know. You'd like them a lot." He smiled and took my hand as we ran to his paradise. We reached an old cabin finally, after a 15 minute walk. A huge can sat there with colors all over it. Like a rainbow. A fire was started and all I smelled was ashes and...well drugs. But Mikey didn't do drugs. I thought he didn't. We walked over to a bunch of guys and girls. Some of them wore lots of clothing, others wore not so much. But they all looked like they were having so much fun and they had nothing to worry about. Some guy was playing the bongos while a girl was braiding her hair. Mikey walked me over to a red haired girl with freckles covering her face. "This is Sandy. And Sandy this is my little baby girl, Blue." Mikey liked to show me off since I was so much like him. "What a groovy name. It's cool to see you." Sandy floated away before I could say hello. Another person came up to us but it was a guy. "Little Blue we've heard skies about you! You know Mikey never stops talking about ya." He kissed my head and I'm not used to strangers kissing my head but I just went with it. "Like a true Nature's child, we were born, born to be wild." And he was off too. And I didn't get his name. "You know who said that?" Mikey asked me. "Yes of course! Steppenwolf!" I was so excited that I knew that. The night flew by fast and I was sad when it was over. Mikey and I walked home that morning and got back at about 10:00 A.M. When we walked in, yells came from each direction and all at once. All I heard was "where have you been?!" And "you left the house?!" My parents were furious. Their faces were red hot and smoke was wanting to come out of their ears. "Michael get in the kitchen now." My father and mother took Mikey in there and it was so loud that I heard nothing. Finally they called me in. And I was scared straight out of my dress. "Listen here and listen good. Mikey is leaving. And you are not going to give us any trouble about it! Do you understand?" My father pointed his finger at me and locked his eyes. "No you can't make Mikey leave! He's 25! He can do whatever he wants! Let him stay!" I hit my father. "You just don't like him because he's a hippie!" I screamed at the top of my lungs. "Michelle Rivers, you'd better shut your mouth before this gets ugly. Now say okay or say nothing at all." All the other kids were listening closely. "I won't shut my mouth and you know why? Cause I'm gonna be just like Mikey! And you can't tell me not to!" I ran out the back door and climbed up my favorite tree. I was too angry to cry this time that's for sure. I just sat at the top and let my hair flow free as the wind took it away. My mind shut off because I was too upset to think of anything. I wasn't gonna come down no matter who made me. First they sent Lisa, to turn on her sister charm that she didn't have. "I know you love Mikey, but we need you down here. I need you. You're the best sister I've ever had." She faked smiled and when I ignored her she said, "you're hopeless." She walked inside and they sent out the next person. "Come play ball with me Blue. You're the only really good one." Scotty was cute, but not cute enough for me to come down. He left too, and next was the forceful attempt. Willy came out and tried to grab my foot that hung off the branch but I pulled it up just in time. But when you would have thought he'd give up, he climbed the tree. And grabbed around my waist. "It's time to come down now." My father stood at the bottom of the tree waiting. I didn't fight Willy. I didn't want to do anything ever again. Willy carried me down and handed me to my father. "Blue..." I wasn't ready to listen to him. "I wanna say goodbye to Mikey." I stared straight at the sky. "Mikey already left." My father and Willy glanced at each other waiting for another big blow up. "I think I'll just go inside now." I walked slowly and quietly to my house and through it, passing everyone, who stared at me with pity. My mother tried to hug me but I got away just in time. I walked up the stairs and into my room, shutting the door behind me. On my bed sat a huge wrapped package with a note. The note said "Dear Blue, I'm sorry that I had to leave you. I'll be back. I promise. The flowers are more beautiful in you. I hope you like the gift. -Mikey" When I opened it, I saved the card so I could always look at it. The gift inside was a canvas. And paints. And everything an artist could dream of. But I would never use it. It was too painful to use. I would only look and admire all the colors and brushes and the beautiful blank canvas ready for me to use. I would save it for a day when I wouldn't have to be sad anymore and when Mikey could be with me. But for now it would catch dust in the closet that separated dreams and reality.