"Mark, look out for the girls for me." My dad whispered as he gave me one last kiss on the top of my head. He nodded as the door closed behind him. Clicking noises came from the door as I heard his footsteps disappear up the stone steps and out onto the soft grass of the forest outside.
And just like that he was gone again.
"I miss mama..." A voice behind me whispered, followed by a soft sniffle.
"They'll be back soon Allie, don't worry." I said turning to face Alexis.
The seven year old stood with her long auburn hair in two braids, denim shorts, and a loose white t-shirt. Tears streamed down my best friend's face as I stepped forward to comfort her. I grabbed her hand and pulled her towards my room.
"Let's play a game Allie."
"I don't feel like it." She muttered, curling up on top of my bed.
"When will Doc get here?" She asked, running her finger over my sheets.
"Your Pa said he's coming tomorrow morning to feed Amy."
"How long until then?"
"Soon Allie. Soon."
"Mark why did they leave again."
"Your mommy and daddy, and my daddy had work to do."
"But why now?"
"Because Allie."
"I don't like it." She whispered, tucking under the covers. I sat on the floor and played with the broken arm of my action figure. A few minutes passed as I listened to her soft sniffles.
"You better not be getting my bed all wet with tears." I said, hopping up onto the bed, and crawling under the covers with her. The sheets made a tent over our heads and our breath made the air warm.
"I'm not." She resisted, wiping a tear off her cheek. It fell from her hand and landed on the fitted sheet, leaving a small wet spot. She totally was.
"Well I'm sleeping in your bed tonight. Mine's all wet now."
"Fine." She humphed, crossing her arms.
"I'm tired." She sighed, leaning backwards against the sheet. We both sat cross-legged facing one another.
"The sooner we sleep the sooner Doc will get here."
"Then let's get ready for bed." She responded, peeling away the covers and stand up on my bed. She bounce-walked to the edge and jumped off the end, then walked out of the room. I walked over to the dressed in the corner and sat down, pulling open the bottom drawer. I grabbed underwear and my favorite pair of Indiana Jones pajamas.
Out in the hall I heard Alexis stumble back towards the bathroom. I wandered in after her, dropping my pajamas onto the floor next to hers. She was standing in the bathtub fiddling with the knob.
"Star Wars or Toy Story bubbles?" She asked, staring at the two bottles with her hands on her hips.
"Star Wars. We had Toy Story last night." I answered, struggling out of my T-shirt.
She nodded and put three huge squirts under the running water. It began to bubble immediately. She stepped out of the tub and undressed.
"How long will they be gone this time?" she asked, sitting down butt-naked on the toilet and relieving herself.
"A week I think?" I replied, stripping down out of my shorts, and sliding into the warm bubbly water. She wiped, then flushed, and clamored in after me, splashing water up over the edge as she sat down.
We played with the rubber ducks for awhile, then shampooed and cleaned ourselves. I lifted the drain as Alexis stepped out of the tub and wrapped a towel around herself. Her sopping wet hair draped around her like a curtain. We both got dressed, brushed our teeth, and then walked to Allie's room.
"Mommy's not here to sing" she whispered, tears welling in her eyes again.
"We'll sing together" I responded, flopping onto her bed, and finding my spot between the covers.
"Okay..." She muttered, crawling in after me, lying down on her side of the bed.
I started, and she joined in.
When I was just a little girl,
I asked my mother, "what will I be?
Will I be pretty? Will I be rich?"
Here's what she said to me.
"Que sera, sera
Whatever will be, will be.
The futures not ours to see.
Que sera, sera
What will, be will be."
And we fell fast asleep, hand in hand.
