Dear Red

Thirty Eight

I spent Saturday and Sunday in bed. On Wednesday, dad walked into the house at 5p.m. with Alex behind him. I sat up in the sofa.

"Good evening, dad."

He put down his briefcase and began removing his tie at the same time Alex was removing his school tie.

"Hello Tina," Alex said. he walked to the sofa I was sitting on and hugged me.

"I thought you were finally dead so I could keep the whole real estate empire," he teased.

"Give up the dreams, Alex. There's a lawyer in the family who can sue you penniless," Suzan said as she walked in. she greeted dad and hugged him. he took the glass of juice she offered and began drinking.

"I'm glad you're safe, Tina. Now you'll do finals with me next year," Alex said.

"She's going to Form Five next year-even if St. Xavier is bombed into the earth," dad said firmly and added, "I hope you are reading, Tina. There are a few weeks to exams."

I nodded. 

"How come Alex is home?" Suzan asked. Alex sat down beside me and got the remote. "Ask daddy." He began scanning channels. Suzan and I looked at dad curiously.

"Tina has just gone through a traumatic experience that is far from over and needs her family's support. I'll sleep easier knowing all my children are under my roof-even if it's for a short time," dad explained.

"Your school should burn more often, Tina. We get to cut school, sit home and do nothing but watch TV and eat all day long. All my friends were green with envy when I was pulled out of class," Alex whispered to me.

"Also, everyone has to be home when mum returns from the UK tomorrow at noon," dad added. It took a moment for the implication to sink in. After 2 years....?

"Mum's coming home?" Suzan asked.

"You mean, this time tomorrow, we'll be a family again?"

Dad nodded. "I'm working half-day and then we'll have lunch together here at home."

"Yes!" I said enthusiastically.

"This is exactly what you need to get your mind off the fire. Mum's coming home to be with us!" Suzan said. Dad said he was going to freshen up, I joined Suzan in her room to paint our nails and Alex watched TV till suppertime.

The next day in the morning, I woke up at 7a.m. I took a quick shower and helped Suzan to prepare breakfast. Dad went to his office and Alex went to rent DVDs and renew subscription on his modem. Alone in the house, Suzan and I cleaned every inch of space. We swept, mopped, scrubbed, high dusted and polished every room till the house sparkled. Mum had to find everything at its best. We finished at 11:45-the flight touched down at noon. I took a shower and hunted through my closet. What did one wear to her first meeting with her mum after 2 years that would make her mum want to give up her job in the UK? Ever since I had heard that phone conversation and seen how affected dad was by mum's absence, I felt I had to do my part to see that things returned to normal. I went through Suzan's closet as well while she stood watching me in a skirt and top. She was wringing her hands together and chewing her lip.

"You're going to catch a cold in your towel, Tina. Put on one of your pairs of jeans and a shirt-that's enough," she advised.

"It's not enough for mum. Those are clothes for going out with friends. I want to look better than that for mum," I said.

"You always look good, Tina. Let's go to your room and I'll help you pick clothes," she suggested. We finally settled on a green vest top, a stone washed mid-thigh skirt, black leggings and pumps. We sat in the living room, looking over photo albums as we waited. Dad came home at one p.m. and sat down heavily.