Waiting For Nick

PROLOGUE

Cissy Carver flung open her eyes when she heard the sound of her Barbie alarm clock which stood on her bedside table. She threw the duvet from over herself and slipped her legs into her pink slippers. She walked over to her bedroom door and flung it open, running down the stairs and into the kitchen, where the aroma of cookies and chocolate cake engulfed her.
"Oh, my darling baby girl. Happy birthday!" Mrs Carver said, scooping up the new five-year-old, and spinning her in the air.
"Thanks, Mommy. Wow, you are almost done, aren't you? With all the baking, I mean?" Cissy asked, smiling. She loved her mother so much and always wondered how she got around to doing so many things at the same time, and all so perfectly.
"Yes, sweetie. I'm done here. Let me just take out the last batch of cookies and we're all set. Now, run upstairs and... Mind you, you're five today, try bathing yourself." Mrs Carver teased.
"Yes, Mommy, l will." Cissy said proudly.
"Hmm... Like she can."
"Oh, yes. I can, Mommy. You'll see."
Mrs carver laughed. "Let's see, then. Now, go get dressed and come down to welcome your friends. Hmm?" She watched Cissy race up the stairs and shook her head, smiling. How time flies. Wasn't it only yesterday she had given birth to that little bundle of pink? She shook her head again and turned back to the oven.

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Cissy was nervous. Where is he? Why isn't he coming already? Or didn't he remember what day it was? She looked out the window again.
"Hey, Cissy, blow out your candles," four-year old Dylan said, in excitement. "And make a wish." He clapped his hands and amidst cheers, Cissy blew out the candles on her chocolate cake. Mrs. Carver cut up the cake for the children and served them cookies and glasses of milk, too. Snapshots were taken and presents changed hands.
"Mommy?" Cissy called. "Why isn't Ni...."
"Just a second, honey." Cissy sighed as she watched her mother run around to serve the children. I guess I'd have to go see for myself. She slipped off her chair and hurried out the kitchen door. He couldn't have forgotten, could he? She'd reminded him only yesterday. How could he not come? Cissy ran all the way to the next house where her best friend, Nick lived. She stopped short in front of the house, walked up the porch and on tiptoe, rang the doorbell.
No answer.
She rang it again, and again, and again. But still, there was no answer. Had they traveled? Or gone out? And Nick wouldn't have told her? No, she didn't think so. So where were they? She ran to the side of the house and, still on tiptoe, looked into the window. Little Cissy wasn't prepared for what she beheld. The space which had once been the the beautiful family room of the Trentons was bare- empty! She stood a little more on her toes to see further into the room. There was nothing left but pieces of paper scattered around.
What was wrong? Where had Nick gone? Where was his family?
Then Cissy remembered.
Last week, Nick had said something about preparations to move. Cissy hadn't put that in mind. In fact, she had forgotten about it the moment he'd said it. Tears sprang to her beautiful large eyes.
So they had moved.
But she'd seen him the day before. Why hadn't he told he told her they'd be leaving. Cissy cried. Now she wasn't sure she'd be seeing him again. Oh, where has Nick gone?
"Cissy! Where are you? Cissy!"
Cissy looked up to find her mother running towards her. She wiped at her tears as her mother lifted her from the ground. "Oh Cissy, I'm so sorry. I forgot to tell you about it. I was so engrossed in all the preparations I totally forgot about it."
"You knew? Mommy, you knew about this?" Cissy cried, hugging her mother.
"Come, Cissy. Let's go home and talk about it. I've got something for you, sweetie." Mrs Carver held her daughter's all the way home, comforting her. By the time they got to the house, most of the guests had gone and only a couple kids were left waiting for their mothers to come pick them up. Mrs Carver took Cissy to her bedroom and made her sit on the bed. "Now, sweetheart, I've got two things for you." She hurried to her bedside table and got a pink ribbon-wrapped gift which she gave to Cissy, whose eyes portrayed curiosity. Mrs Carver smiled. "This is from me. Go ahead and open it." Cissy slowly opened the gift. It revealed a little teddy bear and a tiny doll that had a bonnet over her head and came in a beautiful little doll house. "Oh, mommy, she's beautiful! What do you think?"
"I think she's just as pretty as my little five-year old Cissy."
Cissy giggled and hugged her. "Thank you, mommy. I love it."
"You're most welcome, honey. Now, where have I kept that gift from... "
"From who, mommy?" Cissy asked, very curious now.
"Who do you think?"
"Nick?" Cissy asked, hoping he'd at least remembered to buy her a present for her birthday.
"Of course, who else?" Mrs Carver teased as she returned to the bed and handed her a present wrapped in blue sheets with 'Cissy Carver' boldly written on it in Nick's rickety handwriting. It made Cissy giggle. On the edge of the package was also written 'From Nick.' It was a little large and she couldn't wait to open it. She began shredding it, wrap by wrap until she felt something hard. Her eyes were almost out of their sockets when, to their utter surprise, she brought out the most beautiful guitar she had ever set eyes on.
"Whoa! A guitar for me?" Tears came to her eyes as she held it and carefully struck the strings. How had he bought her this? Maybe he'd saved. To buy her this? Surely this must have cost him a lot. Oh, Nicky. I'm so grateful. She looked up at her mother, who sat smiling at her. "It's beautiful, mommy."
"Yes, it is. And this here is from Mr. and Mrs. Trenton." she said, giving Cissy another package, this time, in purple. In it was a big box of animal-shaped chocolates. "See, you've got a whole lot of people who love and care about you." Mrs Carver said, squishing her daughter's cheeks playfully. "Remember that, hon." She kissed Cissy on her forehead. "Now, run along, freshen up and come watch your favorite TV show."
Cissy nodded and slipped off the bed. She carried her presents while her mother opened the door for her and she hurried to her room. As she left, she thought about her best friend. He'd left without a word. He'd hurt her, a lot. Still he'd managed to put a smile on her face as he'd always done and left her something to live by. Cissy smiled, recalling the guitar he'd bought her. She knew she'd never forget Nick Trenton. Ever.