The Art of Mending Memories

The Art of Mending Memories 14

The Art Of Mending Memories

Chapter 14

"You know, I always thought this was a really bad ending," Paul said as he threw another handful of popcorn into his mouth. "It's just not that funny, and kind of annoying that the whole movie leads up to this. Seriously?"

I looked over to Paul on the couch. It was well past dinner, about 10:30, and we had just finished watching one of our favorite movies: Monty Python and the Holy Grail. The movie always make me laugh, and Paul felt that I needed a serious "laugh-it-up," as he called them.

"They ran out of money," I told him.

"Really?" Pieces of saliva-drenched popcorn flew out of his mouth and I cringed away from the flying pieces.

"I'm pretty sure. They had no money left in the budget to do the fight scene against the French, so they had the police arrest them."

"That's stupid. I mean, the ending is still kind of funny, but not that much."

"Well, I'm sorry, Paul, that the ending wasn't as good as you would have wished it to be."

He shrugged. "No worries." He tipped the bag of popcorn back and ate the rest of the popcorn. Then he laid the empty bag on the coffee table next to the three other empty popcorn bags that Paul had eaten over the course of the movie. Then he wiped his hand on his shirt.

"So, Kaelyn, my dear," he continued to say with his voice molded with mockery, "shower then bad sound good to you? I'm pretty beat, and it's a school night."

"Sure, that's fine. I'll take the downstairs bathroom, you take the upstairs?"

He nodded his head. "And my mom has some pajamas you can borrow. And clothes for tomorrow."

"Thanks," I replied with a groan. His mother loved playing live-doll with me and dressing me up pretty. I loved her, but...I didn't love the dress ups.

Half an hour later we were both clothes in pajamas ̶ Paul in a tee shirt and boxers, and me in silk tank top and shorts ̶ and getting ready for bed. Paul had a large twin bed; large and wide, but still a twin. I would be sleeping on the window seat, which was practically a second bed.

I stood in the middle of his room and stretched my arms out, yawning while I did so. Suddenly two fingers poked into my sides and I jumped away. "Hey," I shrieked.

Paul's chuckle came from behind me and I whipped around to face him. "Sorry," he held his hands up, grinning. "I couldn't help myself."

I pouted at him. "That wasn't very nice."

He chuckled and walked up to me, wrapping me in a hug. I leaned into him and hugged him back, needing the comfort that my best friend provided.

"I'm sorry," he murmured in my ear. "About everything. Even if I don't really get it."

I didn't respond verbally ̶ I could think of nothing to say ̶ but I hugged him tighter.

"It's complicated," I finally said. I hadn't told Paul why Aunt Jane and I were in a fight, only that we were. I could hardly comprehend why myself; I only knew that she let Aaron into the house, and sided with him, leaving me all alone. It was a fear of knowing if he showed up at the house, she would welcome him into my sanctuary. It was as if I was no longer safe in my own house.

It terrified me.

Paul nodded. "Well, rest up," he told my ear. "Tomorrow, everything will be all right." He squeezed me tight and let go. "Goodnight, Kaelyn. Sleep well."