*****
Phyla's bare feet pattered over the thick, dew covered grass, her arms straight out to the sides like an airplane. She dipped and twirled up and down the lawn, her favorite blue dress billowing behind her. She smiled up at the sky, letting the sun kiss her cheeks.
"Phyla! Time to eat!" called her mother. Phyla zoomed toward the big white tent in the back yard that her family had rented for her sister's graduation.
She smiled at the guests as she made her way to the food table. She came up to her guests' waists, so she easily maneuvered through the small, talkative crowd.
At the table, her mother was already putting together a small plate of food for her.
"How do carrots, mac 'n' cheese, and Jello sound?" she cooed.
"Yum!" Her mother laughed and placed a couple more carrots on her plate. After she gave Phyla her lunch, she kissed her on the forehead and directed her to one of the tables.
Phyla sat herself next to her Uncle Andrew, who was chatting with one of the neighbors. He was visiting from Ontario, Canada, and it was the first time Phyla had met him. She smiled and stifled a giggle as she watched her uncle's mustache bounce up and down when he laughed his big booming laugh. The neighbor stood and walked to get a plate of food. Phyla scooted closer to Drew.
"Oh, hey there, squirt! I didn't see you there, sneaky." Phyla grinned.
"Will you stay for sparklers tonight?" she asked.
"Of course I'll stay for sparklers! I wouldn't miss it for the world."
Phyla's mother came and sat on the other side of her daughter. Sarah and Drew chatted and laughed until Phyla finished her lunch and went to play. Soon enough, Sarah announced that it was dark enough to bring out the sparklers.
Phyla skipped to her big sister, who had already lit a sparkler for her. She ran on the lawn like she had before- barefoot and arms out like a plane, this time with a sizzling, twinkling light in each hand. A man's voice spoke from behind her.
"I was promised a night with sparklers and my niece. I wonder if a certain little girl will keep that promise."
Phyla turned to see her uncle with one hand holding a sparkler and the other deep in his pocket. Phyla smiled and plopped down in the grass.
"Come 'ere!" She chirped. Her uncle walked forward and grunted as he made his long way down to sit in the grass. Phyla giggled. Her uncle smiled.
"Are you happy for your sister? Her graduating and all?" She shrugged. They sat there, facing each other, twirling the crackling sparklers in their fingers.
Phyla furrowed her brow, a confused look.
"Your eyes..." she muttered, holding the light of the sparkler closer to his face."Uncle Andrew, your eyes..." Drew chuckled softly. He pointed to his pale blue left eye.
"This one... I have my mother's eyes." He pointed to his right eye. "This one? I have my father's brown eyes." Phyla's own eyes widened.
"You have one blue eye and one brown eye?" Her uncle nodded, smiling slightly.
"All my life I've wanted two of the same colored eyes. I've always been treated differently. Eye contact is good and all, but..." He looked down.
Phyla looked at the now burnt out sparklers in between them. She lied on her back and Drew followed. After a while she took his hand, and still staring at the dark sky said, "I wish I had your eyes."
Drew smiled, and together they counted the stars.
*****
