Nora

Chapter 17: Where Did the Time Go?

I wake up early on Thursday morning. Boxing Day is usually a very lazy day for my family after the craziness of the holiday season. I take advantage of this and spend the day reading Nora's book. 

Mom and Dad drink coffee on the couch and watch the morning news. They talk briefly of their plans for tomorrow. They want to head down to Brisbane to take advantage of some of the sales that will be on. I'm not sure if I'll join them yet. 

But mostly they talk of Nora. 

"She is the most lovely girl." Mom says sipping her coffee and smiling at me.

"Yes. I can see why you like her; Riley." Dad says to me.

"She's very pretty. Those eyes of hers. Have you ever seen eyes like it Arthur?" Mom says.

"I didn't look very closely." Dad says.

"Why don't you invite her around for dinner soon? I already miss her." Mom says.

"Sure, that sounds great. I'm sure she'd love to." I say.

"I think she could be like the daughter I never had." Mom says wistfully. 

I tune out after that and focus on Nora's book.

It's very good. It's also very long. Her main character has a strong voice and is surprisingly nothing like Nora. 

For one thing (Ruby. the main character) hates everything. While Nora can be a slight pessimist at times she's not got the same bitter outlook about life that Ruby does. She also doesn't suffer from (at least as best to my knowledge) panic attacks or severe depression which this Ruby clearly does. 

I mean this is all justified the poor girl has lost her best friend. From what we don't know. Nora's a cruel writer who keeps her readers clawing for clues and hints. You see this girl Ruby no longer has her best friend (Alicia) in her life anymore. It's unclear as to whether they've just fallen out of contact or if she's dead. I'm thinking it must be that she died because this girls suffering is so awful and real that you couldn't be in that amount of pain over just falling out of contact with a friend. 

But who knows maybe girls feel differently about these sorts of things.

I'm almost halfway through by the time lunch rolls around. Mom, Dad and I decide to go out for lunch. I've spent far too much of this holiday moping I really need to be out doing things. 

I also need to distract myself from the thought of what I want to happen at tonights party. 

We walk into  the hub of town and find a resturaunt by the beach. We all order fish and chips.

"I've started writing a new book." Mom says halfway through our meal.

"That's fantastic darling what's it about?" Dad asks.

"Well I've only written a few chapters but so far I think it's going to be about dealing with grief." She says quietly.

She looks over at me nervously and Dad does too.

"What?" I ask through a mouthfull of fish.

"That doesn't upset you?" Mom asks me.

"No. Why would that upset me? You've always written about what you know Mom. In a few months you'll know more about grief than anyone ever should. I think this will be great." I spear a chip with my fork and eat it.

Mom lets out a deep breath. "I was so worried you'd be mad."

Dad rubs her back. "I think it will be wonderful. I can't wait to read it. Is your editer excited?"