Faint chime from the doorbell then the pattering of a small child's feet against the cold timber floor. The door creaks open then Madi yells "Muumm! There is someone at the door." She scampers off.
My Mum was a thin figure that had olive skin and twines of thick, charcoal hair that is put up into a long and trailing ponytail. She hardly wears make-up but when she does she looks like one of the China dolls you see in shop windows that all the 'more fortunate' people plan on purchasing for their daughters. My mother has a more welcoming smile than the ones that sit in shop windows. She lives in her one pair of denim blue skinny jeans and her knitted sweaters. She generally wears Canterbury tracksuit pants and any sports shirt she can find that doesn't have my sister's puke on it. Mum was a Nurse at the local hospital. She wore her scrubs to work everyday with her black converse and her name badge that had a photo of me and my little sister's drawings.
Mrs Garcia opens the door to my strained mother. Her pink Adidas shirt and Canterbury tracksuit pants cover her tired body. She is holding hands with a small child that is 3 years of age. My sister Sofi. She manages a smile. So does my little sister she manages a few ahhs and oohhs before she drops silent as her gaze is on the small kitten.
"Sorry, I look so bad my baby girl had an accident on the way here. Peaches." My Mum says slightly embarrassed.
"No, need to be sorry ..."
"Alexis, Alexis Miller."
"Oh, Alexis what a lovely name. My name is Peyton Garcia."
They say with warm smiles and the conversation starts as an empty river and begins to flow into a sea. They chat as if they were best friends. They were best friends. They had been friends from coffee group when they were little. They survived as best friends in Middle School but everything changed when they were in High School together. Peyton Garcia had meet a new boy at school. The 'School Hottie' as Mum refered to him. His name was Riley. He had tan skin and green eyes. His thick brown hair bounced around his face. Peyton and Riley started dating and it broke my Mum's heart. They stopped being friends. Peyton and Riley got married. Riley was Nikita's Dad.
Nikita and I sit on her bed and we spread out the endless sheets of study about pointless things I am never going to use again. Madi softly knocks on the door. Madi reminds me of my sister Stella. I don't see Stella anymore, My Dad took her away when he left me and my Mother when I was about 5. I don't really remember it. I only remember seeing my Mum cry herself to sleep each night.
"Enter, Madi." Nikita says with a grin.
Madi walks in holding Sofia's hand as she stumbles across the mat to get to the small white kitten that is curled up on the window sill. She giggles and falls to the ground with a thud. Fragile drops of sadness begin to slide down her rosy cheek. Madi picks up Sofia and wipes her tears with the corner of her jersey. Sofia wraps her small arms around Madi's torso.
"Hi Madi." I say with an inviting smile. Sofia stares at me and waves. I wave back. Surprisingly, I feel comfortable around this family. We chat for what feels like hours and then we get a call from Mrs Garcia.
"Dinners ready girls." Mrs Garcia bellows up the stairs. I walk down the stairs holding a sleepy Sofia in my arms. I lay her down on the cushioning couch and place her soft head on the frilly cushion. I kiss her on her pale forehead and pull up the fluffy throw around her shoulders. Tip-toeing out the lounge I find my Mum enjoying a bottle of wine with Mrs and Mr Garcia.
Perching on the end of the Mahognanny chairs that sit beneath the collosal dining table. We say our prayers and then we tuck into the Salmon and mashed potatoes. I am finally enjoying myself especially seeing my Mum socialise with a group of people other than a 3 year old girl. Having a small portion of the fruit parfaits. I thanks Mrs Garcia and head up to Nikita's room with Madi and Nikita while the adults do the dishes and clean up. I gather up my notes and say goodnight to Madi.
Scooping up Sofia, My Mum and I say our goodbyes to the Garcia household. We begin our journey home in the droplets of rain and crashes of light from the thunder and lightning. The drive home is dark and gloomy just like the thought of the blade I saw glistening in Nikita's bedroom. I chat to Mum as we sit in the ancient beatle car. Tunes boom out the crackly stereo and me and Mum begin to sing along. I don't remember having this much fun even when Dad was around.
I forget about the blade but only for a minute....
YOU ARE READING
A Lost Soul...
Teen FictionShe was my best friend. She was my sister but worst of all she was my other half. She's now gone. Taken to early but did she want to leave me?
