Only a Storm

Parents and Salmon - April 2

I sat in my chair at the faux-antique kitchen table, swinging my shoeless feet as I waited for dinner. Daddy was making salmon! Daddy cooked the best fish. And cake! He made chocolate cake so yummy that his friend asked him to bake the cake at his wedding! I wish Daddy had decided to be a pastry chef instead of a marine biologist. Who cared about animal bodies compared to cake???

My internal musings were cut off as Mommy sat down to my left at our small, circular table. "How was school today, Musy?" She asked, using her pet name for me. I knew what she meant—did you find out who your buddy will be for the field trip tomorrow?

She was hoping I'd get my wish and be paired with Gil. She adored him. Said that it was wonderful that I had such a levelheaded friend. Of course, Mommy had never seen him in one of his haughty, superior moods. When Gil got in one of his moods—usually because one of the other children would say something mean or nasty—he was impossible. He suddenly started talking in this snooty tone and looking down on people and would remain generally impossible for hours. I was the only one who had ever had any level of success at calming him back to normal.

Sometimes, if I was the reason for his mood—either because I'd hurt his feelings by mistake or because he was angry that someone had insulted me—I could pull him down from it with an apology or show of flipancy. But not always. When I couldn't talk him down from one of his moods, Gil could go on for days. Days of shunning everyone and treating them like vermin. Days of the teacher discreetly asking me if there was anything I could do, while they tried unsuccessfully to get in touch with his parents. They asked me not only because I was known for being able to calm him, but because even in his moods, Gil always showed preference for me. He was more distant and short tempered at worst. Often, he just rolled his eyes at my antics more often than usual.

That's why my parents had never seen the full impact of one of his moods. If they had, I doubt Mommy would have thought he was such an angel. Then again, I preferred it this way. If she thought Gil could do no wrong, she let me do anything as long as we were together.

I refocused on her and realized she was still waiting for an answer. "We don't know who we're paired with yet. I was going to search Miss Amy's desk, but Gil stopped me," I pouted.

     Mommy chuckled, pushing smooth mahogany hair behind her ear and leaning forward. "That was very smart of him. What if you had been caught?"

I crossed my arms and stared at a little chip in the reddish wood of the table. It was pale, almost whitish, without the shiny lacquer. "That's what he said," I mumbled.

Mommy laughed. Daddy swept into the room, our plates balanced on his arms like a waiter from fancy resturaunt in a movie. "Ladies," he said with an exaggerated French accent, furthering the resemblance to a fancy waiter, "Dinner is served."

I bounced on my chair in excitement, instantly forgeting my conversation with Mommy. Food! I was hungry! Daddy's blue-green eyes sparkled with amusement as he held my plate up just out of reach of my grabbing fingers. I wiggled, trying to get higher. I wanted the fish! He finally gave in with a laugh, lowering it to my placemat.

I dug in ravenously. I had used up tons of energy fighting Gil, and the food smelled divine—rosemary and lemon. My parents watched with indulgent smiles as I plowed through my serving.

"So!" Daddy began as I pushed back my plate. "Someone's going boating tomorrow!"

I smiled, flashing the rosemary stuck between my teeth. Mommy laughed.

"You'll have good luck with the weather," she commented, "The report says it'll be nice and clear, almost no wind—smooth sailing." She gave Daddy a happy look.

He looked a little more nervous. Daddy had always avoided the ocean when he could—strange, since he was a marine biologist and we lived in south Florida. Mommy reached her hand across the table and placed it gently on his. He smiled faintly in response.

"It will be fine," Mommy reassured him. "Everything points to clear weather, and there's no reason for it to change. We haven't done anything wrong." That seemed like an odd thing to say, but it was enough for Daddy.

He let out a huge breath and slumped in his chair, running a hand through his sandy hair. "I know Eszy. I just worry. This will be Emma's first time in open waters."

I rolled my eyes. He chuckled. "Okay Musmus. I've got it. No more worrywart. Your trip will be fun. And after the amount of money I had to shell out, it better be," he said, comically woeful.

I tried to stifle my giggles, but my shaking shoulders caught his attention, and his lips stretched into a mischievous grin. "You think that's funny, huh? Well let's try this!" His hands darted out, scooping me into his lap and tickling me mercilessly until tears ran down my face as I shrieked with laughter. Mom was grinning from across the table, her half eaten dinner forlorn and forgotten as the sauce slowly congealed on the pink fish, dark dots of herbs settling into place.

I couldn't help but think this is what the world should always be like—this perfect happiness inside the glowing bubble of warmth that comes from being with the people you love most.

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Hiya'all! I hope you're enjoying Only a Storm! I know it makes me happy every time I see another view.

Public service announcments:

1) Musy is pronounced as "Moo-see," not "Muh-see."

2) From now on, I plan to release 3 chapters a week, on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

If you like the story, please vote☆! Thanks for your support!

~M