The Ace of Spades

Chapter 4

It's eight o'clock when Mea opens the gloriously squeak-free front door. The clock in the entryway of Viv's house tells her of such.

Mea knows that Toto's probably already in bed, and anyways she needs to wash her hands. There's dirt caked under her fingernails and the creases between her fingers are sticky with honey mustard.

As Mea is lathering the soap, Jojo enters the kitchen. Mea really doesn't want to speak to Jojo.

"Hey," Jojo says.

Jojo is a really amazing person. Mea has always looked up to Jojo, admired the way she does this and thinks that. But Jojo is also vain, and stubborn, and so wrapped up in herself sometimes that she doesn't look out for her younger siblings the way she should. Of course, Mea feels bad for thinking this. Jojo has no older siblings to guide her and care for her. And honestly, sometimes Mea is so wrapped up in her own head that she is oblivious to everyone and everything.

Mea is overwhelmed. Mea is always overwhelmed.

She attempts (forces, really) a half-smile for Jojo.

"How are you?"

Well, well, well, Mea thinks to herself, this is Jojo's way of asking for something. Mea is unimpressed.

Mea shrugs in response.

"Where did you go today? I was going to ask if you wanted to spend the day together but you disappeared out of thin air at breakfast," Jojo says, leaning a hip against the counter beside the sink.

Mea rolls her eyes and shrugs. Jojo and Mea actually hanging out? When pigs fly.

"This is going to be a good summer, Mea. We're going to have fun," Jojo taps Mea's arm. "Fun. Fun. You know the meaning of that, right?"

Mea is now unresponsive in this horribly one-sided conversation. She turns the tap off and dries her hands with the hand towel that hangs from the stove handle.

"We could play Monopoly, if you'd like?"

Mea doesn't answer, she pretends not to hear Jojo, and heads upstairs to shower and go to sleep.

Maybe Mea will sneak back down to the lake and sleep face-first in the water. It's an appealing thought.

**

Mea eats in silence while Jojo, Toto, and Viv chat over scrambled eggs. The eggs are amazing, fluffy and the right moisture, and the orange juice on the side is made from the God of Oranges' oranges.

When her plate is cleared and her glass is empty, she sets them in the sink quietly and hurries out the front door. Hopefully no one will follow.

Mea feels sort of like she's about to do something she's not supposed to do. Really, it's almost the complete opposite. If anyone found out she was not spending her day sitting in her own silence, thinking of nothing, they would squeal with excitement for Mea. Mea hates, absolutely loathes, that she's made people feel like she's something fragile, like she's lost and lonely.

Nevertheless, Mea doesn't want anyone to know. Not yet, anyways.

Like yesterday, the walk to the lake is short. The sky is blue again, the sun rising into the sky, all golden rays and increasing warmth, and the deep blue of the water already glimmers with the beauty of summer. There is no breeze again today, everything in the world is so calm and serene.

Victor said he'd be here around nine. Mea isn't sure of the exact time, but she thinks if she walks quickly, she could sit in the serenity of the cave for at least a few minutes.

Mea just likes the silence.

Mea sits knees-to-chest. Yesterday's Ziploc of fruit peels is gone, but a Swiss Army knife sits closed in its place.