And Tango Makes Three | Maxian

I

The drive home was tedious and boring. Mae sat in the passenger seat, Casey in the back beside Paul in their car seat.

Mae looked out the window. Her brown eyes trailing the top of the trees. Dad's eyes looked very similar to trees. The corners of her mouth upturned softly at that. Sure, Dad was dead, but she would always have things to remember him by.

Maybe that wasn't a good thing. The universe was always reminding her he was gone, subtly twisting the knife stuck in her stomach.

She closed her eyes, resting her forehead against the cool, damp window. This made her straight hair stick to her forehead, but she barely noticed.

Casey had her knees pulled up to her chest. Her head rested on top of her knees. The girl's eyes burned holes in Mae's seat. She couldn't believe this had happened. So suddenly too!
The cruel world ripped her father from her chilled hands.

The words to put how she felt were distant and fuzzy. As if her native tongue had changed without her taking note of it. She thought Uncle George would definitely know how to put it.

Once they arrived at home the two in the back seemed eager to leave the melancholic silence. They left like mice, or if they were sneaking through a pillow factory.

Mae turned to her father Max.

"Dad what happens when we die?"

A half choking, half sob came from the Australian's mouth."Do you remember that one scene in the Lion King?" Max's head shifted to look at his oldest child. She gave him a puzzled look. "When Mufasa explains the circle of life." Max continued. "Uh-huh, what's that gotta do with my question?" She asked, not putting together what Max was saying.

"Well, Ian- your Dad's gonna turn into dirt." Max said carefully. He curses under his breath when Mae's face dropped. "I-I'm not done." He assured."Than once he gets eaten by catipillars than he'll become one." Mae nodded, and though she didn't seem completely convinced she was okay with that answer for right now.