A Tearless World (Editing!)

Chapter 7: The Stranger

When I got home after the museum, the house seemed quieter and emptier than usual. At first I thought no one was home, but then I saw Jack coming down the stairs, his grin bigger than ever. That’s never a good sign.

“Hello little Alington how was your trip?” He said, in the way that he knows will make me react, especially since I always do when he calls me that. I don’t know why he does, but I guess it’s just to annoy me. Instead of doing what he expected, I did my best to stay calm.

“Where’s mum?” I asked, changing the subject. I didn’t want to talk about the museum, especially not to him.

“She’s taken Sarah out to the park for a few hours to try and calm her down.”

“Why? What’s she done now?”

“Nothing, well at school today she fell over and hasn’t stopped crying about it.”

“So the usual then.”

“Yes.” He paused. “Oh and mum asked me to tell you that you’re cooking tonight.”

“Why? Isn’t dad cooking tonight?”

“No, he called earlier and said he’s got a late meeting.” He saw my face and gave a quick smirk. I didn’t say and thing and pushed past him on the stairs. It was then that I noticed the golden ring on his finger.

“What’s that?” I asked grabbing it off his finger. I’ve always been quick at things like that and he’s never been able to match it.

“Hey give it back!” He shouted, jumping at me and raging with anger.

“I just want to see. What it is anyway>”

“It’s a ring stupid!” He shouted, grabbing it back off me. I pulled him away to have a closer look. It was a bright gold with little gems inside. Part of it sort of looked like a tear shape But I wasn’t sure. After a closer look, I suddenly realized that it looked nearly exactly like the one in the strange world and one that I found. But before I could examine it more, he snatched it back off me.

“Who gave it to you?”

“Well on my way home from school, after chess club, this man came up to me and said it’s import to take this.”

“But I thought you weren’t allowed to talk to strangers.” I replied, teasing him. Have I finally found him doing something wrong?

“I’m not! I didn’t!” He cried, getting annoyed. I guess I’ll just have to keep waiting.” Look, this is what happened. I was walking home after chess club, when this made stopped me. I tried to run but he didn’t let me. He gave me a small box and said this is very important to keep it close and hidden. Then he left me holding it and walked away. I didn’t see where he went. I looked down at the box and it said Happy Birthday Jack. So when I got back, I hid it from mum and put it on when she left. Neat isn’t it?”

“Yeah, I guess so.” I said, pushing past him to my room. This day is just getting weirder by the minute. I wonder how it will get later on why everyone gets back. Until then, I can at least try and figure out what it is with all these tear shaped rings and that world. But after hours of thinking and wondering, I still didn’t get anywhere.

By 6:30, mum and Sarah were back and dad was on his way. Dinner was nearly ready and so far the evening has been normal and busy. Half way through dinner dad got back and came to join us. I noticed that Jack still had his weird ring on, but I didn’t say anything. This might be my only chance to get him in trouble without doing anything at all. Now that would be funny.

“Mum.” I said, laying dinner out as everyone sat down.

“Yes Ali.” She replied, starting to eat.

“Have you seen Jack’s ring? Isn’t it really nice?” I said as nicely as I could. Jack then glared at me but didn’t say anything. I ignored him.

“What ring?” She looked up puzzled. How can she not see it?

“You know, the ring he’s wearing right now on his finger on his right hand.” I was getting frustrated now. It’s so oblivious and you can see it clearly from one quick glance.

“Sorry dear I can’t see anything on his hand. Maybe you need your eyes testing.” She said, staring at me with concern. This made me want to grab it off him and put it to her face. But I knew that if I did that it would make things a lot worse. This made Jack snigger and relax. I didn’t say any more about it for the rest of the evening.

After dinner I went back up to my room. That’s when I tried to get my head straight.

“So there was a ring in the other world that I guess belonged to that boy that died. That’s why it was with his ashes. Then I found mine by that building that I think someone dropped. And someone gave Jack one but mum can’t see it, or dad for that matter.” I said to myself. No matter how long I spent going over it, I couldn’t seem to make sense out of it.