Damaged Flowers

Part Two

Weeks were striving past us like busy entrepreneurs heading for their early meeting. Everyday was a routine: wake up; have a filling breakfast; go for a stroll with Finely and Alfie; help Oliver paint the pots that would be scattered all around the house with blooming flowers; take Finely for another walk with Alfie; and finish the day doing whatever was on the agenda.

Although, today was a bit different because Jacob's girlfriend was coming over and he had said they had a surprise for us. I had many theories but the truth would be the most surprising of all. Poppy was fussing like a hyperventilating wedding planner who had the biggest event that the world was ever going to see. She snapped at everyone and pinpointed every little minuscule error anyone did.

"Levi! NOT THEEEERRE!! That vase is in the wrong spot, boy! Shoo shoo...let me do the work all on my OWN." Every sentence she said was awfully loud and furious. She wasn't to be messed with, but her eldest son didn't catch the hint. He was intelligent in other things but when his mother is fuming like a bull, he becomes as thick as a brick. 

"Mother," he started, trying to catch her attention. Even though he towered over her by a great amount, he shrank before her. She was like a cat that kept running away from you and not giving you the chance to get ahold of her, so Jacob was standing on the spot, trying to catch a glimpse of her. "Annie doesn't care about all this fuss. She just like our company. She wouldn't mind if our house was filthy or messy."

Everyone held their breath because for a millisecond Poppy was voiceless and frozen to the ground. She turned slowly to face her son. So slow, that it was as if she was going in slow-motion. This wasn't good. Levi drew a finger across his throat and made a face which consisted of rolled eyes; lolled tongue; and a hanging head. Jacob gulped—as everyone did—and stared at his mother with utter fear.

"Jacob," Poppy's voice was low and eerie, "I don't care what you think or what Annie's thinks. I will not leave my house 'filthy or messy' but you are going to do as I say and clean this damned house. I am inviting her in my home and not yours, so unless you want to find another place to live, get off you fat bum and HELP!"

Jacob nodded franticly, his eyes wide. He scurried around, trying to find something to busy himself with. He looked like a lost puppy, bumping into anything he touched. Just with her stare, it was as if she was beating you in her mind. Now, you must say, "How cruel that is of her." That would be true if she were herself but at this exact moment, she was a demon from hell, so it was completely normal. 

"COME ON EVERYONE! HURRY!" Poppy yelled at the top of her voice, clapping sharply,  dictating her family like petty servants.

I just hope I will never be in Jacob's position, I thought, gulping at the idea.

❀ ❀ ❀

When Annie arrived, Poppy was suddenly overjoyed and normal as if nothing had happened previously. Jacob's girlfriend was petite and red-haired, her bright green eyes always amused at something. They had announced good news; which consisted of a marriage-to-become and a pregnancy. Everyone was happy at the news and we indulged in a great amount of homemade vanilla cake.

Later that evening, when the newly engaged couple headed for a drink with the parents, us teenagers/young-adults were left alone at home. As I was walking up the stairs for the bathroom, I heard shrieks from a bedroom down the hall. My curiosity got the best of me, and I decided to go check on it. There on Levi's bed, was my sister being crushed by Levi himself. They were very close to each other and he was tickling her.

I stood at the threshold and stared. (Oh shut up! I wasn't trying to be creepy. I was just trying to process things.) I didn't know what to think of them so close to each other, their faces centimetres away. They told me to let go of the past, they told me to forget it, to move on and live in the moment. They told me to not overthink things. Should I take their advice?