Chronicles of an Amnesiac | √

6, Day Seven

It was dark like any other day, but the darkness seemed ominous to me. We were at the island in the eating box only no one was eating.

Everyone was acting strangely. Marilla kept giving Mom evil looks and Dad seemed to not want to talk to Mom. Howard had just plain tuned off, his eyes looked closed in sleep but in truth he was playing a game under the table with the-rectangle-with-the-eaten-apple.

I didn't know what to do to diffuse the tension. I would have said something but the thought that they were still mad at me for yesterday kept haunting me.

After what seemed like an eternity the older man got a message on his eaten apple and looked up.

'Got to be at the office right now,' he said to no one in particular. 'Boss's orders.'

'But it's night,' the older woman said. 'Can't it be tomorrow?'

'Obviously, it's urgent,' he said and pushed out of his sitting place. 'You guys go on with dinner without me.'

Marilla gave an exaggerated sigh and stood up, too. She went towards the steps.

'And where are you going, you?'

'My room, duh.' She didn't stop.

'Come back here right now. Or all the promises will be forfeited,' Dad shouted. 'And don't think I'm bluffing.'

The girl stopped abruptly and I watched her ball her hands into fists before turning back to the island. 'I hate you all! You're just ruining my life!' She suddenly turned her angry gaze to me and I shrunk into the sitting place. What did I do now?

'Marilla!' That was the older woman.

Marilla flared her nose and eventually looked away to take a seat.

I felt my flutter all over the place in fear. How was anything my fault now? Marilla had looked angry enough to murder me, everyone at the island.

The older man threw up his hands. 'I can't believe this! And this is just the first year, what of the ones to come?' he asked rhetorically. 'You guys are just gonna get me fired before I even know it.' He stormed off.

As much as I wanted to know my mistake I couldn't bring myself to ask but I needed to apologize for whatever it was, never mind I didn't know it.

'Um, I'm sorry?'

The older woman looked up and smiled my way but I could see she was worried.

At length Howard looked up. 'You feel they're mad at you? Have you met me?'

'What do you mean?' I asked not understanding.

'You see, it runs in the family, they vent their anger on other people when they're angry.' He grinned widely. 'Except me,' he pointed to himself, 'and you.' Then he pointed to me. As if the 'they' were not sat at the island with us. 'Maybe we're not really part of the family, maybe we were adopted.'

'Howard! Will you stop spewing such chazzerai!' It was the older woman's turn to get properly mad now.

Howard rolled his eyes. 'I'm just sick of all this already, I just wanted this to be over with quickly, even it means . .  .' he shrugged leaving his sentence incomplete.

Suddenly the Big Cover slammed shut, shaking the whole box. I thought the older man was gone to the office by now, why was he still around? And what made him so mad that he'd slam the cover like

We heard shuffling of feet and some grunts, which was strange. The others heard it to and Mom started to stand up.

'Who's there?'