The Awesome Way We Grow

Of Snow and Feral Cats

Its so cold out! Miles exclaimed happily And theres gonna be snow next week! My emotional side was practically bouncing in the doorway, watching as the cats curled together for warmth on the porch. We had been in Colorado for four months now, having made the decision to move in with our grandma after graduating high school. I noticed Dexter (my logical side) was grinning slightly at Miles excitement, attempting to hide it behind the thick volume they were reading. Grandma's house was stacked full of books much to everyones delight.

Ah! Casey shouted, they leaned over to show me their phone, Look at what I just found on Pinterest for the kids! Handprint monsters for Halloween! Ruben and Sage are gonna be so excited.

Theyre perfect Casey. I just hope we can get the little ones to hold still long enough to participate. I smiled at my creative sides obvious enjoyment. There had been some hesitation to take on a teaching career, but now seeing how invested Casey was in doing activities with our preschool class, we were all more comfortable with the idea.

Wheres Jade gone off to? Casey asked, I need their input for the cats next insta post.

You have Jade help you with those? Miles questioned, barely looking up.

Well of course, their attention to detail makes them the perfect photographer. Miles I love you buddy but you want to post every photo we take of the cats.

Theyre all perfect and adorable Casey. Everyone needs to see how cute they are. Miles shot back, they wiggled a finger at their favorite cat, smudge, and got a hiss in response. Miles only smiled happily and sat in the doorway to watch the felines closer. Yes the 15 feral cats that lived under grandmas house had their own Instagram and yes they all had names.

Jade might be laying down somewhere, we were sick all week and you know how they get when we are unproductive. Dexter said from behind their book. Our anxious friend must be exhausted from all the worrying. Casey hummed in response, still staring at their phone.

Jade had been working a little overtime lately, first getting used to moving out of state and then dealing with our father. We had gotten a job and we were taking college courses but it was easy for Jade to get overstimulated so we had been in a heightened state for a while now. Pair that with being sick for a week, vomiting, headache, the whole nine yards, and you bet Jade deserved a nap. My anxiety was probably curled up somewhere in our oversized fluffy jacket, headphones blasting, AC/DC if the song stuck in my head was anything to go by.

Quite suddenly the screen door swung open and Miles jumped back in surprise, I held back a curse as my cousin Tyler stepped through the door. He set his keys on the counter and went straight to the fridge, digging around for a soda.

Hey Sun. He grumbled as he straightened. It was Sunday so of course Tyler was home early from his girlfriends house, probably thinking to check up on me after being sick for so long.

Hey Ty. Hows Cattie?

Shes good, throwing a Halloween party next weekend if you wanna go?

Sure. Jade popped up then, sitting on the floor next to the couch. I could feel their displeasure rolling off them in waves. The lamp next to me flickered and the ceiling fan creaked. Tyler couldnt see the different sides of my personality of course, they were visible only to me, but my sides were like ghosts in a way that they could manipulate the environment around us. Tyler shot the electrical devices a worried look before leaning against the counter to open his soda. He probably blamed it on the fact that the house was older and had been built in the mid seventies.

It was inevitable that Tyler would cause Jade to show up. It wasnt that he was a bad guy or any threat to us, it was just that our social anxiety was so bad that any kind of interaction made us heightened just enough. If I put on headphones it helped but in this instance it would be rude.