The Unknowables

Chapter 2

The ride home is quiet and uneventful. Nita's favorite jazz music plays quietly in the background, leaving me to my thoughts. Nita is quite possibly my favorite person in the whole world. I live with my aunt Annie and uncle John. I had never met my mom, she had been very young when she became pregnant with me, and despite the best doctors in the country she died in child birth. She also never told anyone who my father might be.

I might have been left all alone in the world had my aunt's last promise to her not been to take care of me. They tried to raise me on their own but neither of them wanted to give up their budding careers as geneticists to raise a baby, that's where Nita came in. She's from South Africa, she always said she came to New York to find her calling and somehow her calling became raising me. I love my aunt and uncle but Nita is like a mom to me. I had even introduced her as such when I was small.

"Little bird, you are so quiet today." I smile at the sound of Nita's rich accented voice and the childhood nickname she gave me.

I turn to her, still smiling. Her answering smile is a flash of white teeth, seemingly brighter in contrast with her dark skin. It hurts to lie to her.

"I'm fine." 

The words nearly strangle me on the way out and I give a fake cough to cover it. We arrive back at home, Nita pulls smoothly up to the curb. My Aunt and Uncle own a beautiful three story townhouse in upper Manhattan with a gray brick exterior. It has more rooms then we ever need or use so its a bit too showy. They both work for an insane amount of money so they have to spend it on something, besides all the charities they donate to. I'm out of the car and unlocking the front door before Nita can try to question me further.

"So how was practice today?"

I go into detail of how I kicked Kevin's butt in class as we make dinner for the two of us. My aunt and uncle rarely come home in time for supper, preferring to spend time with whatever petri dish their currently working on.

"So did I hear Chelsea mention a party?" Nita's look in one of shrewed calculation. I grin sheepishly.

"It's going to be a birthday party for me, she planned it on her own. It'll be safe, her older brother will be there as a supervisor."

"Wren, I know Trevor, and it doesn't comfort me that a boy who accepted a dare to go streaking through a high school basketball game will be responsible for this party." I snort at the memory, barley choking back a laugh. That had been the best game of the year and we hadn't even won.

"He was in his underwear and I'm sure he's more mature now, he's been in collage for a few years and soon he'll be an engineer." Nita's laugh lights up the spotless kitchen as she pulls the home-made pizza from the oven.

"No, that means he's had a few more years to learn how to party in collage." I shrug with a smile at her comment.

"You're probably right, but don't you trust me to make the right decisions for myself?"

"Yes I do." Nita sighed as she deftly cut the pizza into neat even slices.

"So I'll make you a deal, you can drink and party but I'll be picking you up at one in the morning at the latest. As long as your uncle and aunt agree to it."

I know almost for a fact that my aunt and uncle won't say no, and Nita knows it to. I give her a quick light hug.

"Thank you Nita! Chelsea wants it to be a costume party, any ideas?"

Nita sets a plate in front of me. Two slices with all the toppings, if I was ever going to take over the world she would have to be my second in command, she knows me to well.

"Actually, I have a little something I was going to give you for your birthday that could work. It's a little fancy but you'll be the prettiest girl there, I'll show it to you when we've finished supper."

I quickly eat three slices, scalding my mouth in the process, quickly wash the dishes and wait, bouncing in my seat waiting for Nita to finish eating. Nita's gifts were always plain ordinary things she finds and then makes beautiful to give to me for my birthday. I have an entire shelf filled with sparkling trinkets from second hand stores all from her. They are among my most treasured possessions.

Nita finished slowly, taking her time to wash her plate. As soon as she finishes we go upstairs to her room. The light blue walls are covered in picture frames and paintings, her open wardrobe is filled with modest creams, browns, accented with flashes of bright playful colors. Nita lifts open a large trunk at the foot of her bed, lifting something from it and holding to her chest.

"Happy sixteenth birthday little bird!" she exclaims.

A beautiful, snow white dress hangs from her arms and it looks to be my size, covered in lace, knee length. It has to be the most expensive present Nita's ever gotten me, It couldn't be from a second hand store. There is only one problem I could possibly have with it.

"It's backless," my breath catches with my voice.

Nita turns the dress to show the clasp that wraps around the neck revealing the upper half of the wearers back. Nita mistakes the look on my face for stunned happiness and beams with pride.

"Yes, it very pretty isn't it? You could go as a princess."

I slowly take the dress from Nita's offering arms, mind whirling with how I can fix this. I can't refuse Nita's gift but I also can't wear this to the party. Nita now notices my lack of enthusiasm and her smile falters a bit. I quickly plaster a smile on trying to cover my shock.

"Well I can honestly say that it is the most beautiful dress I've ever owned, thank you Nita."

Nita's smile came back in full force.

"It is from your aunt and uncle as well they gave me the money to buy it. They didn't know what to get you."

That was so like them, they only seemed to remember me when something important was happening. It's not like I'll ever turn sixteen again.

"It's just that.... it looks cold, and so many girls go as queens and princesses. Maybe we could add something to the costume to.... spice it up and cover the back so it's warmer?"

Nita looks it over with her 'creative eye' taking it from me to get a better look.

"I have some shimmery fabric left over from a shawl I made for my mother back in South Africa. I could make it into a pair of wings. Then pin it to the fabric at the back of the neck and attach the wing tips to your wrists, but don't many girls also go as angels?"

"Oh, no." I'm quick to interject.

"As long as the back is covered then I should be fine. To keep from getting cold."

She hands me the dress and pulls me in for a quick hug, I wince as her arms contact my back but she doesn't see. After a moment or two she pulls away.

"I can't believe your sixteen already, time goes by so quickly." she sakes her head almost sadly. "If I'm going to make some costume wings I need to go and buy some thread."

We walk down the stairs. The dress is still clutched in my hand as I try to convince myself that this can still all work out. She turns and looks into my eyes as she opens the door to leave and speaks bluntly but full of caring.

"To be honest Wren I'm glad your going to this party. It almost feels like you've been hiding from the world these past few months. It's not healthy for a young women, maybe you need this, sometime to just enjoy yourself."

"I'll see you later tonight, try to go to bed early ok?" she blows me a kiss as she leaves.

I can only watch the door close after her, a fake smile plastered to my face and so many words left unsaid.

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