Chimera

Sayonara

At home, Genevieve found her father in his study - preoccupied with work, per the norm. "I have nainai's brownies," she stated at the door and his attention immediately shattered. "Freshly baked." She took of the lid and tilted the jar towards him. Mr. Harrington began rummaging through the brownies like a rapid pig. "Papa," she teased as she pulled the jar away from him. The two exchanged chuckles. "I highly recommend you don't tell ma."

"Don't tell ma what," Mrs. Harrington repeated sternly, arms folded across her chest. Her gaze shifted from her husband and daughter to the jar with white chocolate brownies in it. She shoulders slumped as the rest of her body went stiff. Mr. Harrington froze while Genevieve merely raised an eyebrow. "I expect more from you," she stated calmly then walked away silently.

Mr. Harrington sighed as he stood up and strutted out his office. "I've had enough of this," he stated, clearly incensed. "Go to your room until I get back!"

Before Genevieve could inquire, he hurried down stairs and briefly yelled at Mrs. Harrington, ranting about somethings relating to hating the situation. Which situation, he didn't specify. Genevieve couldn't quite hear all of it as the house was too big for her sense of sound. She obeyed her father's demand and submissively retired to her bedroom.

Mr. Harrington was gone for a while; almost two hours. Hours that had Mrs. Harrington pacing with worry and Genevieve plastered to the largest window in her room, both awaiting Mr. Harrington's return. He came back but Genevieve remained in her room, watching her father as he aided his mother-in-law into her wheelchair. Mrs. Harrington's impatience was shattered when she heard his car and bolted into his arms, completely ignoring her mother.

Mojo scurried up Genevieve's leg and yellow speckles on his legs and body seemed brighter against the purple blanket over her legs. The joro started tap dancing on her knee, making faint hissing noises. She turned back out the window as her parents bickered as they filed into the house with her grandmother wheeled in front of them.

"I hope you're right, Mojo." She stood up as the spider made its way to her shoulder. The spider jumped on to the railing as she descended the stairs, still talking to her. "I don't know," she replied, "hopefully he brought her so my mother can make peace." The spider stopped as it began scurrying in a circle on the wall. "You think it's a cycle? Why?" The spider returned to the railing tapping on it repeatedly, as if it were angry. "You've met other jorogumo?" The spider continued to hiss. "With the same situation as us? What? When? How'd they end?" She sighed at the reply then turned peeped down at her grandmother and parents who entered the living room. "The human daughters hate their jorogumo mother and the human's jorogumo daughter always hates her human mother? And the cycle never ends?"

"Genevieve," Mr. Harrington called calmly yet sternly. He called as if he knew where she was, and as if he knew who she spoke to. She turned to the spider and gestured to her bedroom, which is where is scurried to. Genevieve sat next to her grandmother with her parents in from of them. "I've put up with the fighting for twenty years and I've had enough. Seeing as neither one of you want to take the first step, I will. For my daughter's sake! For my wife's sake. For my mother-in-law's sake. I don't care if we have to stay here all night but you two will get this off your chests and put it behind you."

Grandma Mimasaka exhaled as she turned to Genevieve with a warm smile that make her wrinkles of wisdom look more wise. "I, for one, don't have anything against my daughter," she confessed as she clearly reminisced in the memories she had. "She's been my precious flower since she was born. Why do you think I named her Hana? She's my only child and first treasure. I can't change what you feel for me, Hana, and I can't change who I am."