Rules of Fate

Chapter 16 - I hate surprises.

I remembered one particular day as though it had been yesterday. The sun had been blazing down out of a clear blue sky, in itself a novelty, and the birds seemed to know it. They kept chirping and singing with crazy abandon until I wanted to grab a gun and shoot them all. Of course I couldn't, I was too young and besides it was my birthday. The best day of the year for any kid and I wasn't an exception.

I leapt out of bed, changed my clothes and went to find my parents. They were both in the kitchen sipping coffee or tea, it didn't matter. What mattered was the look on their faces. Completely blank, like a blank piece of paper had been plastered over them to show their features but nothing else. Odd, I mean they should've been smiling or something right? There were the customary presents on the table, but something about my parents' lack of expression niggled at me even at that tender age. They both looked up as I entered and as though they had rehearsed beforehand, they both smiled simultaneously. But it wasn't their usual smiles; these were forced and singularly disturbing.

'Happy birthday darling!' my mother chirped like one of the birds outside.

'Many happy returns of the day,' my father added. I smiled and kissed them both before eyeing the presents again.

'We have to tell you something...' my father began, but my mother put a restraining hand on his arm.

'Later,' she said softly, 'after the presents.'

As a kid that was the most important thing mum could have said. I ripped open the packages and whooped gleefully at the gifts most kids wished for at that time; skates, games etc. A thought entered my mind and like the child I was, I voiced it while tying on the skates, missing my parents' reactions completely.

'When's Granma Jo getting here?'

Granma Jo was my mother's mother; a jolly plump woman who was always smiling. I could honestly say I had never seen Granma Jo lose her temper or speak harshly to anyone and I loved her even more because of the special attention she lavished on me. In her eyes I could do no wrong, no matter what my mother said, Granma Jo believed I was perfect. Her little angel, she used to call me. So you can imagine my excitement when I was told that she would be wishing me happy birthday in person this year. I couldn't wait!

When I didn't get an answer from my parents I looked up to see them exchanging a look I couldn't understand at the time.

'How do you like your gifts?' my mother asked.

I said I loved them, and then asked again about Granma Jo. My dad cleared his throat and beckoned me to his side.

'Samantha,' he began. I stiffened; he never used my full name unless it was important. 'Granma Jo caught a bus last night, but...' he paused and looked to mum for help.

'There was an accident darling,' my mother said and I noticed her voice was thick and her eyes shone in the morning light. I hadn't quite grasped the situation yet, so I waited impatiently for them to say more.

When they didn't I piped up with, 'When is Granma getting here?'

At that my mother rushed out of the room and my dad hugged me. I had no idea what was going on, clearly I had said something to upset them. I hugged dad back and he mumbled into my hair.

'She's not coming Sam.'

I pulled back confused. 'Why not?'

He looked away before saying, 'She has gone to a better place honey.'

I went still. A better place? My hamster had also recently gone to a "better place" and I'd not seen him since. The concept of death was just starting to dawn on me and I didn't like what I was hearing or seeing now. 'When can I see her?'

Dad shook his head slowly. 'We can't darling.'

'Not ever?'

He shook his head again and I caught a sob in my throat painfully. That was the last birthday I remember having the excitement of coming downstairs to see my parents. After that year the magic died along with Granma Jo, and so did my illusions of good surprises and happily ever afters.

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