Bright Side

Chapter 2

    Zath and I walk into our small house. It has three rooms, two of which are the bedroom and bathroom. Every time a big storm comes we have to hide out in a friend's house or the coffee shop because our house is not stable. Meanwhile,  our Dad will just stay at his master's house, he said he is very generous and kind. Haha, all you have to do is look at Dad's payroll to see that is not true. We've had to rebuild many times, but do not underestimate the wonders duct tape can do.

I look outside and see Catnia working with her cow. Zath and I share a look and smile. Catania is our six-year-old little sister. We love her more than anything, and it is so sweet to see her work with her cow. She likes to use crushed berry paint from my friend Gwen to play 'cow dress up' as she calls it. The cow hates it.

We drop our game, berries, and herbs on the kitchen table and walk out to see her. Actually, we race out. Zath and I are probably the most competitive kids in 15. I think I won, but Zath just won't admit defeat. It turns into a big friendly argument.

Catnia turns her head towards us and starts to argue for my side. Zath just scowls and walks over to milk the cow. I laugh at his actions and Catnia grabs my hand and drags me to the kitchen.

"Stella, can we go see Gwen today? Please." She begs. "I want to take lessons with her today."

I look down at Catnia and think over what she said. I have to leave in a few minutes anyways to go to the BMUD-the black market. BMUD stands for Black Market Unique to Dependency 15. Unique right?

"Uh, I don't know tha-"

"Pretty please? With a cherry on top!" My little sister looks up at me with her forest green eyes that are identical to my brother's. She has the same hair and build as me, just not as skinny. The baby fat helps, but there is no way my brother and I would let her go a day without food. She used to have bangs but now her hair sweeps over her forehead from the left because she is trying to grow it out.

"If you let me go then you will get to see one of your besties..." She finishes, and she's right. Gwen is one of my best friends. She used to be ranked lower, but with the money her family has made off her art, they managed to move up ten places.
   
"Uggg, fine! You win this one, but I will eventually find a way to win," I tell her jokingly. She just smiles, a big single toothed smile, and walks off to grab the canvas Gwen's helping her on. She won't let me see it yet, but I definitely want to know what's behind the cloth.

Just then Zath walks in with a bucket full of milk and listens to the squealing Catnia. He looks at me with raised eyebrows setting the bucket next to the game, berries, and herbs.

"So," he begins. "I'm first gonna assume that the background noise is coming from a six-year-old girl who just got her older sister to do something for her. Probably either tag along with you to see your friends or get paint lesions from Gwen."

"When in doubt, always go with B," is my only reply. He just rolls his eyes.

I call Catnia to tell her we are leaving. She runs in with a covered canvas that she holds protectively over her body.

"Ok Zath, so I'm gonna go and drop off Catnia at Gwen's place. Then, I'll go to the BMUD for the bare necessities. On my way home I'll pick her up." I say while walking out.

"Ok, you do that," Zath replies. I start to open the door when he adds, "I think I'm gonna do my rounds."

"Ok, see you soon. Bye!" I call back shutting the door. The sun will start to set in a little over an hour giving me only about an hour and a half to do everything. It's about a ten-minute walk to Gwen's place and an extra five to the BMUD, so I'll only have about 45 minutes to get what we need.

All our roads are dirt, but they have beautiful wildflowers growing on either side of them. There are trees and bushes lining the wall to make a huge grey eyesore seem a little prettier, and tall grasses grow up in random places everywhere. Blankets of grass cover all the land that is not a road or built on. Unless you are in your house or under a tree, the sun beats down and can easily fry you if you're not careful, and the same few birds seem to come and go as they please.

"Hey, Stella," Catnia begins.

"Yeah," I reply.

"Can you tell me about Mommy again, please?" She asks with a quiet voice. She never got to meet our Mom because she died giving birth to her.

This is a very rough topic for me because I was so close to her. My Mom was my best friend up until she died. I mean you could say she still is. Every night before Dad gets home, but after Catnia and Zath go to bed, I go and wish upon a star. I wish for my Mother back, a better life for my siblings and I, someone I can break down and cry with, and someone who gets me. I end up in tears almost every night, dreaming about what I have lost, unless I think Zath or Catnia will hear.

I take a deep breath and start fiddling with my bracelet. It is just a simple piece of black string tied to make a loop, but it was my last gift from Mom. I haven't taken it off for six years, other than to adjust it and keep it clean and in one piece.

"Ok," I begin. "Mom was the kindest and most selfless person to ever live. She and her sister were really close to each other when she lived in Dependency 4. Then, she met Dad and her life changed dramatically. They fell in love, which was a shock to so many people. I mean, who in their right mind would leave the luxury of being in 4, and high rank there as well. She didn't care what they told her, she left with Dad. He, being from Dependency 17 brought her down more than she dragged him up. They ended up here in 15." I finish up my story quickly, but Catnia wants more.

"And what happened once they ended up here?" She innocently asks.

"Well, they built a life, family, and community for themselves," I say. "Mom charmed everyone she met and made so many people happy. They admired her kindness, bold and caring nature, and soft voice. She was the best mother ever, too. She would use a special brush she smuggled here from 4 to brush my hair, and used the scissors to cut my hair. Every morning when I got up out of bed, she would sit me in a chair in front of her, braid my hair, and tell me stories from 4. Like, did you know our Aunt Hassana has a daughter named Phia who is my age?" Catnia shakes her head no. "Yeah, I definitely want to meet her sometime soon."

Catnia looks up at me with longing in her eyes. She has always wanted to meet Mom. She keeps a picture of her in her back pocket at all times. I feel so bad for her, growing up without a mother. At least I got to meet her. I've tried so hard to make it seem like I take Mom's death well, but I can't always do that, and the truth is that I don't. Neither can Zath, though, he hardly remembers her.

We arrive at Gwen's house and I knock on the door. Luckily, Gwen answers so I don't have to wait for someone to find her.

"Hey," she says. I do the same. Then, she sees Catnia and her canvas. "Oh, that explains a lot. How about you come in sweetie, and we can get right to work. I was a little bored anyways." All the sadness vanishes from  Catnia's face as she squeals and runs into the art room.

Gwyn has pale skin and pale blond hair that just barely meets her shoulders, giving her a ghostly look sometimes. Her eyes are a deep blue green color, and she always seems to have paint on her face, or clothes, or both.

"Thanks," I say, rushed "I have to go to the BMUD, like, now so I can't talk. I'll probably be back in 45ish minutes." I hurriedly finish.

She gives me a double thumbs up and says, "Awesome! See ya soon then, Stel!"

"Yeah! Bye!" I shout as I runoff.

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Thank you so much for giving my story a chance!
Remember God loves you!!!!
If you have any suggestions please let me know!

1529 words

Happy_hoosier