Summer's Berceuse

07: To Leslie

Tik tok, tik tok, tik tok, tik...

It was the never-ending sound that came from the grandfather clock. My inverted gaze followed its pendulum as it swayed from side to side.

I was on an old fashioned wooden arm chair, my legs draped over the backrest and an open book that was flipped upside down rested on my stomach, my hair was scattered on the carpet and I felt the soft wool in between my fingers.

I’ve been upside down for a few minutes now. I'm quite surprised that I still haven't felt nauseous despite the position I'm in. Usually, I'd feel sick and want to throw up if I'm left upside down even for a few seconds. Nonetheless, I remained in that position and my eyes glued to the clock's pendulum.

“When will the torture end?” I pouted at the thought.

It's been a good month since ‘the incident’ happened and I got discharged from the hospital after a week or so and there began my unanticipated summer and today was just another day of it.

Also, in the last few weeks, more of my cousins came by for summer. Although we aren't cousins biologically, we were cousins at heart and had a genuine bond.

I broke my gaze from the pendulum as I heard a heated voice in the corner of the room. I caught sight of Uncle Damdim's son and Uncle Hans' daughter that were both sitting on the carpet. I overheard the two talking and it seemed like their conversation was brewing into an argument.

“Hey! Why did you change the channel?!” Hanna, Uncle Hans' daughter, asked with her tone raised.

“Cause I don't like watching fairies!” Crossing his arms, Uncle Damdim's son answered sharply. With that, Hanna's eyes widened for a second then her brows furrowed in displeasure.

Just exactly how long was I staring at the pendulum? I could've sworn they were peacefully watching cartoons moments ago.

Hanna placed both of her arms on her hips and her eyebrow shot up. “Why don't you like it?”

“Fairies are for girls,” Damian retorted, still with his arms crossed. “And I'm a boy so I don't wanna watch fairies!”

With that declaration, Damian faced the TV, increased the volume, and continued to watch a show that featured superheroes ignoring Hanna's following statements.

”But that was my favorite show!” Exasperated, Hanna cried out only to receive a cold shoulder from him.

“Kids.” I sighed at the childish argument that's playing. To be fair, I think I would be pretty annoyed if Ethan were to change the channel while I'm enjoying the show I'm watching with no notice. And Hanna and Damian were still young, six and seven years old respectively. Of course one would be upset if the channel was abruptly switched and to think their favorite show was airing.

“Give me that!” Hanna tried to snatch the remote from Damian but unfortunately for her, he had a hard grip on it. Now both are fighting; the scenario played out like a game of tug of war but instead of a rope, it's the remote.

Being one of the older cousins, I had to step in and stop their fight or it could escalate to something bigger so I got up from my upside down position and approached the two. My figure stood in front of them but the two didn't acknowledge it and continued to fight over the remote.

I sighed, sat in a seiza-style, and took the remote from their grips. The two children now took notice of me and both turned their head to face me.

“It's not good to fight, you know,” I said, meeting Hanna's honey colored eyes and Damian's ocean blue eyes.

Hanna's eyes softened and was tearing up.