Forever And A Day

Two: The Past

It was a warm South African summer's day in November  .

I remember the cloudless sky being a bright hazy blue and the sun shining brightly down on all that lived and breathed .

A faint salty breeze blew in from the sea  hanging over everything .

I could smell it through the open glass doors of the Toerien's living room where Max ,his sisters Lyssa and Jessie ,and I sat drawing  pictures , keeping ourselves busy .

My Mom had brought me over that morning before she left for Capetown . Aunty Emma ,Max's Mom , was supposed to babysit me until my Mom returned that evening .

My Mom had to go to Capetown because my Granny was sick in the hospital.

My Dad couldn't watch me because he had to work that day and Owen ,my only sibling , was over  at a friend's house for the weekend .

I'd dressed that morning in a pair of floral print shorts and a pink T-shirt with a single big  white rose printed on the front . Mom had made me wear my pink  swimsuit under it in case Aunty Emma would later take Max ,his sisters and I to the beach .

I'd been very excited to go over to Max's . I haven't seen him much throughout the week because he'd been at school mostly and I had attended Kindergarten .

It would be my last year in Kindergarten . In January I would be attending the ' Big School ' with Max and Owen .

If Mom hadn't walked me over in the morning I'd've climbed over the fence like Max and I do whenever we wanted to play together. I was that eager to see my best friend.

Max had been excited to see me too .When Aunty Emma had opened the  front door to let me in , he'd come running and he'd been all bouncy like a ball and full of smiles and hugs .

Aunty Emma had to reprimand him thrice to be careful .

She'd given us the stack of paper that now resides in the middle of the glass topped central coffee table where we sat on couch cushions .

While we drew , Aunty Emma had gone on with her daily tasks around the house .Occasionally checking up on us  to make sure that we didn't get too rowdy or turn her living room in a war zone  . Like last year when Lyssa and Jessie had thrown a major tantrum .

" What're you drawing ,Carly ?", Aunty Emma asked me as she  leaned over me to look down at my drawing .

She smelled like the roses from my Granny's garden in Capetown .  I hoped my Granny was going to get better soon .

" A house ", I replied .

" Ah , I see and who's going to live in it ?".

" Max and me ", I answered boldly and stiffened when I heard the unmistakable boyish giggle from across the table.

I whipped my head up to stare at my best friend . I gaped at him while disappointment and hurt rushed through me .

My Mom always said that you shouldn't laugh at something or someone that's not funny and here my own friend giggled  at my words .

I wanted nothing but to get up ,tear my drawing into pieces and run away . My lip quivered and my eyes began to water .

" Max !", Aunty Emma scolded him softly giving him a dissaproving look .

It didn't help my hurt to disappear ,but I did feel slight satisfaction when he ducked his head sheepishly .

Aunty Emma moved on to ask Lyssa what she was drawing and I forced myself to pick up a colour pencil .