Summer Birdie

E for...

You wake up to the sound of the doorbell ringing. The loud, monotonous sound echoing down the halls to the livingroom where you were sleeping. You see small shreams of light seeping in from a chink in the curtains where you lay. You get up, staggering out of the comfy mountain of pillows and duvets. Your mother must have kept the air conditioning on to keep the heat out. You go to the dining table in search of the remote to turn it off, when you see all the sushi spread out on the table perfectly packaged with a note on top: 'just nipping out for do some errands, help yourself to all of it, love mama xXx' you forget what you came to the table for.

The fequency of the ringing doorbell heightens and you block your ears with your hands as you scream towards the door "ALRIGHT, I'M COMING!" You put the door chain on and unlock it. To your surprise, a pair of golden eyes stare back at you through the gap.

"Good morning," Birdie winks at you, stunned, "Well, it's afternoon now, but it looks like you just woke up!"

"H-how..?" You close the door and undo the chain. You look at him dressed in a fitted shirt with holes cut in the back for his wings, closely fitted jeans with a lovely pair of running shoes on his feet. He clutched the hero toy close to him and smiles at you. You stare behind him to see his uncle smoking a cigarette by the gate a cellphone to his ear. "He's telling the big wigs that our spot at the house has been compromised."

"Compromised..? Big wigs?"

"Your mother found out about us, so he's telling them that we have to pretend to be a normal family until we move again."

"Wait, again!?" You stare at him in disbelief, "but you just got here..."

You see his eyes widen and his mouth opens to say something but is interrupted, "Morning, kid!" The uncle says, pocketing his cellphone and throwing the exstinguished cigarette bud away. "Your mother home, kid?"

"Not right now." You say awkwardly, standing in front of the door.

"Are you gonna let us in or what?" He asks, "She did invite us."

You couldn't argue with an adult and move aside to let them enter. Closing the door quickly behind them, the uncle loosens his tie making the collar of his yellow shirt crooked. Looking at your family photos on the wall he comments "Big family you got huh, kid."

"Would you like some green tea?" You ask, mimicking how your mother would normally treat guests when they entered the house. The uncle looks at you, his back slouching slightly, his hands in his pockets as his eyes surveys the rooms. "Polite, aren't you?"

"Would you like one, b..." You stammer, forgetting that you have to pretend this is the first time meeting him. "No, thank you." He beams at you.

"What's your name?" You ask. You hear the uncle coughing violently interrupting your train of thought. You make the tea and bring it to him. He thanks you and sips it lightly, still staring at the comfy fort in the livingroom and the pictures that surround the walls. "His names' Harris."

You quickly glance at the boy who subtly shakes his head. "Would you like some sushi?" You ask them, pulling chairs out for them to sit down by the table.

"Sounds great!" You hear the uncle say, grabbing a set of chopsticks and opening the first box he sees, devouring it hungrily like a starving wolf. You sit down next to the boy on his side of the table. You could feel your hands shaking from how nervous you were. You've only felt this type of feeling once before. It was when you and your brother had broken your dad's favourite vase in the landing and you knew you were both in trouble. You could feel the sweat trickling down your face and you hands becoming clammy. You jump to the boy's touch as he slides his hand into yours and squeezes it reassuringly.