Once Upon His Last Day

Beyond Happy

I give an incredulous gasp. How is this even possible? It doesn't seem like a dream or anything of that sort. Not at all. I don't know why but something just tells me that it isn't. This is real. Arthur raises an eyebrow and walks towards me. He is wearing that same blue shirt and orange pants.

"Why are you staring at me like that?You know, as if you just saw a scary ghost or something. Muriel! Hey! What?" he says while sniggering.

There is a long pause after this. I keep on staring at him. The room seems to fade out. I can only see Arthur and nothing else. All of this seems so magical, so surreal. The very sight of him makes my heart brim with utmost love and warmth. After what seems like an eternity, I feel so happy! His voice, his laughter- it's as if I'm in the seventh heaven. A sudden realization hits me. If this isn't a dream, then what is this? Is this truly reality and maybe the other part was a dream? Alright, this is weird! So did I apparently dream about three long harrowing and terribly mournful months - months during which I got no inspiration for getting out of the bed and I always felt like a zombie? But that other part also seemed so real. Okay, I am so baffled right now!

"Muriel!" Arthur hollers. I am still staring at him. "Did you have a nightmare?"

I still can't bring myself to believe that this is actually happening. Finally I decide to answer.

"Huh? Oh nightmare? Yeah- yes. I think so" I almost stammer. Of course I can't just tell a thirteen year old kid that I dreamt about his death and the period after.

"Thank god or I'd think you've gone mad." he says with a sigh.

"Ah well."

"Which you are by the way." he smirks.

"Right" I say sarcastically.

"You got it!"

Then he turns towards door and climbs down the stairs in leaps. After a while, I hear the clacking of heels on the stairs. My mom enters the room. In my dream, or whatever it was, she was always so morose and wouldn't talk to anybody, except when it came to waking me up in the morning. She wouldn't eat which caused her to look absolutely emaciated. And it broke my heart to see her like that. But now, in this world, she looks remarkably better. She is wearing a black striped, white coloured t-shirt and jeans.

"Muriel!" she seems shocked. " You're still not dressed?Oh girl, go, get ready promptly! I am all dressed up and Arthur is too! Go- what are you waiting for?"

"Ah- oh- yes...ah...mum" I stammer again.

I wear the same dress I wore today in, well , the other world- a red top and bell-bottoms. Don't judge me on my fashion sense because it doesn't even hold a position in a scale of one to zero. It's literally below zero.

While having breakfast, a sudden idea comes to my mind. I don't know if the other part was a dream and honestly, I don't care. But what I do care about is what if all that I saw is true? What if today really is Arthur's last day alive? I cannot bear to endure that excruciating mental pain of grief, loss, anguish and most importantly, guilt. Guilt- because there, I didn't spend his last day to the fullest. You may think I'm weird but to me, it doesn't matter how long one lives. Rather, what matters is whether one has lived one's life happily and to the fullest. So, I decided to make up a little plan.

"Mom, dad." I begin. "Can we do something today?"

"Something? What? You've got Parkin's Day today at school. When do you wanna do this 'something'?" dad asks, confused.

"Umm well during the break that we get."

Dad raises an eyebrow. Mom takes a look at dad and Arthur.

"Go on." she says.

"Well I was planning on taking a road trip!" I smile widely while uttering 'road trip'.

"A road trip?" my mom sounds astonished for some reason. "That's a---"

"Wonderful idea!" my dad completes her sentence. " I believe it's okay with you mom?"

"Ah yes of course! Why not!" grandma exclaims.

"Wha-- but that'd be terribly tiring! And Muriel, Arthur and you have to go to fly the lanterns after that little break of yours. You two are going to be too frazzled for that, after coming back from a road trip! And Greg-oh don't you have work? And I do as well. Plus, it'll be too much for ALL of us!"

"Cassandra, why do you always have to think about the downsides? Think about how fun it'll be! Plus, it's been a while since we had a real family outing! I can take leave for just one day and I'm pretty sure you can too."

"Yes mom it'll be awesome!"Arthur says excitedly. From his face, I can easily make out that he is trying very hard to resist jumping up and down. I smile at him.

"Ah wait everybody! Please give me  more than a heartbeat to ponder, will you?"

She walks to the living room and sits on the little purple couch. After sometime, she returns.

"Alright!" she says with a sigh. And the moment she utters that seven lettered word, dad and my little brother are overjoyed and they start dancing and screaming at the top of their lungs like small kids!

"You two! You're gonna scare the neighbours! " mom yells. "Shut up and um, children, you go to school and Greg, let's start packing! And Sandy, can you please help us with the food? We are terrible at it! And the food you make is just the best!"

In case you didn't know, grandma's name is Sandy.

"Of course dear. Why not!"grandma agrees. She's always eager to help.

Although mom doesn't show it, I can beyond the shadow of a doubt , say that she is extremely excited.

"So, since we are going on a road trip, where will we go?"mom asks.

" Well I was thinking of heading to the beach and then on our way back, maybe we could take a stroll around the sunflower field? I hear it's really lovely."

"Yeah mom! Muriel's absolutely correct! It's beautiful! I've always wanted to go there."

"Oh I know dearie. That's exactly why I mentioned it!"

"Mom?" we both ask in unison.

"Okay!"

When Arthur and I are about to leave for school, dad asks something all of a sudden.

"Hey Muriel when will your Parkin's Day thing be over?"

"Ah around 8, I suppose."

"Well that leaves us with an ample amount of time for a movie night! How does that sound? It's nothing tiring, just a plain, relaxing movie night!."

"That'll be great! Mom what do you think?"

"Hmm well that sounds..nice." she answers somewhat unexcitedly."Okay that sounds...wonderful!"

"Now we're talking!" dad exclaims.

We pull each other into a group hug. Then, Arthur and I leave for school.

I did it! I am beyond happy right now.
And really excited too, of course.