CHAINS OF OUR BLOOD

Meeting Amethyst

It is of grave importance for a father to show her daughter how a woman is valued and loved, not just to help her set a standard in choosing a husband, but to let her set a standard in valuing and loving herself...

I took Columbus Ave. and turned left in 87th St. Our house is near Trinity, and traffic is almost nonexistent just like back home.

Dad wanted to buy a house much closer to Trinity, he hoped to make me walk to and from school. No, not because I was a reckless driver, or because he wants to save on gas. Edith might scoff, but dad can afford a Porsche if he wanted to. But, he believes in going green. He says toxic exhaust from cars kills mother earth. He uses a bike for transportation or a skateboard, and in very rare cases he uses Martha, his beloved solar-powered car. We used my car to travel from DC to Manhattan. Towing Martha along and having only one Home Mover's truck to bring our things. Well, mostly my things, since the only thing dad couldn't leave behind was my mother's little box and portraits, and it all fits in one box and that box fits perfectly well in Martha (we folded the front seats). All his books were given to our friends back home. He ordered new ones. He loves the smell of new books, says my mom does too. Yes, he talks about mom as if she's just on vacation. Like she's coming home any minute.

My dad is a goof. I love him. He'll never hear that from me. But I want to believe that my ability to reach out to auras is a gift from him, that he knows I love him.

"Why did your father choose such an ostentatious house if he can't afford a decent car Ika? I mean he might be in way over his head renting such a lofty house as this."

Well, yes, one might say that by the sheer beauty of the house and the size of our garage. It could fit 10 Hummers, but as it has only Wednesday and Martha as occupants the space seems a mile wide. Dad gave away his skates and bikes and has yet to buy new ones.

"Meredith, please. Uncle Patrick just has an eccentric outlook towards cars. And I totally agree with his view. Do be gracious, we're guests."

Hah! I am so happy to see Meredith silenced. I almost flashed a radiant smile towards Roark.

"And that would be what Ika? Do tell."

Even though I hear the sarcasm dripping from her dulcet voice. I still obliged with a reply. Just to defend dad.

"He believes in being the change he wants to see in the world. He dreams of a more environmental friendly future. Where there is little to no toxic fumes polluting the air. A better future for his great grandchildren as he likes to put it."

"It's not very effective then seeing his very own daughter is not following his example. I can't imagine how disappointed he might be with you."

Oh Edith, you just won't stop. Did I actually feel sorry for you?

"Meredith, stop it or go home."

Crap, why do I feel this strange sort of affection for Edith. It was nonexistent earlier, is it because we're blood kin?

"It's okay Roark, I remember your mother, I know where Edith stands. It might be unfathomable for her to not do as she wills you to. But dad believes in letting me make my own life choices."

I did feel this was the reason and was genuinely sympathetic to Edith.

"That sums it up, yes. Father is the same, but he's mostly away on business trips. Leaving us with mother."

I looked at Edith and saw an impassive face. Did she take offense? Sigh.

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That worm! I don't know what I was thinking coming with them. Yes, I'm afraid. Afraid that leaving Roark with Faith and Ika, I will lose him. I can take my mother's vicious condescension but if ever I lose my brother, I will die. It irks her so, that a stranger was able to fathom her darkest pain, well, technically, not a stranger, she consoles herself. She did meet mother. My mother is such a bitch!

I wanted to let my frustrations out. I, however, managed to mentally sew my mouth shut, feeling close to hysteria, realizing Faith witnessed another humiliating setback. She vowed Faith will pay for thinking what she is pretty sure she's thinking now.

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Meredith actually got it all wrong, Fainwyn was not in the very least thinking about Meredith in any way. She was riveted by the portrait, no, portraits of a smiling woman, the very same woman she saw in her father's boxes of stored paintings. The woman is all over the garage walls, and when they stepped into a very monochromatic house of stark white marbles with all black furnitures and fixtures, all she could see was the vibrant paintings of the woman. She knew who the artist is. For sure, that vibrant lifelike paintings are her father's work.

"The woman in the portraits, is she your mother Monica?"

Her voice barely a whisper.

"Yes, she is."

"I'm sorry "She looked at Monica, Imploring for understanding, to not take offence "but may I ask what's the date of her death?"

Monica was taken aback, she took a moment before answering.

"January 5th of 1999, my birthday."

Oh, so Meredith's Aunt Amy is my father's Amethyst. I wondered why he would cry over her every January 5th. I first thought it was my parents wedding date, but it wasn't. I then thought that maybe they needed to marry because mum got pregnant with me, that it's the date mum told father, but as it turned out I was conceived after a year of marriage. I thought too that it might be the wedding date of the woman, binding her to another man, but my father is not one to honor the sanctity of marriage to keep away. I didn't think that the least entertained theory of mine would turn out to be true. Jan. 5th is the day of her death. However, I never, in a million years, think that she might be someone close to anyone of my parents present social circle.

I felt my limbs go weak... 

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Faith fainted! Faith fainted? Why?

Should I be happy? I felt none of that as I held her close, breaking her fall. Crap, I'm getting weak if I actually am feeling concern for the little witch. I mentally berated myself to stop. But Faith never faints.

NEVER!

I didn't know my concern for her has made two people in the room smile.

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Why did Thruja faint? Monica was dumbfounded. And she was sure her mouth hung open when it was Edith who caught her mid-fall, with a palpable look of concern in her face. She met Roark's eyes. And they smiled.