6 Feb 2018, 08:29
The Smiths
June 10th
Glasgow, Scotland
Glasgow, Scotland
There was nothing special about today - it is how it always was. Vee has her coloring books on the coffee table surrounded by a vast array of crayons. Most of the crayons were halfway-used, but it was easy to see that it was well kept. Vee was quite proud of her collection. Beside her is a small cradle with an infant that shared her eyes. She hums a soft tune as she colors in a pre-drawn butterfly. She wasn’t much of an artist, but she likes to blend colors without thinking about it too much. A girl and her brother, nothing out of the ordinary.
“Venice!” Her mother called from the door. “Help me with the groceries, please.”
She stands and dusts her pants and walk to the door. She uses her heel to keep the screen door from closing and reaches out for one of the bags her mother was carrying.
“Careful with that one, there are eggs inside it.” Her mother warns. She gives her as small nod and stretches her neck to peek inside the bag. But she was ten, and a short person, so there was nothing she could really see from there. Defeated, she asks instead, “What are we having doing? Are we making cake today?”
It was her father’s birthday tomorrow. They don’t do much on each other’s birthdays but they do take the time to share a meal together. Sometimes they make their own presents for each other. It wasn’t so much of a bonding experience, but traditions do help tie them all together.
“Chocolate. Just the way he likes it.” Her mother says with a soft smile. Vee scrunches her nose, she wasn’t very fond of chocolate cake but baking was one of the few things she was able to do with her mother, so she was grateful for the opportunity. She sets down the bag on the counter and grabs a stool to kneel on. Once she’s steady, she removes all the items from the bag to the table.
“Angeline’s leaving, she says.” Vee starts, attempting to a have a conversation with her mother. Angeline lives next door, and goes to the same school, so they spend a lot of time together - but with only those things in common, they share no deep bond.
“Where is she off to?” Seraphine asks noncommittally.
“She’s going to live with her grandfather, I think? She’s transferring to a boarding school somewhere.” Vee explains.
Seraphine stiffens, she hastily finishes storing the items she bought, leaving out only the necessary ingredients for the cake. “Oh.” She manages, “Send her my regards when you meet before she leaves.”
Unlikely, but not impossible, Seraphine is reminded that Vee is turning 11 this year, and that there’s a letter that will come any day now.
“Venice!” Her mother called from the door. “Help me with the groceries, please.”
She stands and dusts her pants and walk to the door. She uses her heel to keep the screen door from closing and reaches out for one of the bags her mother was carrying.
“Careful with that one, there are eggs inside it.” Her mother warns. She gives her as small nod and stretches her neck to peek inside the bag. But she was ten, and a short person, so there was nothing she could really see from there. Defeated, she asks instead, “What are we having doing? Are we making cake today?”
It was her father’s birthday tomorrow. They don’t do much on each other’s birthdays but they do take the time to share a meal together. Sometimes they make their own presents for each other. It wasn’t so much of a bonding experience, but traditions do help tie them all together.
“Chocolate. Just the way he likes it.” Her mother says with a soft smile. Vee scrunches her nose, she wasn’t very fond of chocolate cake but baking was one of the few things she was able to do with her mother, so she was grateful for the opportunity. She sets down the bag on the counter and grabs a stool to kneel on. Once she’s steady, she removes all the items from the bag to the table.
“Angeline’s leaving, she says.” Vee starts, attempting to a have a conversation with her mother. Angeline lives next door, and goes to the same school, so they spend a lot of time together - but with only those things in common, they share no deep bond.
“Where is she off to?” Seraphine asks noncommittally.
“She’s going to live with her grandfather, I think? She’s transferring to a boarding school somewhere.” Vee explains.
Seraphine stiffens, she hastily finishes storing the items she bought, leaving out only the necessary ingredients for the cake. “Oh.” She manages, “Send her my regards when you meet before she leaves.”
Unlikely, but not impossible, Seraphine is reminded that Vee is turning 11 this year, and that there’s a letter that will come any day now.
All that stops you is fear. Do not allow it.