Fiction Friday... Seara

My previous disclaimer holds true for this story as well!

 

Seara

Seara jogged up through the path, the sun just beginning to set. Her pigtails swished happily behind her. She had found the perfect place, now all she had to do was convince her mother that she could take care of herself. Not an easy task for a ten year old with an overly protective father; and if that wasn’t bad enough, a sister who enjoyed playing mother hen. She loved them all; even though, they didn’t understand her need for space. Seara needed time alone, away from the protective eyes of her family. She loved roaming the woods along their property on her own. She was hoping dad would build her a tree house in the large oak by the creek. Maybe they’d even let her camp there in the summers.

“I knew I should have checked the woods first.” Alyssa sighed, “I’ve been looking all over for you, you’ve been gone for hours.” She exaggerated. “You said you’d help me with the dishes.”

“I know. But you guys weren’t done with dinner yet, so I just went exploring for a minute.” Seara explained logically, inwardly rolling her eyes at her sister’s worried expression.

“It’s almost pitch black in there...”

“Come on lets go do the dishes,” Seara said, deciding against getting into a debate with her sister, this time. “I’ll race you to the house. Ready, set, go_” Seara raced ahead of her sister.

“Ugh, hey_” Alyssa yelled from behind.

Whipping the door open, Seara rushed into the house. Quickly depositing her shoes in the mud room, she rushed into the kitchen.

“I won!” Seara panted to her father who had already begun filling the sink with dish water. “Where’s mom?”

“You cheated.” Alyssa accused, not nearly as winded as her sister, having given up the pursuit half-way across the yard. Looking around the kitchen, Alyssa asked, “Where’s mom?”

Dad smiled at his daughters, “She went to lie down. She’s getting a headache.”

“Another one?” The girls asked.

Both girls noticed the worried glance that passed quickly over their father’s face and exchanged one of their own. Their mother had been experiencing quite a few headaches lately. So frequently that they had even refused a foster placement. Something neither of the girls could remember them doing before.

Changing the subject, dad asked, “Have any homework?”

“Dad,” Seara giggled, as she dried the plate her sister had just handed her, “it’s Friday. And it’s almost summer vacation. Only twelve more days, including weekends.”

“Bet you’re going to miss school Lyssie?” Her father teased.

“Right.” Alyssa feigned, “I’m so heartbroken.”

“I’m excited, I’m starting Middle School. I have graduation this year! Are you coming daddy?” Seara interrupted.

“I don’t know Peanut…"

“Daddy!” Seara laughed.

“You know I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

*           *           *

“Did you see the new family at church?” Seara asked her sister excitedly from her seat in the van.

“Yeah.” Alyssa said looking out the window. Alyssa was worried about her mother. Mom never missed Sunday service.

“They’re twins. They’re going into sixth grade too. I can’t believe summer’s almost over. Only two more weeks. The new family, they bought the farm house around the corner from us. If we went through the woods we would end up in their back yard. I’ve walked that way a couple times, it’s easy, except when the creek is high. Talli, that’s a strange name, but she’s really nice. Dad, can we invite her over? And Lyssie we should ask Tria too. Daddy can we have a sleep-over?” Seara rattled on about all the things the girls could do at the sleep-over not really waiting for answers to her questions.

Dad and Alyssa’s minds were on the same person – Mom. Dad pulled his mini-van into the driveway, pushed the button to open the garage doors, and parked the car inside. Seara continued to chatter the whole way into the house.

After taking her shoes off, Alyssa went in search of her mother. She found her reading her Bible on the couch with an old blanket thrown over her lap. Mom closed her Bible as Alyssa walked into the living room.

“How was church?” Mom asked.

“Fine, how are you feeling?”

Seara waltzed into the living room, before mom could answer, dad in tow. Dad walked over to the couch kissing mom’s forehead and then gently kissing her lips.

“Fever’s gone.” Dad commented not fully standing.

“I’m feeling better.” Mom tenderly touched dad’s cheek.

“Hey mom, guess what?” Seara plopped on the couch next to her mother. When mom made eye contact with her youngest daughter, Seara continued, “There’s a new family in church, and they have twins, a boy and a girl...”

“Hold on, Peanut.” Dad said cutting off Seara’s running diatribe, “You need to head upstairs and change, then you can tell mom all about Tillie during lunch.”

Seara laughed, “Talli, dad. Not Tillie.”

“My mistake – Talli. Now go change.”

Seara ran for the stairs, but not before she heard dad ask mom. “Don’t you think it’s time we tell them?”