Amelia

Amelia was hiding underneath the table in the booth for four. Mummy was talking to a lady all dressed in dark green. Amelia was pretending to be invisible. Above her, her youngest brother Thomas had climbed up onto the table and screwed the salt and pepper lids off. He had methodically dumped the salt and pepper in little piles. Amelia had grown tired of eating her fries and trying to keep the shakers away from Thomas. She hunched in the cool recesses of the booth and closed her eyes. She was so tired.

That morning, she had helped Mummy make the beds, smoothing the sheets and tucking in the corners. Then Amelia had picked up her little laundry pile and Mummy piled Thomas’ dirty clothes on top. Look at me Mummy, she had grinned, I’m your slave. Mummy had laughed and pretended to scold her-to hurry up and wash the dirty clothes. Amelia had giggled and run down the hall with Mummy chasing her.

Then Thomas had woken up and yelled. Amelia left Mummy and trotted to the nursery. She had tickled his tummy and he stopped yelling and starting to laugh. Mummy had come then, and dressed Thomas. She gave him oatmeal with blueberries, and Amelia snuck some when Mummy wasn’t looking. She loved blueberries, and these were big and fat and blue.

Oh Thomas, Mummy said. Amelia lifted her head. Come off of the table and-whatever am I going to do with you, she said. The lady in green was still there. She laughed at Thomas. Amelia looked at the lady in green’s shoes. Maybe they were green too. They were black. Amelia was disappointed. If one was going to dress in one color, why not match the shoes. Amelia herself was dressed in an array of colors. She had her favorite striped shirt on, with her purple leggings. She had shoes that blinked with rainbow colored lights when she walked. She banged her foot against the seat and watched as her shoes lighted up. She thought back to the morning.

Then Mummy said they could go to the park since it was Saturday. Amelia had great fun sliding down through the tunnels. Around and around she went and popped out the other end. Mummy pushed her and Thomas on the swings and when Amelia got hungry they went for burgers.

Now Mummy was talking to the lady in green. Amelia wondered what Mummy was saying. Probably boring grown-up things. She climbed up onto the seat where Thomas had begun to climb up on the table again. Mummy, said Amelia quietly, Thomas is climbing onto the table again.

Mummy turned around and caught Thomas in her arms. Shall we go, ‘Melia? she said. I think Mrs. Lobushki and I are finished talking. The lady in green had a long and funny last name. Good-bye, the lady in green said to Amelia. Bye, she whispered back. The lady in green shook Mummy’s hand and clip-clopped out the door.

Who was that, she asked, when they were outside and blinking in the bright sunshine. That was..a friend, Mummy said evasively.

Oh, she said. I’m tired.

Let’s head home, Mummy said, I think it’s time for Thomas’ nap too.

When they were home, and Amelia was tucked into bed, she remembered Mummy had never told her who the lady in green was.

Once upon a time I tried writing fiction. I got this far before I gave up. What do you think Mummy wanted with the lady in green?

I said I would give an introduction of sorts to you.

The bare facts: Female, blue eyes, brown hair, braces, 125 lb. , 5 feet, 5 inches tall, age 21, American citizen, I work at a butcher shop, five days a week. The lovely complexity of personality:

I like cats more than dogs. I adore neutral colors; beige needs more love. I wilt in the heat and energize in cold weather. I like sunflowers and red roses and poppies and orchids. I’d rather use bars of soap than bodywash. I love to create: food, painting/drawing, writing, journaling. I’d like to learn how to sculpt and fence. I have insomnia. I love singing and songs and music. Sushi is my go-to and any oriental food. I get shaky when I drink coffee but I like it too mich to give it up. I love exploring cities. I want to visit France, but not Paris. I’d rather take a summer’s worth of life in a little country village. I’m a uprooted person by nature but I envy domesticated people. I’m not a big fan of chocolate or salty foods. I love immersing myself in different cultures and getting to know people. No one is a stranger to me. I like to give out hugs and food and compliments. I have a short temper and my biggest pet peeve is peer pressure. I like having intellectual conversations. I judge people too quickly based on first impression personalities and clothing styles. I am fiercely loyal to people I love. I am very forward and blunt. Honesty is the most important thing to me, besides believing in God. I have four most important people in my life. My folks, my best friend, and my therapist. I like to collect what people call ‘cursed facts’; facts you could live without knowing/wishing you never heard that come out of my mouth. I like odd and curious things. I’m very fond of ugly animals and plants. The quote of this week is ”Submission is strength.” I like to drink a glass of milk every day. Quiet people scare me. I have a beephobia and I‘m dreadfully afraid of heights. I like space and the depth of the ocean. The book I’m currently reading is “Mere Christianity“ by C. S. Lewis. I’m fluent in two languages. Pennsylvania Dutch and English. Is anyone ever fluent in English, though? (insert laughing emoji) Text me; I’d love to chat.

Laters, loves.