“Yes, that’s perfect.”
“Lunch,” I called out, while we went to the
end of the table and set the trays.
Dad looked up, interrupted but polite. “Ah.
Boys, let’s eat.” The boys tore themselves away. Angie and I
snatched ours up. While we made our way to sit, Dad said, “Slide
those chairs over here, girls.”
We did as he requested. I lowered into my
chair, placed my tall glass of tea to the floor, crossed my legs at
the ankles and placed my fruit salad bowl on my lap. Yummy .
The lettuce leaf canopy over the fruit was a great idea, hiding my
obsession. Eyeing down at it, I pushed my hair over my shoulder,
picked up the fork, flipped the lettuce leaf out of the way and dug
in. While the fruit exploded flavor in my mouth, I caught myself
growling a sound of pleasure. Not very angel-like, so I raised eyes
to see if anyone was watching me. Angie gave me a chewing grin.
The boys stood around the table, munching and
crunching. Dad looked at me, causing me to pause with a swallow. He
gave me a grin, moved his eyes around the room. Then set his bowl
to the table and finished chewing. After a napkin swipe across his
mouth he said, “Listen. I want you all to stay here this weekend.
We can go over the plans and have some family time. There’s a game
tomorrow and I think we should go meet the old team.”
That’s nice, except maybe the game, but,
whatever. This fruit is awesome.
Dad has lifetime skybox seats at the stadium,
along with all his old teammates. Thoughts about all we could do at
the house that weekend ran through my mind. Read books with my
sister again while the boys did their thing. And the sparkling
swimming pool out back. Yes, we could go swimming again. Excited
energy began to buzz through my wings. I relished the tastes on my
tongue.
Dad went on, “The old team would make a
perfect angel army, strong. It wouldn’t take much convincing.
Tomorrow. We’ll break the news tomorrow. It’ll be a good time.”
Angel army? Okay, whatever.
After giving Dad a full-mouth smile, I
stuffed another bite.
Jaydenn commented, “I’m looking forward to
seeing their reactions when we tellem we’re finally ending those
nasty dreks. It’ll be a party all right.”
My chewing stopped. I swung my gaze to Angie,
up to Dad. “The drekavacs? What are you guys talking about?”
“Weren’t you listening, honey?” Dad said.
After an inquisitive long look at me, he spoke to the room, “I
think it’s time she knew. She’s ready. Come over here, Elle.”
Can’t I just enjoy my salad in peace? Why
can’t he just tell me from there?
“Elle?” Dad reminded.
With my bowl placed to the floor, I made my
way over to him. Everyone waited. Angie set her bowl to the floor,
got to her feet and stepped over to me. My face felt tight,
clenched teeth, aftertaste of fruit on my tongue. I looked up at
Dad. “Well, what’s the big news, and please.” My gaze went around
the room. “Could everyone just quit with all the sensitive Ellie
crap. I’m tired of it, and you’re beginning to irritate me.”
Dad curled some sort of grin. He didn’t say
anything for a long moment. Oh, it dawned on me, Ellie standing up
like a big angel now. Please .
“Okay,” said Dad. “You know the drekavacs,
right?”
Duh .
“We assumed you’d eventually figure it out on
your own, but, we didn’t want to— well, you had nightmares, Ellie,
when you were a kid. We were protecting you from those. We brought
a doctor in and set a block in your mind. You healed and became our
sweet angel, so we left it alone. So now, I’m going to say
something, and I want you to listen close.” He paused, leaned in,
drew his brows down over an intense gaze, and pushed the words
directly at me, “Aron. Arod.” His tone was clear, deep.
Nightmares? I didn’t remember.
Then I did.
Flashes came like lightning: The sweating
terror in the middle of the night, a cold rag held to my forehead
by my mother while I sat up in bed gasping for breath
“Lunch,” I called out, while we went to the
end of the table and set the trays.
Dad looked up, interrupted but polite. “Ah.
Boys, let’s eat.” The boys tore themselves away. Angie and I
snatched ours up. While we made our way to sit, Dad said, “Slide
those chairs over here, girls.”
We did as he requested. I lowered into my
chair, placed my tall glass of tea to the floor, crossed my legs at
the ankles and placed my fruit salad bowl on my lap. Yummy .
The lettuce leaf canopy over the fruit was a great idea, hiding my
obsession. Eyeing down at it, I pushed my hair over my shoulder,
picked up the fork, flipped the lettuce leaf out of the way and dug
in. While the fruit exploded flavor in my mouth, I caught myself
growling a sound of pleasure. Not very angel-like, so I raised eyes
to see if anyone was watching me. Angie gave me a chewing grin.
The boys stood around the table, munching and
crunching. Dad looked at me, causing me to pause with a swallow. He
gave me a grin, moved his eyes around the room. Then set his bowl
to the table and finished chewing. After a napkin swipe across his
mouth he said, “Listen. I want you all to stay here this weekend.
We can go over the plans and have some family time. There’s a game
tomorrow and I think we should go meet the old team.”
That’s nice, except maybe the game, but,
whatever. This fruit is awesome.
Dad has lifetime skybox seats at the stadium,
along with all his old teammates. Thoughts about all we could do at
the house that weekend ran through my mind. Read books with my
sister again while the boys did their thing. And the sparkling
swimming pool out back. Yes, we could go swimming again. Excited
energy began to buzz through my wings. I relished the tastes on my
tongue.
Dad went on, “The old team would make a
perfect angel army, strong. It wouldn’t take much convincing.
Tomorrow. We’ll break the news tomorrow. It’ll be a good time.”
Angel army? Okay, whatever.
After giving Dad a full-mouth smile, I
stuffed another bite.
Jaydenn commented, “I’m looking forward to
seeing their reactions when we tellem we’re finally ending those
nasty dreks. It’ll be a party all right.”
My chewing stopped. I swung my gaze to Angie,
up to Dad. “The drekavacs? What are you guys talking about?”
“Weren’t you listening, honey?” Dad said.
After an inquisitive long look at me, he spoke to the room, “I
think it’s time she knew. She’s ready. Come over here, Elle.”
Can’t I just enjoy my salad in peace? Why
can’t he just tell me from there?
“Elle?” Dad reminded.
With my bowl placed to the floor, I made my
way over to him. Everyone waited. Angie set her bowl to the floor,
got to her feet and stepped over to me. My face felt tight,
clenched teeth, aftertaste of fruit on my tongue. I looked up at
Dad. “Well, what’s the big news, and please.” My gaze went around
the room. “Could everyone just quit with all the sensitive Ellie
crap. I’m tired of it, and you’re beginning to irritate me.”
Dad curled some sort of grin. He didn’t say
anything for a long moment. Oh, it dawned on me, Ellie standing up
like a big angel now. Please .
“Okay,” said Dad. “You know the drekavacs,
right?”
Duh .
“We assumed you’d eventually figure it out on
your own, but, we didn’t want to— well, you had nightmares, Ellie,
when you were a kid. We were protecting you from those. We brought
a doctor in and set a block in your mind. You healed and became our
sweet angel, so we left it alone. So now, I’m going to say
something, and I want you to listen close.” He paused, leaned in,
drew his brows down over an intense gaze, and pushed the words
directly at me, “Aron. Arod.” His tone was clear, deep.
Nightmares? I didn’t remember.
Then I did.
Flashes came like lightning: The sweating
terror in the middle of the night, a cold rag held to my forehead
by my mother while I sat up in bed gasping for breath
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