Hilltop’s Short Tales Issue 4

Time had fallen shortly and unknowingly to what has come, with the past as ever the same, and the future unsure to come neither right nor wrong. It plays nothing to what is the now and forever more the akin to nothing but all.

Kate sat still on her chair, spinning it from left to right, eyes leveling with her clock and to the door left ajar. With bickering echoing through the halls, voices mixing together, in one form of a haze of hissing white noise. Still, the noise only grew in volumes is passing time.

With a heavy sigh, she stayed where she was, not daring to move, unless fearing they would hear.

Once more to the neon green lit color clock, slowly ticked away, with alas the shouting never stopped.

“Katy, sweetie, can I come in?”

She looked to the door, within the jarring opening, her mother there, smiling at her, hand steadily at the handle to open it more.

“Sure.”

A light creak was given with the door was pushed open, soon shutting it enough with a soft click.

“You need something, mom?”

“No . . .” Her reply came short and light, as Kate’s mother took a moment to look around the room, with again that same caring smile, it alone block the shouting still coming from halls away. Once; she sat down on the half-made bed, looked to Kate once more, before speaking. “They should be done soon, I was thinking of going for a drive, want to tag along?”

Kate gave a nod, standing up from her chair and over to her closet, finding a pair a sneakers and spare supporter. Slipping them on, in time grabbing for mother’s hand, this, with that time was already at the door, waiting for her.

Carefully they walked past the family room, where the noises came from.

Kate only dared her young eyes to see the two remaining adults go at one another, a losing battle it was becoming for one, and maybe both. Her father coming to wits ends, as he leaned forward in his seat, hands over his eyes, body shivering to keep tears at bay.

The woman going on, having a fit to no end, eyes on the man, not taking in mind of others eyes on them, on and on, she went, face red with anger and sorrow.

“Daddy . . .”

That tiny voice put a silence to the room, in time her mother spoke up to fill it.

“I’m taking Kate for drive, okay?”

The father looks up, happily to hear those words, in responding.

“Yes, go ahead, we’re almost done here.”

The other woman not content with that choice, but made no word to fight it.

Once the door to the front of the house closed, the shouting resume as it always did.

With little help, Kate was in the car, strap in, her supporter placed near her in the back seat. Once her mother was in, starting it up and off down the road they went.

“So, have an idea or two, about what we should do?” Her mother asked, smiling as she peaked at the review mirror to see Kate looking out the window, the same as she was in her room.

A little pause was given, before she asked again.

“Don’t force yourself, mommy, it wasn’t your fault. She just is saying things to hurt you and daddy.”

An airy sigh of a laugh was heard.

“At least someone is being the bigger person here.”

Kate only glance once to her mother’s eyes wetting a bit, from truth most likely, but made voice to call out on it, as this was just her mother handling things, just as Kate was doing so. Along with her father, who was taking most of the weight that he wouldn’t want others to bear.

When coming to stop light, a corner store was in sight, it seems as a good starter if anything else.

Once parked near the sidewalk, Kate’s mother bag in hand, and Kate all set up, they went in.

Her mother spoke quickly to her, that she could look around on her own, within sight, while she chat with the cashier, an old friend of the family.

When seeing Kate was busying herself, her mother and friend talked.

“Here again, Bonnie, that witch still can’t take a hint?”

“Hush you. What she does is own feel will. Even if I can’t stand it, but, if Will puts up with it, so can I.”

The cashier gave a nod in understanding, glancing ways to where Kate was; eyes sadden at the sight.

“How’s the little tike holding up?”

“It’s been a year and she goes on as if nothing is wrong. But, again, she just is going to do it, not to worry me or her father.”

“Or that witch.”

“Her as well . . . but again, she comes all huff and buff, after the year, and is at it again.”

“People, like her, are some of the most hardest to understand. And if I may?”

“Go on?”

“What if Kate does with her, just to stop the fight, than what?”

“She’s young, Chris, even to a child, stopping a fight is stopping a fight. But if she does want to, and not to help out . . . that’s own choice. Will and I both know that.”

“Maybe in time, all the reasons needed, come in occasion?”

“I hope so.”

“Mommy . . . looks what I found?”

The two looked to where Kate was, upon finding some of kid sets of sports items. A hat placed on her head, bat on her left and a used-leather mitten fitting well on her right hand.

“Find some things you like?”

“Yeah: maybe when daddy’s fear, he’ll show how to play, huh, Ma?”

Cashier gave a huff a laugh.

“Will . . . in sports, that’s something I like to see, should give him a run for his money really.”

Kate sticks a bit of tongue out to the cashier in good humor, which was returned.

Kate’s mother looking to her watch for the time, quite shock of the time, stating of how much time went with just chatting, with that got Kate to bring the items up and have them ringed and priced.

Soon the two bid the cashier a good day and night. In quick return and always welcomed back.

On the ride back, that heavy weight before, was much lighter and easy to brush off.

“Mom . . .”

“Yes?” She asked, quickly glancing at her review mirror.

“No matter what, I love you and daddy.”

“Us too, honey, us too.”

“Hey mom, I need to ask you something!” A shout came from upstairs, having the said person to look to where the voice came from at the head of the stairs.

“What is it?”

“I am going to meet up with Park and her brothers for a while. I’ll be eating with them okay?”

“Alright, just call when it’s after dinner of when you’re coming home.”

“Okay! Thanks!”

Meanwhile in Kate’s room, twisting the phone corded, listened to the other end.

“Okay, I am in the clear.”

“Good. See you in a bit and remember. Be careful on the way here, you never know.”

“It’s like you don’t know me at all.” She said with a smirk.

“That is far from the truth. Later.”

The End . . . ?