Writing Camp A little politeness

Chapter 2: A little humor

Scene two: Solaris’ Rental House

“I can’t hardly make up my yesterday but whatever it was I hope that today I do not encounter it. Naynay was the only calming presence to me right now. “

[ Solaris pulls up a dining chair to sit beside the kitchen table and drink her morning coffee.] 

“It has been a year since we were forced out by those men from the casino which my mother had a gambling debt from. She may have done it out of spite of us. She did bruise me on her way back just so she can still get the jewelries Pa gave her.”

“Naynay has never been okay leaving the house. She grew up there and I just let it go.”

[Eugenia laid a plate full of banana fritters and another plate with puffed pancakes.]

“She makes the best dishes, and I will never think otherwise.”

Eugenia: “pack what you can’t eat here and take it with you. Those fritters are small and the pancakes can be folded. I will not have that conversation with July again: With him lying that you ate. I might be old but your eyes are already going deep grey. You are forgetting rests now? On top of that you hardly eat, I am sure (points the spatula at eating Solaris), I am telling you, you are a nurse. How can you take care of someone looking unwell?”

[Solaris nods attentively listening and focusing her eyes to her aunt, unintentionally betraying the words she is saying: She knows she really cannot manage remembering sometimes to eat]

“I dare not answer back to her. If only she knew this resilient virus has already infected many. I need time saved so I can make my rounds easy.  I can only hope and pray that nothing goes pass my suit. After this I am back to the running fields again.”

[Solaris looks around into the corners of their new 39.64 sq. meter house. It is enough for two but she keeps remembering the details of the 5000sq.ft Mansion they once had. She agreed for the house to become payment, but afterwards, after securing at least a motel, they hardly have anyways to take back the furnishing. They salvaged some but the one she wanted to take with her most is her wooden jewelry box, where she hid all her father’s gifts to her. Those jewelries are not meant to be colateral for her mother. She fought hard trying to get it, but after only three days of leaving the house. The Casino managed to secure the property and deem it illegal for her to be on the property. They even filed a restraining order for her, but to her persistence, she plans still to go back.]

“I don’t care what those men say, those are mine they can’t just throw it away.”

Eugenia: “Are you listening nak?”

[Solaris snaps back to reality and stares at her back pack, and felt a jolt of consciousness about her need to leave for work. She nods again and again while grabbing her Herschel and running for the door still with a pancake at her mouth.]

Eugenia: “Dear saints. Nak! are you a marathoner(shouting)? Nak you will kill yourself this way. Take care of yourself and for heaven’s sake put something on your stomach.”

[ Eugenia sighs her way back to the kitchen after chasing Solaris running for the car.]

“The plan will work, we checked it. I paid a regular vendor to monitor the people coming in and out of the place. He told me that there is almost no one that came in for almost a week. The only time someone goes in is the guy in the expensive suite and that is only on Sundays, other than him and his companion when he comes nobody else goes in. We will do it, me and July. I will get back my father’s aerlume and gifts.”

Scene three: The Hospital

[Solaris parked her car at her usual spot in the hospital underground. As usual July arrived earlier than she did. He is standing at the elevator entrance waiting for her.]

Solaris: “Morning”

July: “You are so scruffy and wild you know that. When is that day I will not hear from Aunt Eu about your reminders? You Really want to listen to them every day until you get it.”

Solaris: “I get it, I can manage.”

[ They entered the elevator with two people.]

July: “You are on Dr. Khan’s team today again, and knowing him and you together, chances are same as yesterday: You won’t eat as long as he monitors, and that guy is a 24/7 camera.”

Solaris: “Enough on that. Are we ready for tomorrow?”

July: “Oh you mean that. I really think we might consider talking with the owner again. He might give you your things back.”

Solaris: “I already tried, they won’t let me talk to the guy, and they actually issued a TRO just for me, just for me, like I am a threat.”

July: “They are dangerous Sol; Those three guys might still be there. You are only putting yourself in harm’s way.”

Solaris: “They don’t need my stuff. I can reason with the owner. Those three guys before, they are there to get the payment and that’s it. I specifically asked the vendor if he had seen them. I described them to the guy and he never seen them there, so they were never there ever since. It is not breaking an entry, that was our house (getting a little emotional).”

July: “There, there we will get those gifts uncle gave you.”

[They steped off the elevator and timed-in to the bio scan. They headed to the lockers and continued with their chat.] 

Solaris: “I checked it before they filed for the TRO. They don’t know the house has an easement. I already spoke with Aunt Lena and Uncle Bart. They will help us.”

July: “How sure are you that they have not noticed or fenced that easement?”

Solaris: “I lived there. It is hidden behind the Rosalia Bush. That bush is lush and enough to cover the easement.”

July: “Then what? Can we really run for the kitchen from there?”

Solaris: “We will take our chance. My guy told me they pulled out some of the guards and there are only two now.”

July: “You are the boss, but Sol…”

[July puts his right hand on Solaris’ left shoulder while they walk to the Infirmary.]

July: “You know I care about you a lot. You promise me that whatever happens there, you will always do what you need to do to keep yourself safe, promise me that before we go ahead.”

Solaris: “I promise (Gives July a Solemn look).

[They parted ways. Friday night after their shift they set their things and rode to the Solaris’ old mansion. Everything is set as they planned.  Lena and Bart, Solaris’ previous next door neighbors, let them in their lot and helped them with lighting the easement. The rosalia bush is still blocking the entrance to the easement. It was difficult to get pass the bush, but the bush itself is big enough to hide them both. They waited until the guards are already looking weary. After seeing one of the guards falling to a snooze, they quickly moved towards the kitchen entrance.  As Solaris anticipated, the kitchen door was not changed. She has a copy of the door key and was able to get pass. After entering the door Solaris was carried off by her memories back when she was young until the time she was forced to live the house, for a moment she felt a strong affirmation of what she is about to do.  

When she was about to head to the stairs they were startled to hear a voice from the 2nd floor. It was a man’s voice they crept backwards to hide by side of the stair. There was only the man’s voice that filled the house. They were able to listen clearly to the man.]

“Find her still. What you gave me is only a consolation. That woman may have the cold hard cash we want. That is what we want. “

[The man’s voice stopped. They heard his footsteps heading towards the Master bedroom which is the whole attic. The door to it is the farthest door going east. They were both thinking the same: That this is their chance to go to Solari’s bedroom which is at the west. They walked silently up the stairs until they were able to reach the room door the man was already far that he did not notice them from the stairs going to the room. Solaris used her door key and was happy that they haven’t changed this door as well. She was able to see her room again. She dashed to the cabinets and to the wooden jewelry box she hid. She picked up her jewelry box and quickly secured it by her arm.  She took a quick glance of her former sanctuary. Everything she owned was still at the cabinet and every piece of her that she left was left untouched. July had to shake her to bring back her consciousness. July muttered “let’s go”. So they headed to the door and when they opened they were surprised to see a boy. The boy did not scream like any shocked child would do. He stared at them with much curiosity.]

“Who are you? Are you with my dad? How come I never saw you before?”

[July and Solaris stared at each other and decided to amuse the child.]

Solaris: “Yes, yes we are, I am new so I got lost. Where is your father?”

“He is at grandma’s room he will back just wait, while you are waiting can you get me water? “

[The child struck a nerve between the both of them. How can this child be so authoritative at such a young age? But beyond this, they saw this an excuse to be able to leave. They headed to the stairs, halfway down they heard a door open. They ran quickly towards the kitchen, but before they reach the kitchen door they heard the child shout. “Dad, your new man and woman are here.” They heard fast phased footsteps from the second floor, needless to say , they are being chased. They already reached the kitchen door, but then the child’s father seemed to have been able to catch up with them. He was able to grab Solaris’ hand and pull her. Solaris was astonished by her chaser. Despite the man’s angry expression, he had a face that can charm any woman. The man seemed to have calmed being able to catch her. He stared back at her looking perplexed as he tries to pull her closer saying “you”. July was able to hit the man’s face and was able to pull back Solaris. The man was braced to the ground. He had a smirk in his face watching them run.]

They already acted in fear speeding up their escape. They only were able to caught up with their breaths after reaching the front yard of Solaris’ new house. With much confusion Solaris’ let out a tear on her face and slowly said “I think he knows me.” They glanced at each other fear stricken of the possible repercussions of what they did.  

Though filled with doubt Solaris felt a certain satisfaction still having the wooden jewelry box.