No Such Thing

A Family's Love

Gabe slid off the bus with gusto. The driver gave him a sideways glance of annoyance and the remaining kids on the bus fueled his antics with giggles and cheers. Gabe lived for attention and would find ways to make people laugh. He was a friendly, outgoing, intelligent, mischievous, and fascinating person. Everything Cayden wasn’t. Gabe was attractive with his shoulder length, thick black waves and deep steel gray eyes. Zan, Gabe’s twin brother stumbled down the bus stairs to the ground trying hard not to drop all of his books and his backpack. Again, the driver gave him the same stare. Both boys walked around the front of the bus to their driveway. Gabe waved at all of his new friends as the bus drove on up the road. Zan looked down the road and spotted Cayden kicking rocks as he walked, seemingly in a bit of a daze.

“Hey!” Yelled Gabe as he too spotted Cayden, “What are you doing walking you i***t?” He yelled down getting no response.

Cayden continued to kick rocks and was jostled out of his thoughts by a sudden pain in his shoulder

“You didn’t have to throw a rock at him, asshole.” Said Zan to Gabe as he walked up the drive. “He wasn't paying attention.” Giggle Gabe in response.

“Oww you asshat!” Yelled Cayden while rubbing his shoulder. He looked under his shirt, a bruise already forming. No blood, that’s good. He settled his backpack firmly on his shoulder and started after Gabe with anger in his eyes and murder on his face.

Gabe squealed with delight and started up the drive and fast as he could go. “You know you can’t take me!” He laughed and taunted Cayden. Gabe buzzed past Zan running up the drive. Cayden slowed to walk with him, deciding Gabe wasn’t worth the extra energy after the day he had. “Why did you walk today?” asked Zan

“I wasn’t getting on that bus. Those kids are pretentious and fake and I really didn’t feel like putting up with them.” Cayden answered unapologetically.

“No need to be defensive. I was just asking.” He smiled back at his brother. “They do seem the snotty sort. Ignore them” He added while patting his brother with his empty hand. Zan’s books were finally under control as they walked up the last bit of the drive. They continued to talk back and forth as they watched Gabe run for the porch. The drive was long, nearly a mile. The home was a bit off the road and couldn’t be seen unless you were in town looking up at the hills. Then you could see the roof on one side of the house. From there, it looked cryptic. Scary and derelict. Once in front of the grand home and looking at its entirety, it is breathtaking. Yes, very old and dark. But a wonderful example of mid (1800s) century architecture meets Count Dracula without the castle.

Gabe had slammed into the wall as he grabbed for the door handle. With as much drama as he could muster, he entered the house and disappeared. Zan and Cayden shook their heads in unison and walked up the stairs onto the porch. “He should really be on stage.” Said Zan sarcastically. “Agreed”, nodded Cayden.

One through the front door Cayden could hear the rest of his siblings either just getting in from school or already running around the house getting their evenings started. Cayden headed for the third floor where his bedroom was. He shared the floor with Gabe and Zan. Each room had their own bathroom with one bathroom in the hall on each floor. There was an attic but that was set off limits as soon as they arrived. The stairs up to it are near Caydens room. He heard noises at night, like someone walking up and down the steps. He’s been around ghosts, goblins, trolls, all his life. The noises didn’t scare him as much as to whom might be. Either way, he would brush it off and go back to what he was doing. Cayden wasn’t a good sleeper. He didn’t get tired during the day either. His body just didn’t want him to sleep. He would stay up well past 2am in the morning. His mother would sometimes suggest Melatonin and he would humor her but not every night. Sometimes he liked staying up. He could listen to the house. He could talk to his girlfriend. She was a night owl too. He thought that was perfect and it was meant to be. Well, that’s what he used to think. He couldn’t shake the smile, the smell, the feelings he got when he was with Natasia. Yes, one chance encounter. A walk on a road in the middle of nowhere brought him in contact with the most intoxicating female he’s ever met. Yes, a bit dramatic but he couldn’t shake her.

“Dinner!” Yelled Nora from the bottom of the stairwell. Their mother was a gracious woman. Tall, mysterious looking with a hint of mischief in her eyes. Of course she has the ‘mom look’. Her children did not push her far. They were courageous and outgoing but knew respect and manners. For the most part.

Nora headed for the dining room where she sat at the end near the head. Paul and most of the children were already seated. Cayden crept in trying not to be noticed. For no other reason than he didn’t feel like carrying on any conversations. It didn’t work. “Have a good day, dear?” Asked his mother. “Fine.” He answered quickly and sat near the other end of the table. “Better than yesterday?” His mother continued, not paying any attention to his aggravation.

“The same.” He simply replied. Nora worried about Cayden. She knew he had a hard time with every move. His sleeping habits were awful and he stayed in his room most of the time. Zan told her he walked home from school today because the kids on the bus were rude. Her 16 year old was sensitive. Probably in more ways than one but she wasn’t sure yet. She had brought the possibility up with Paul once before and he just suggested they monitor the situation. Keep a close eye on him. Nora noticed it more and more every day. Cayden would ask her if someone was going up to the attic on a regular basis. She didn’t know for sure of course, but she felt like no one had, being that the attic is off limits. She didn’t go up there, Paul stayed too busy to even make the trip to the 3rd floor let alone his own bedroom on the 2nd floor. Giving Nora the inclination that Cayden was coming into his gift. Not all of her children will possess their inherited gift. Or, they may just shut it out. In some cases, it can’t be ignored. Nora comes from a very old, well known family. One that has their own history with monsters.

The rest of the children flopped into their chairs and chatted amongst each other as they always did during family meals. Nora loved her big family, her children, her husband. She gushed with love as she looked over each of them. Of course her oldest wasn’t here. She was in New York, living her life. Nora missed her dearly, but supported her with everything she could. Lana was smart, funny, gifted though she hadn’t told anyone. Nora knew. She could feel it when her daughter was home. She never pushed the subject and Lana never offered. But, Nora had known since Lana was 16.

Nora looked at her husband, who was sitting next to her, and smiled. “What is it my love?” Asked Paul with a large smile on his face. “We’re blessed.” She smiled back. “Yes, we certainly are.” Paul agreed with a nod, smile, and pat on her hand as she held his.

Paul looked down to Cayden, who was still trying to look invisible as the cook placed the food on the table. “Is he ok?” he asked Nora in a hushed tone and close to her ear. “He’s not doing so well in adjusting to the new school. I can tell he’s going to close up.” She told him in a worried voice.

“I suppose I should speak with him.” Paul told his wife. “I hate to see any of my children so unhappy.” She patted his hand and pulled her hand away to get the attention of the children. Clapping them together, she nodded at Herran. He smiled and said grace. Once finished they all dug in like they’d never eaten before. Nora giggled and filled her plate too.

They always had amazing dinners. Good food, silly conversations and tons of laughs. Their father was entertaining as their mother was his muse. The more she laughed, the more he would go on. They felt nothing but love during these moments. This family was close.