Morning Glory

Marcel won’t say hi

Summer is over, chilly winds are coming, there is big sorrow at the Zevean house.

The grass is growing. Slowly but steadily. It has been avoided for weeks, but soon it will become undeniable, and they all have to prepare their own tactics to get out of the grass-cutting responsibilities.

People try different things to get out of various uncomfortable situations. Marcel didn’t like to feel uncomfortable and decided to avoid the feeling to his best capabilities. So, as he was walking toward his girlfriend’s house, he decided to stay out by the gate to save himself from potential embarrassing moments. He felt assured and confident in his plan.

That is until he took the last turn and saw something terrible. Mrs Aurelia was working in the garden.

Plan failed. She already noticed me. What now?

- Good day, Marcel!

Nothing.

Abigail finally rushed out the door to her dear Marcel’s rescue.

- Goodbye, Dear Ma. - she said as she gave her mother a goodbye kiss.

- Why does your boy not say hi to me?

- Oh, he’s just shy.

- What kind of a man is shy… Why are you dating him? How will he take care of you?

- Mooom, come on! – walked away Abigail, hoping her mother would stop complaining about her boyfriend.

But Aurelia Rosso was not that kind of a woman. She wasn’t scared to talk about the uncomfortable. However, to all her complaints about how she is the only one doing anything around, she never for one second stopped doing everything around the house.

-Too scared to say hello, horrible... she mumbled as she got back to her gardening duties.

But Abigail couldn’t hear her anymore, as she was two feet above the clouds as soon as she walked out the gate.

Abigail was enjoying herself so much that she didn’t even notice that once again Marcel was feeling uncomfortable.

The breakup caught her by surprise and left her in pieces.

-Stop being such a touch-me-not flower. He was just a boy, and Mom hated him anyway; he never said hello… - Veronika tried to cheer up her sister.

- I thought you liked him.

Abigail stared at the ceiling.

- I did. But that doesn’t mean I want to see him hurt you, so just move on.

- But I love him.

-You’re helpless..-sighed Veronika.

- I’m going to confront him! Next Friday, when we are on the train together again, I’m going to ask him why he broke up with me.

-I’m sure he’s going to be very happy about that,- said Veronika sarcastically.

But Abigail couldn’t hear her either, as in her head she was already planning what she was going to say.

“Marcel, please give us another chance! - No, too needy. - Marcel, you owe me an explanation. - too demanding... -Marcel…”

-Tickets, please.

“Marcel, you have to talk to me!”

- Tickets, please! - Andor, the young ticket controller, patiently waited for Abigail to snap out of her inner monologue.

-Oh, I’m so sorry. Here you go!-Abigail quickly came back to reality and handed her train pass to Andor.

- Got a lot on your mind, huh? - Andor, the young ticker controller, nervously chuckled without even taking a look at Abigail’s pass.

-Yes, you could say so, - said Abigail quietly, remembering her heartbreak.

- Well, it’s not like I would have punished a pretty girl like yourself.

- Uh-huh.

- And I know you; you always have your passes in order… Or if you don’t, you don’t need to worry; I’ll be nice to you haha.

Abigail turned her head back at him. However awkward, Andor, the ticket controller, was clearly hitting on her. This is her chance, she thought. Why wait until Friday when she can do something already now?

-Andor! Would you like to take me on a date?

Andor was taken by quite a surprise, but he didn’t really want to mess it up by asking too many questions.

-Well… Uh, yes, okay.

-Great!-smiled Abigail.

Success. He was no Marcel, but he was a good guy who has always been polite to her. And he was just enough of a distraction for her to get through the week, up until Friday afternoon. As she got on the train, she couldn’t help but look for Marcel. He got on the train soon after her and went straight up to her. He looked uncomfortable, again.

-We should get back together!-he said finally.

-Really?-Abigail’s eyes lit up.

-Yes.-Marcel sat down next to her – or at least just think about it a bit. We were pretty good together.

Abigail blushed. The train started rolling, and she was happy. She had her Marcel next to her and her heart full of hopes. She could still cancel her date with Andor; everything was in alignment again.

-This is my stop.- Abigail pulled away from Marcel’s shoulder.

-Yes I know.-He sighed.

- So, should we see each other this weekend?

-Actually. I’m not so sure starting over is a good idea. Maybe we should leave things as they are.

The train's brakes screeched as it stopped, and Abigail stumbled down the door in disbelief.

The doors slammed closed behind her with a loud bang, and her stomach dropped.

How could this have happened? Again?

She started walking home, thoughts overwhelming her mind. She walked past the Zevean house, where the grass has already grown undeniably long.

They all knew it. It could not be ignored anymore. The only question is who will bring it up first.

-This grass is awfully long.-Grunted Frank.- Someone go cut it.

It is on. And in this family, everyone had to pull out all their tricks they managed to prepare with. Rosa Zevean started off strong;

- I do enough around the house. Kids, make yourselves useful.

-Well Angie is obviously not going to do it-Frank looked over to his boys with a telling look.

Angela was truly too young to do it, but the fact that he was the apple of Frank’s eye also helped her. Eric knew that if he wanted to get his way, he needed another backup.

-Mommy I don’t want to cut the grass, please.

Rosa sighed.

-Felix, would you please just go and cut the grass?

Felix was appalled.

-Come on! Why do I have to? I didn’t even wanna move here.

-Felix stop whining and go and cut the grass!

Frank has decided. Felix stormed out the door and closed it with a loud bang behind him.

Crane, stork and bullfinch have all gone south. It is Monday morning. The grass is cut. And a very sad Felix and Abigail are sitting quietly on the train, feeling lonely as ever.

Abigail focused on her knitting while Felix was fidgeting with the yarn. As he realised that she found that amusing, he smiled to himself and kept pulling the yarn.

-Stop it! I’m trying to knit.-she scolded him softly.

-What are you knitting?

-A pullover.

-Perfect!-Felix quickly wrapped the yarn around his neck.

-What are you doing?-chuckled Abigail in confusion.

-Knit it around me.

Abigail couldn’t help but let out a laugh.

Their loneliness may not have been erased by playing around with the yarn. But from playing and laughing, friendships can form. Sometimes even ones that connect us through our whole lives.