Morning Glory

Dear Mom

The alley was dark and mysterious. Full of possibilities for something bad to happen. A young girl was walking in her nightgown, clearly scared.

-This one’s going to die,- Frank spurted.

-Is she really?

-No we don’t know that yet dear.-Rose reassured a suspenseful Eric.

The next moment the woman on the screen got captured and torn to pieces by the monster.

-I told you.

-Frank stop spoiling every movie for your kids.

-I’m not spoiling anything; I’m making observations. The first person on the screen always dies.

-Don’t worry dad-Eric came to his protection-that was still very scary!!

-No it wasn’t.-sighed Felix bored.

-Felix if you’re not enjoying the movie, no one is forcing you to watch it with us.-Rosa said in an attempt to save the family movie night.

-Okay, I don’t want to watch it. I want to watch something actually scary.-stood up Felix.

-If Felix doesn’t watch it, I don’t want to either. -joined in Eric.

-Dear you are too young to watch scary movies. Eric sat quietly for a few minutes and then walked after his brother.

-I’m not interested in this movie anymore.

-Well I already know how it’s going to end.-Grunted Frank and walked out of the room, leaving the Zevean women behind. Rosa looked at her youngest, who looked back at her with her sparkling hazel eyes, waiting for the next part of their, already halved in numbers, family night.

-Well Angie, should we watch a princess movie instead?

Angela jumped up in excitement and started looking for her favourite girly movie that she could never watch with the boys. Rosa had seen it countless times before, but she sat through it once more, caressing her daughter’s long black hair that laid in her lap, making sure that if her boys ever decided to join the family time, they would be welcomed.

After a week of autumn break and missing the usual morning train rides, Abigail could not stop talking to Felix. She had so much to tell him about the funny clumsiness of her sister Veronika and catastrophic dinner parties. Felix listened with amusement, and the two of them were having such a good time that they didn’t notice Andor, the young ticket controller, approaching.

-Tickets please.

The pair, who made Monday morning seem like Friday afternoon, breaking out of their laughs, looked for their passes and then continued with their conversation.

Andor, the young ticket controller, having missed her the past week, decided to share his excitement with them.

-I can’t wait for our date this weekend. I have something really great planned.-he smiled at her.

Abigail looked up at him with a surprise in her eyes.

Thinking back, she did remember setting up another date with Andor, the young ticket controller; however, during the break so many things happened that she wanted to share with Felix that she had completely forgotten about him.

Although she was looking forward to the date at first, as Friday kept getting closer, she felt less and less like spending her weekend with Andor, the young ticket controller.

-Why did you agree to go on a date with him then?-asked Veronika.

-Well after the first one, it just came naturally, and I was happy for another date.

-Then just go on the date! This boy wants to take you and feed you. Let him!

-Yes, but I could spend my weekend reading my book and… anyway, Veronika, I need solutions, not questions.

-Well I came down here for dearma’ and not to listen to your problems.

-She’s still at the factory.-sighed Abigail.-Can I help?

Veronika looked at her helpless sister hovering over the table with all her difficult teenage problems sitting on her face and then shook her head.

-I’ll just walk down to the factory.

So she put her jacket on and left, and Abigail went back to thinking of a plan.

In the meantime Felix was in the city, on his way to none other than the cinema. He hasn’t been there a lot before; at that time, going to the cinema was an expensive and rare experience. But Felix didn’t care; he wanted to watch a real scary movie with no one to snap him out with their talk, a big screen and perfect sound effects.

-One ticket to Alien please.-he said and as he walked into the room, he disappeared in the darkness.

The brick factory was a big old building even at the time. The receptionist, who had just started working there two weeks prior, decided to treat every customer with the utmost respect when she saw the young girl walking up to her with undeniable purposefulness.

-Good day miss, how may I help you?

-Good day. I would like to speak to dearma’ please.-said Veronika in a confident tone.

The receptionist blinked in confusion but continued to maintain her professionalism.

-Excuse me, to whom?

-To dearma’ please.

She hasn’t worked there for long, but even she knew that no one with that name was working in the factory.

-Could you repeat that, please?

Veronika didn’t understand what caused the confusion but continued to repeat herself once more.

-I would like to talk to DEARMA’ please.

She couldn’t be clearer than that.

The receptionist, not sure how to react, stood up and looked for the nearest colleague.

-Hey, sorry. I think I may need some help, there is this little girl here, and I’m not sure who she is looking for.

-Well did she say?

-She said some kind of Irma I don’t know.

-Hm. That’s weird. We don’t have anyone here called Irma.

-I know that’s what I told her, but she insists that she is at the right place.

“What a bunch of incapable people that work in this place.” Veronika thought to herself, looking at the commotion she just caused.

As Felix emerged from the theatre, he was shaken to his core. The screeching sound of the alien and the iconic screams of Sigourney Weaver were still ringing in his ear and would stay with him for a long time. He absolutely loved it!

The next time Abigail saw Andor on the train, she sat down with him to say what had to be said. There is no point going around it; just be honest.

-I have to focus on my German exam.-she said. -It is very stressful, and I’m not prepared for it.

Not a complete lie; she really did have a German exam coming up.

Felix sat on the other side of the train, trying to keep it low-key that he was eavesdropping on their conversation. When he heard Abigail explain herself, he smiled because he knew very well that Abigail was already more than prepared for her exam.