Pure Blood

  Chapter 2

  The sunshine peeked into Holidee’s bedroom through the gap in the window curtain. Holidee rustled around in her sheets, trying to ignore the sun’s wakeup call. Finally she admitted defeat and threw off the covers. She got up reluctantly and glanced at the clock. 8:32. She had been sixteen for over eight hours and hadn’t noticed. She didn’t really care either. In fact, she wanted the day to go by quicker so that she could forget about it. No more did she like thinking about a birthday without family and friends than she liked to eat brussel sprouts.

  Holidee got out of bed and headed towards the kitchen to get something to eat for breakfast. She saw no sign of Mer anywhere and assumed she was still in bed asleep. Holidee got a box of Corn Flakes and poured some into a bowl. Then she poured a little bit of milk in with the cereal. After getting a spoon out of the drawer, she sat down on the couch and watched T.V. while eating. When she finished, she turned off the television and walked towards the bathroom to take a shower.

  Thirty minutes later, after she was clean and her hair was dry, she heard the front door open and then shut. She thought maybe her godmother had just gotten back from the store or something. Holidee went into her bedroom and began to read a book. She didn’t put the book down for hours.

  “Holidee! Lunch is ready!” yelled Mer from the kitchen.

  Holidee put down the book that she was almost done reading and walked slowly into the kitchen. When she got to the kitchen doorway, she looked up to see her godmother hovering over the stove and someone else sitting at the kitchen table.

  “Wh-What are you doing here?” Holidee asked, dumbfounded.

  Mr. Jublemaker put down the paper he was reading and looked up at Holidee. Mer started to dish out the food onto the table while Holidee still stood there surprised.

  “Holidee, you should show more respect towards your guest.” Mer said as she turned to set out napkins and silverware.

  “But-“

  “Crix came here to wish you a happy birthday. He’s staying and going to help me with wrapping and things to get ready for your birthday party.”

  “Birthday party? Who’s gonna be there?” Holidee said almost laughing.

  “Well, Crix, me, and Jax are all that are coming so far. But you can invite anyone from school if you like.”

  “No thanks. It’ll just be the four of us then. Sounds like it’ll be a killer birthday party.” Holidee left for her room.

  “Holidee! Lunch is practically ready!” Mer yelled after her. She then turned back around and tended to the food. With a sigh she said, “I know this is hard for her, but it’s no joyride for me either. I’m trying the best I can. I just…I feel like I’m failing.”

  “No,” Crix Jublemaker declared, “You’re doing a wonderful job. It’ll just take awhile to adjust, especially for Holidee. She’s used to her parents always being there and friends always picking her up after she has fallen. Down here, though, she has none of that and it’s no one’s fault.” Crix got up from the table and put his hands on Mer’s so that she would stop cooking for a few minutes. Mer looked into his misty gray eyes. “You’re doing the best that you can do, and you are doing it beautifully. You need to give Holidee some space. This is exceptionally hard for her, as it is for all of us. But this year is just going to get harder, and we all have to work together to get through it and every year after this one. So don’t blame yourself, or anyone for that matter. And remember, I’m always here to help you. Always. Promise.” Crix’ hands were warm on Mer’s, and she felt her heart beat faster than normal. He smiled at her and let go of her hands. “I’ll go tell Holidee lunch is ready.” He walked out of the kitchen and down the hallway to Holidee’s room. The door was shut. “Holidee,” he said as he knocked on the door, “you should really come out of there. Lunch is ready.” There was no answer. “Holidee, you can’t stay in there your whole life.” No reply. “Look, if you don’t want me here, then…then I’ll leave.” Crix listened for an answer but heard none. He sighed aloud and turned to leave, but before he could take a few steps, he heard Holidee’s bedroom door open. He turned around to see her looking at him.

  “You don’t have to leave. Mer would really enjoy your company and help. I’m sorry I acted so…so childish,” she said, moving her foot around in the carpet.

  Crix smiled and replied, “Don’t apologize. You did nothing wrong. And, I’m wondering if Mer wouldn’t be the only one to enjoy my company?”

  Holidee stopped fidgeting to look at Crix, but he had left and was in the kitchen again. Holidee did the same thing and went into the kitchen. She quietly sat down at the table where her food was waiting for her. Crix and Mer had already started to eat. It was very silent in the house. The only noise heard was the sound of chewing.

  “So,” Holidee said, breaking the silence, “when is Jax coming over?”

  “Around three,” said Mer. It was already two.

  “And,” continued Holidee, “how long is he staying?”

  “He’s staying ‘til five. We’re only going to open presents and have cake and ice cream.”

  Crix, Holidee, and Mer all finished their lunch. When three o’ clock rolled around, Jax joined them.

  “’Ey, everyone! ‘Appy Birthday ‘Oliday! How old are ya, mate?” Jax said as he hugged everyone in the room.

  “I’m sixteen.”

  “Sixteen, ‘ey? Yer years are abuilding! Well, let’s not jus’ stand here! Let’s open presents an’ have cake an’ ice cream!”

  Everyone took a seat in the living room and put their presents around Holidee, who was sitting in a chair where they all could see her. Holidee started to open her presents one at a time. After thirty minutes, Holidee had opened all of the presents that were laid before her. She had received a portable CD player, sandals, money, and a book about the ocean from Mer. Jax gave her beach sand and ocean water in a bottle from Australia and a book about every animal in the ocean. Crix gave her twenty dollars and a calendar to hang on her bedroom wall. She was thankful in her heart for all that she had received.

  “There is one more present from me,” said Crix as he pulled out a small box from behind him. “I wanted you to open this last.”

  Holidee took it curiously. She had no idea of what it could be. She ripped off the wrapping paper and opened the box. Inside the box was a map showing highways and routes in Georgia and Florida.

  “A map?” she asked. “What do I need a map for?”

  “Well, you might want to open the map,” said Crix smiling.

  Holidee slowly opened the map and out fell a set of keys onto her lap. She slowly picked up the keys while her heart beat more rapidly. The key chain read ‘Ford’. She stared at it in astonishment and denial.

  “You…you got me a car?!” she said finally after some silence.

  “I thought you’d need one if you’d be going to the ocean a lot.” Crix replied, still smiling. Holidee, along with Mer, was staring at him in amazement.

  “The ocean? Why would I be going to the ocean a lot?”

  “Well, I knew how much you loved it and, well…why don’t you go check out your new car. It’s right out front.”

  They all went outside to see Holidee’s gift. Each face was as shocked as the next. Holidee went up to the car and touched it to make sure she wasn’t dreaming. The sapphire-blue paint was smooth as she swept her hand across it. The black leather interior gleamed in the sunlight. The round headlights and sleek body made the car look flawless. Holidee’s new gift was a 1968 Mustang convertible.

  “Can I drive?” she asked.

  “Well, of course, but I thought maybe Mer would take you to get your license in it.” Crix said looking at Mer, who was still in shock.

  “But why…how…this car…” Holidee stuttered.

  “I had that car for a very long time. I have worked on it and touched it up for many years until it was perfect. I never drive it, though, because I either have no time or no desire. So I thought instead of having it coll
ect dust, you should have it. You’d put it to better use, and you’d probably need it more than I would. So it’s yours now. Take care of her. She’s one in a million.” Crix replied with a smile.

  “C’mon Mer!” said Holidee jumping into the driver’s seat and starting the mustang.

  “I…”

  “Go on,” said Crix to Mer. “I’ll watch the house. You go have fun with Holidee.”

  “But-“

  “Go!”

  Mer looked at Crix and smiled. “Thanks.” Then she hopped into the seat next to Holidee, and they both rode off. Crix and Jax stood there until the car’s outline disappeared over the horizon.

  “Well, I better go ‘ome. I ‘ave stuff to do. Tell Meranda I ‘ad a wonderful time. It was nice meetin’ ya,” Jax told Crix. Then Jax left. Crix stood in the yard for a few minutes and then walked inside the house. He sat down on the couch in the living room and sighed. He picked up the gift Jax gave Holidee and looked at it intently for a while.

  “How am I gonna do this?” he asked himself. “I’m not her father and I really don’t want to be. It was never supposed to be like this. You were supposed to teach her and guide her along her way, Gregoric! Not me.” He set the gift down on the table. “I wish you were here. I’m not even sure of what to do.” He got up and walked around the room. Then he stopped and leaned against the wall and sighed heavily. His emotions were running wild within him. He tried very hard to not let anyone see them, especially not Holidee or Mer. But when he was alone and had to face reality, they came up every now and then. His blood started to boil. “I’m not even her father, so why was the job given to me? Why was I chosen? Why not someone else?” He turned around and saw a picture of Mer, himself, and Holidee’s parents sitting on the mantle. “Errraaahhhh!” He slammed his fist against the wall and yelled through the pain. “You promised me you would never leave me! You told me you’d be with me until the end! You promised! So why did you leave?! Tell me! Why aren’t you here now?! Why didn’t you let me take your place?! Answer me! What happened?! Answer me!” Crix was breathing hard, but calmed himself down. “I’m sorry,” he said taking a deep breath. “It’s just so hard without you and Katre here. Everything is so different and complicated. Mer is always stressed and tired. And I worry about how Holidee will take the news, and I worry about how I am going to explain to her what she really is. And she’s been through so much already that I don’t want to put more on her shoulders. She’s still a child. Her burden is already heavy enough. I just…I hoped…it would have been easier if you were still alive, that’s all.” Crix sat back down on the couch and put his head in his hands. He was startled, though, by something that fell. Crix got up and went over to his jacket where a book laid underneath it. It was wrapped in brown paper with string around it. Crix smiled. “Thanks buddy. I needed a wakeup call.” Then he picked up the little package and put it in his pocket. “Don’t worry…I’ll remember.”

  A few hours later, Holidee and Mer arrived back at the house.

  “I got it! I got it!” Holidee yelled, jumping through the doorway. “I can drive to the ocean! Everyday I can see it!” She went over and hugged Crix. Crix, startled at first, put his arms around Holidee and hugged her back. “This is the best day of my life,” she stated plainly. “Thanks.” She smiled up at him, and for the first time in a long time she felt at home. Then Holidee let go of him, as if suddenly remembering someone else, and went over to hug Mer. “Thanks.”

  “Um, Holidee, Crix has something else to tell you.”

  Holidee turned to look at Crix. “Why don’t you come sit down,” Crix said, patting the couch cushion beside him. Holidee obeyed and sat down. Mer went into the other room to give them privacy. Crix sighed heavily and looked at Holidee. “Did you know that I too lived in Ohio?”

  “No. Mer never told me that.” Holidee replied, looking puzzled.

  “Well, I did. In fact, I moved to Georgia only a few weeks before you did.”

  “But then how would you know Mer so well?”

  “I’ll get to that, but first I want to talk about something else. Holidee, I know it’s hard to bring up, but I have to. When your father was younger-“

  “My father? But how does my fath-“

  “Just, please,” Crix softened his voice, “let me finish and then you can ask all the questions you want. Now as I was saying, when your father was younger, about nine or ten, he had a heart of gold and the courage to go with it. At your father’s school, a boy got picked on by older kids all the time. The boy was scrawny and awkward looking, and he got beat up frequently. One day, your father, Gregoric, saw these kids picking on that boy and knew that it was wrong. So, being your father, he walked right up to them.

  ‘Hey why don’t you pick on someone your own size?’

  The older kids stopped hitting the boy and looked at Gregoric. ‘You mean like you?’ one of them spat. They all walked towards Gregoric with menacing eyes. One of the kids took a swing at him, but Gregoric ducked and punched him in the stomach. Then two more kids came toward him. ‘You’re gonna pay for that!’ And they both threw punches at Gregoric. He ducked one and the other one hit him right on the jaw. He ignored the pain and kept on fighting until all of them were either gone or on the ground. Breathing heavily and bleeding, he held out his hand to help the boy up.

  ‘Gregoric Galygin.’

  ‘Crix,’ the boy said, taking his hand and getting up. ‘Crix Jublemaker.’

  Gregoric spit out blood from his mouth. ‘You look horrible. Let’s go get you cleaned up.’

  ‘Well, you look like something my cat drags into the house.’

  Gregoric, bent over from exhaustion, smiled up at Crix and laughed. Then they both walked home.”

  “And that’s how your father and I met and how our friendship began.”

  Holidee, in shock, just looked at Crix. “You and my dad were friends?”

  “Yes. Now let me continue. Gregoric and I became great friends. The best of friends, in fact. Then when we were eighteen after we graduated, Gregoric and I had to separate. He was going really far away from where I was going, and I thought I would never see him again. The day he left, I remember him looking at me with those sad blue eyes that you have most of the time, and saying, ‘Crix, you take care, ya hear?’ I just shook his hand and watched him leave. Life for me was very different when he left. I was alone. I had no one. And because I had no one, guys found reasons to pick on me. Then I started to get beat up. Before I knew it, my past was repeating itself. I was doomed to be miserable. About four years later, on one of my bad days, I met Gregoric again:

  ‘Get up, sissy! Get him off the ground!’ Two boys, no older than the victim himself, picked up Crix and held him as they were commanded to do. The boy who gave the commands walked casually toward Crix and, with all his might, threw his fist into Crix’ stomach. Crix doubled over but couldn’t fall because of the two pairs of arms that held him. He was bleeding and bruised and hurting all over his body. Then, right when Crix thought it was over for him, Gregoric ran around the corner and dove on top of the guy who was hitting Crix. Gregoric punched and hit and struck him unconscious. Then he swung at one of the guys who was holding Crix, who was still surprised at seeing Gregoric appear out of nowhere. They rolled around in the dirt until they were both bloody and covered in filth. Once that guy was on the ground, out cold, he glanced at the third one with evil in his eyes and vengeance in his heart. The third man sprinted out of there before any more punches could be thrown. Gregoric, breathing hard, bent down to help Crix get off of the ground.

  ‘Ah…Ow!’ Crix grabbed his side. ‘I think my ribs are either bruised or broken.” Crix lifted his shirt up and revealed a black spot about the size of a basketball on the right side of his chest. The wound was turning purple and green. It didn’t look good. “By the way,’ he paused to take a breath. It hurt every time he sucked in the air and blew it out. He grimaced at the pain. ‘…you look horrible.’

  Gregoric with hi
s lip bleeding smiled at him. ‘You look like something my cat drags into the house.’ Crix smiled back at him. ‘I thought I told you to take care of yourself,’ continued Gregoric, who was now trying to stop the red river coming from his nose from running down his neck.

  ‘Well,’ Crix, now kneeling, replied, ‘I didn’t listen real well back then.’

  “C’mon. Let’s go get you inside, and we’ll talk there.’ Gregoric helped Crix up and put his arm around him so that he could walk better. They limped into the house together, and Crix laid down on the couch while Gregoric got some ice and rags for them both.

  ‘Aren’t we a pair?’ Gregoric said as he handed Crix an icepack for his head.

  Crix tried to laugh but stopped halfway through because of the pain. ‘Yeah. Quite the pair.’

  They both sat there in silence for a few minutes until Crix spoke up. ‘What made you come here?’

  Gregoric took off the rag he was holding on his nose, lifted his head up, and looked at him. ‘I wanted to see you! Man! Don’t tell me I’ve been gone THAT long!’ he said, laughing.

  ‘No. C’mon. I’m serious.’

  ‘Okay. I came here, not only to see you, but also to tell you something. I’ve fallen in love, Crix! I mean, I have never met any woman like her. We’ve been dating for a while now, and…she’s amazing! I met her down in Georgia after I moved. And, well, I wanted to take you down to Georgia to meet her.’

  Crix turned his head from looking at the ceiling to look at Gregoric. ‘That sounds awesome,’ he said without any emotion, but Gregoric knew that he was excited and just couldn’t show it because of his beating. ‘Hey,’ he said, ‘thanks…for saving me…again.’ He smiled at Gregoric who smiled back.

  ‘No problem, buddy. I’ll always be there for you. Promise.’

  The two friends who had healed but still had stitches, scratches, and scars were on their way down to Georgia a couple weeks later. Gregoric showed Crix around Georgia, and they both were having a great time. Laughing, they walked into Gregoric’s house only to be surprised by some visitors.

  ‘It’s about time you got here.’ A beautiful young lady said, tapping her toe. ‘We’ve been waiting forever!’ She looked at them seriously and then smiled and hugged Gregoric who in return put his arms around her and swung her around, laughing. After a few moments of being in their own world, the two lovers turned to the other two people, who were just standing there.

  ‘Crix, this is my sweetheart, Katre. Katre, this is Crix, who I told you about.’

  ‘It is very nice to meet you, Crix. Gregoric never stops talking about you,’ Katre said to Crix, holding out her hand.

  ‘And it is very nice to meet you, Miss Katre,’ Crix said taking her hand and kissing the top of it.

  Katre smiled and turned towards her friend who was standing there patiently. ‘Crix, this is my very good friend, Meranda.’

  ‘Hi,’ she said, ‘you can call me Mer. Everyone else does.’

  Crix, taken aback by her beauty, kissed her hand and then said, ‘Yeah, but does everyone say you have the face of an angel? ‘Cause you do.’

  Mer, blushing and smiling, said, ‘No, they do not.’

  Gregoric, watching the exchanges of names between his friends, interrupted, ‘I knew you would all get along!’

  Crix, recovering from the trance he was in, smiled at Gregoric. Then Katre, noticing the stitches on Crix and Gregoric, said, ‘What happened?!’ She tried to touch the scratch on Gregoric’s forehead, but he pulled away. ‘Were you two fighting?’ she asked disapprovingly.

  ‘Us? Fighting?’ Gregoric said, smiling at Crix. ‘No, I just had to take care of some things for Crix. That’s all.’ Katre, not believing him, gave a warning look and folded her arms over her chest. ‘C’mon,’ said Gregoric, trying to change the subject. ‘We’re here and safe so there’s nothing to worry about.’

  ‘Okay,’ said Katre giving in. ‘But I will not tolerate fighting.’ Gregoric smiled at Crix, who smiled back at him. ‘Have you asked him yet?’ asked Katre.

  ‘No, We’ve been kinda busy and I wanted him to meet you two first. But I will. Don’t worry.’ said Gregoric apologetically.

  ‘Well, go ahead and ask him.’

  ‘I don’t want to put any pressure on him…I’ll ask him when we’re alone together…doing guy stuff…you know.’

  ‘Ask me what?’ asked Crix butting in.

  ‘We’ll talk about it later,’ said Gregoric. ‘But right now, let’s go get something to eat. I’m starving!’

  The four of them left to go eat out. A few hours later, after the girls were dropped off at their house, Gregoric and Crix walked full and tired from their meal into Gregoric’s house.

  ‘Oh! That was fun!’ said Crix plopping into a chair.

  ‘Yeah,’ replied Gregoric. ‘It was. I knew you would love Katre! Isn’t she amazing?’

  ‘You are one lucky guy. But I think Mer is even more amazing!’

  ‘Oh really?’ said Gregoric looking at Crix suspiciously. ‘You like her don’t you?’

  ‘No, I don’t.’

  ‘Yes you do! Admit it! You like Mer!’ Gregoric tackled Crix, and they both rolled around on the ground wrestling. After a few minutes Gregoric pinned Crix and wouldn’t let him up. ‘Tell me! C’mon!’

  ‘Okay. Okay. I like her. A lot. She’s…it’s just…I’ve never met anyone like her before,’ said Crix as Gregoric got off of him and helped him up.

  ‘I know how you feel,’ said Gregoric. ‘That’s how I feel about Katre.’

  Both boys got off the floor and sat onto the couch. ‘So, what was it you wanted to ask me about?’ asked Crix.

  ‘Well, I wanted to know…well…Katre and I are going to get married this summer, and I wanted you to be my best man. What do you think?’

  Crix, shocked, looked at Gregoric in disbelief. ‘Are you serious? Of course I’ll be your best man! I would be honored!’ Gregoric smiled at Crix. ‘Wow! You…getting married. I can’t believe it.’

  ‘Neither can I.’”

  “So…you and my father were friends, and you met Mer through him and my mom?” Holidee asked still soaking in all of the information she had been told.

  “Yes…Holidee, your father, Gregoric, was the best friend I ever had. And when he…” Crix’ voice trailed off and disappeared. He looked down in sadness. Mer, who had been listening secretly and came into the room, put her hand on his shoulder for comfort. He looked up at her and smiled a sad smile. “The happiest day of your dad’s life,” continued Crix.

  “I know, was when he and mom got married,” interrupted Holidee.

  “No.” said Crix. “That was the second happiest day of your dad’s life. His first, though, was when you were born. I remember that day very well. That was also the day that your parents named Mer your godmother and I later became your Guardian.”

  “You’re my what?” asked Holidee.

  “I’m your Guardian. I am the one who has to protect you from any and all harm and if that means dying so that you may live, then I must die. Do not think a guardian and a godparent are the same thing because they are not. A godparent you live with and they act as your parent. A Guardian you can never live with and some people do not even know that they have a guardian or who it is. A Guardian does exactly as its name says. They guard someone. Normally you wouldn’t know who your Guardian is or that you have one, but under the circumstances…I mean that your parents are gone…then we, as in Mer and I, thought it best that you know…so that you may understand better.”

  “Understand what better?”

  “Who you are and why I’m here.”

  Holidee pondered his words for a few moments. “You mean…you would die for me?” Holidee choked.

  Crix sighed and bowed his head. “It is my duty to if it would come to that. I owe it to you and to your parents.”

  “But that’s absurd!” Holidee said standing up. “I didn’t ask for anyone to die for me! I don’t want anyone to die fo
r me! I could never live with myself if you died because of me!”

  “Holidee, your parents asked me to be your guardian knowing the responsibilities and consequences, and I accepted without any regret. They wanted you to live. That’s why I am your Guardian because they could trust no one else.”

  “But that’s like sentencing you to death! How could you agree to that? How could they want you to do that? Wouldn’t they want you to live too?”

  “Holidee, sit down.” Holidee obeyed. Crix sighed again and lifted his head to look at her directly in the eyes. For the first time, Holidee noticed Crix’ misty gray eyes. They weren’t happy, though, as she had expected them to be. They were lonely. “Holidee, I am much older than you. I have seen a lot more than you. I have lived a long and full life. And I would gladly and without regret give it up…for you. So many people would die for you, Holidee, and so many have already. You, Holidee, you are more important than any life.”

  Holidee, still staring into those sad eyes, became speechless. She had many questions that she wanted to ask, but for some reason, she knew it wasn’t the right time to ask them. And, at that moment, she felt selfish. All she had been thinking about the past months was herself and how she felt when people around her deeply cared for her and would give up everything they loved for her selfish self. She felt guilty and wanted to cry, but she didn’t. She couldn’t. She just looked down sadly and felt sorry. Then a tear fell onto the couch, which soaked it up immediately. Crix took his hand and lifted her chin up. “Never,” he said wiping the tears from her eyes. “Never, look down to any one. You hold your head high. Higher than everyone.” His hand was warm and Holidee could almost feel her father’s presence with her. “I mean that,” Crix said, pulling his hand away.

  After a few minutes Crix smiled softly and said, “You have such pretty eyes. They are the same eyes as your parents’. I’ve always loved them.” His smile faded but came back almost immediately. “When I told your father I envied him for his eyes, he would always say, ‘What? These things? You don’t want ‘em! They’re a pain.’ Then he’d smile, look at me, see that I didn’t believe him, and frown. He’d put his arm around me and say, ‘Crix, I’d much rather have your courage and strength and intelligence than some good-looking eyes.’ He always knew how to make a person feel like they were on top of the world. And he always knew how to make me smile. I learned a lot from him.” Crix smiled at Holidee who didn’t return the smile.

  “You really loved my dad, didn’t you?” said Holidee looking at him.

  “Like a brother.”

  “And you really miss him too. I can see it.” She was silent for a while. “I’ve been so selfish!” she said mainly to herself. “I’m not the only one who hurts.” She looked at Crix and put her hand on his. They were warm and strength and happiness surged through Crix when she touched him. He smiled because he knew that he may not have to teach her that much. She might already have it in her and just not know it. He grasped her hands and smiled. “Thanks,” he said. “You have your father’s encouragement.”

  Mer walked into the living room with two cups of tea. “Here,” she said.

  “Thanks,” said Holidee and Crix together.

  They started to drink the warm liquid. Mer looked at Crix and cleared her throat. Then she took the now empty cups and walked back into the kitchen.

  “Well,” Crix said, breaking the silence. “You’re probably wondering why I am telling you all of this.” Holidee just nodded in agreement. “When your father died, Holidee, he asked me to do something for him. First, he wanted me to give you something and then he wanted me to show and teach you things, which I will get to later. But, first, here.” Crix took the small package from within his jacket and handed it to Holidee. “A sixteenth birthday present from your father.”

  Holidee took the gift gently, afraid she might break it. Then, very carefully, she started to unwrap it. As pieces of the wrapping came off, crimson leather appeared. Then, when it was completely unwrapped, Holidee was holding, “A journal. It’s…it’s beautiful.” The crimson leather was smooth under her fingers and she stroked it with care. The pages were coated with gold on the sides and they shimmered in the light. She opened the inside cover and saw, engraved in gold, her name. Holidee Natalie Galygin. She ran her fingers over each letter, remembering each curve. She smiled as tears started to well up in her eyes.

  Crix had watched the whole scene with interest. Then he saw her eyes filling with tears. He started to reach for her hand but pulled back thinking maybe it would be better if he didn’t. He wanted to hug her, to take away all the pain she was feeling, and he realized that maybe he could. Maybe he could take away her pain when they left.

  Holidee flipped through the pages slowly until her eyes caught something in between the pages. An envelope fell out onto her hands. It was addressed ‘to my daughter’. Holidee knew it was from her father, but she didn’t open it. She wanted to save it for later; for when she was alone. She put the letter inside the journal and closed it. Then, suddenly, she looked up at Crix.

  “I found my father’s journal here. I started to look through it, but then the pages turned without me touching them. They stopped on an entry that was written on my father’s sixteenth birthday. I read it and became confused because he said he found out he was something else. I didn’t find out, though, because the bottom of the page was torn out. What could my father have possibly been?”

  Crix looked at Holidee and smiled. “You will find out soon enough. Patience, Holidee.”

  Mer walked into the room holding a bowl full of popcorn. “I thought we’d snack tonight. How’s that sound?”

  “Sounds great,” replied Holidee as she scooted over on the couch to let Mer sit in between Crix and her. Mer sat down and all three of them started to eat the popcorn.

  “How about we watch a movie?” asked Crix getting up and going over to the television.

  “What movie?” asked Holidee.

  “I don’t know,” said Crix. “What movie do you want to see?”

  “Something good.” Mer said smiling. “Surprise us.”

  Crix popped a movie in and sat back down. The three of them were very content eating their snack and watching the movie. They were only interrupted when Mer had to go to the bathroom. Crix paused the movie, then he looked at Holidee.

  “I bet this has been some birthday,” he said to Holidee. “Do you think you could handle one more surprise?”

  Holidee looked at him puzzled. “Yeah, I think I can.”

  “Well, tomorrow I want to take you some place. It’s a surprise. We’ll have to leave pretty early. Really early, in fact. Like around four in the morning. I promise, though, it’ll be worth it.”

  “Okay. Does Mer know about this?”

  “Yeah, but she’s not coming cuz this is something she can’t really relate to. You’ll see. Just make sure you get plenty of rest tonight and pack some clothes and whatever else you want to take before you go to bed.”

  Holidee just nodded in agreement. Mer came back in and sat down. “Miss me?” She said smiling.

  “Extremely.” Crix said, smiling at her and getting caught up in her eyes. Then he took a hold of her hand and kissed the top of it while still looking into her eyes. “I shall always miss you when you are not with me.” He lowered her hand down to her side, but did not let go of it. He held her hand and interlocked his fingers with hers. Mer leaned a little closer into him and smiled to herself. Holidee just shook her head and continued watching the movie.

  The three of them, all cozy on the couch, did not forget the events that happened during the day. At the current moment, though, they cast aside their memories of the past, their memories of the present, and their thoughts of the future. They all knew, somehow, that they would be reminded of them soon. How soon, though, was a mystery.