Date: Mon, 02 Jun 2003 21:54:34 -0500 From: Karla Schulz Subject: Carrots and Celery part two chapter fourteen Okay. See. Read. Enjoy. --- When I wake up a few hours later and emerge from my cocoon, the house is buzzing. Kara has Sue over and they're playing together in her room in the quiet and somewhat mysterious manner in which 11-year-old girls seem to do. Many chirps and beeps are emanating from the twins' room, as well as the occasional taunt or shout of either frustration or victory. Video games, dummy. I plod slowly down the stairs and hear telltale sounds of the news from the living room. It'll be my dad watching the BBC. He'll only watch news on the BBC. Which is weird. We're not like even British or anything. Dad was born in Canada and his parents are Romanian. Mom's not British either, but she doesn't listen to the news. She gets lots of newsletters and talks to people. I don't think she trusts mainstream media. And rightly so. Anyway, I don't feel up to a rant right now, so moving right along. The kitchen. I'm hungry, you see. I slept through dinner and I'm also used to having something to eat after I get home from school - I didn't get that either. So, the kitchen. There's Mom. "Hi, Mom." "Hi, sweetie. I saved you some dinner. It's in the orange Tupperware." "Great, Mom. Thanks," I forage around for the orange Tupperware. "Feeling okay?" "Huh?" I shut the fridge. "I'm okay. Just a little run down or whatever," I put the food in the microwave and lean up against the counter. I smile. "Really." "We haven't talked in awhile," I smile again, more ironically this time. "I only recently started talking again, period." "I noticed. The change, it was because of his visit?" I nod and shrug at the same time. "That was a big part of it, but so was what all of you guys did for me. It was like all that help and caring finally caught up with me at Thanksgiving. Seeing Celery set it off, but I wouldn't have ever gotten to be okay again without all of you. I'm sorry I was so lousy to everyone all that time before." "You were hurting." "Still, I could have handled it better." "Just be grateful you didn't handle it worse." She can be so gentle, my mom. You should hear her tone right now. It's so tender, so soft. And her smile's warm. You know how you just feel safe with some people? And better about yourself? That's how I feel with my mom pretty much all the time. Celery's another one of my major like that people. The microwave beeps. Another moment broken. Where is Jonas anyway? "How are YOU, Mom?" I ask, sitting down with my food. "I'm fine, honey," I roll my eyes a little. "Like that sums it up," she laughs a little. "It's been a pretty strange few months, I'll give you that. A lot's happened, most of it not very good, but some of it wonderful. If you're referring to Kyle and Jonas, that's something I'm more than fine about. I really DO think it's wonderful, I really AM happy for them. They seem to be a wonderful match. I don't know why I didn't see it sooner, it was so easy to tell with you and Celery," we're never going to live that down. "Yeah, so everyone keeps telling me." "You seem to think that's a bad thing. I hardly agree. It's a wonderful gift to be able to openly express your emotions. To be able to convey what you're feeling. Especially when it comes to love. Many people have been crippled by their lack of that gift." You're really starting to believe me about the whole her being great thing, aren't you? "I guess," and she gets so much encouragement from me too! "Have you talked to Celery recently about Christmas?" That's a jump in topic but I'm ready to go with it. "Yeah, I mean, it's like one of our favourite topics." "I'll bet." "You and Dad are really okay about paying for everything?" "You dare even ask me that question?" Her voice is all fierce, but her mouth's twitching, wanting to turn into a smile. "Stupid question," I say with a smile. "Not your first." "Or my last!" I finish with a grin. It's a game we used to play. I was the kind of kid who asked the obvious a lot, just because I needed the reassurance. That developed into what you just heard over the years. All love and humour based of course. "We love him, honey, of course we don't mind. I don't think I could stand to have it any other way. It'll be a great holiday with all of us together, one of those real seasons on love we're all always hearing about. You know we're flying him in the night you get off school, right?" I nod rapidly. "Uh-huh, and he's staying until the day before school starts again," I almost want to die from the joy of it every time I think about two whole weeks with Celery. "That's the plan. We're going to mail his tickets this week." "So soon?" "It's the Christmas season, you've got to book early, and besides, it'll give him something to hold onto to keep him reminded of what's coming," I laugh. "He'll probably sleep with them under his pillow," Mom suddenly gets a little choked up. "Mom, what's the matter?" She smiles through her almost tears. "Nothing, sweetie," I get up to give her a hug. "I'm sorry, Mom. I know you guys miss him too. And I haven't really let anyone share that feeling with me. I want us to miss him together more, though. Don't hide it from me." She puts her arms around me and we stay connected for awhile. When she lets go, she keeps hold of my arm, turning it over so she' s looking right at my tattoo. It used to hurt so much to look at it. Now it fills me up with so much strength. I hope that's what she's getting from it. "He's such a good boy." "I know, Mom." "It hurts as much as if it were one of-" "I know, Mom," she looks up at me. "He knows we miss him too, doesn't he?" There aren't even words for what kind of an idiot I am. "Of course he does, Mom, he misses you too." She nods. That's about it for the breakdown. Strong dependable Mom is back. "Okay. Finish your dinner, and then maybe you should go check on Kyle and Jonas," I smirk. "How long have they been up there?" She shakes her head. "Don't put ideas like that into your poor old mother's head. I'm going to go see your dad." "Okay, Mom," I smile. "And hey, Mom, you know I love you, eh?" "Yes, Carrots, I do." She starts to leave. "Hey! Don't you love me too?" She grins. "Stupid question," I shake my head and go back to my dinner. Once I'm done that, I go upstairs and knock on Kyle's door. He softly calls, `Come in'. I step inside and see them tucked up together on his couch. Jonas appears to be asleep. "Hey," I say quietly. Kyle's busy being enraptured watching Jonas sleep. "Isn't he beautiful?" I nod. "Like a super model." We laugh. You'd have to have seen Now and Then. Don't even bug me about why I have. I have an 11-year old sister. You figure it out. "Why didn't I see it before?" I shrug, perching myself on the arm by Jonas's feet. " 'Cause you weren't ready, I guess. You see it now, you know? Who cares about before." "I think he does." "That's bullshit, Kyle. Jonas beat you by like I dunno, a week. Maybe a little more. And that was just the luck of him being a little less drunk than you. There's no blame here." "I think I knew I was jealous of Sam." "Really?" "Yeah. But, it was just that he was spending time with her, you know? It didn't have anything to do with romance - or maybe it did. I don't know. But, even at the party, I was kind of happy when she left. That was when we danced, you know?" How could I forget. "Yeah," Kyle gets a distant, dreamy look. "That night was so much fun. After when we got home, we talked like half the night. I guess it was more like all the way into the morning with how late it started out. We were SO tired, but as soon as we started talking it was like it was the middle of the afternoon." He looks down at Jonas, and runs his fingers along his forehead. "If there was ever a time to pick out as when I started loving him, it was that night. We learned so much about each other, and all of it just seemed to bring us closer together. I don't ever want to lose him, Carrots." "I know you don't, Kyle," I say, matching his conviction. Jonas stirs a bit. He really is asleep though. There's no way he could have been awake through that and not blush. Jonas is kind of a blusher. "And I don't think you will, if you make sure to tell him stuff like what you just told me." He half laughs, half groans. "Then we're sunk," I tisk gently. "You're doing okay so far." He glances at me with widening eyes. "What did you hear?" I laugh. "Nothing bad," now Kyle's blushing. "I don't think I want to know." "Dude, what have you been saying?" I ask, still laughing. "Never you mind," I finish my chuckling and grin at him. "You're a great guy, Kyle, Jonas is lucky to have you." "Well, I don't know about that. But I'm doing my best to make him happy." "Me?" Man! Give a guy a little warning for once in your life! "You what?" Kyle stammers lamely. "I heard what you said, Kyle," Jonas says with a smug little grin. "How much of it?" Kyle asks with a gulp. Jonas crunches his brow. "Just that last part. Why, was there something bad?" "No! No, not bad. Just like, um." "Really beautiful. I'll tell you later, Jonas." "You will not!" That was too easy. I stick my tongue out. "I think I was better off asleep," Jonas comments. "You just woke up 'cause you missed me too much," Kyle states knowingly. Jonas actually blushes. Oh really, Jonas. Come on. "Uh, actually, I sort of was dreaming about you." Oh, okay. That's blush worthy. "Yeah?" Look at Kyle, all excited. "Yeah." They smile. "Privacy time, I'm out of here." "No, Care, man, you don't have to leave!" Jonas is quick to protest. "It's okay. I want to talk to Celery anyway." "If that's why, then sure. See you later." "Yep. Night if I don't see again." "Bye." "Night, bro." I'm all excited to break the most excellent news to Celery, but as soon as we start chatting he's all about how excited for them he is. Carrots: How did you know already? Celery: Kyle e-mailed me like Saturday night already. Dude, you should have seen all the exclamation marks. I laugh. Too bad he can't hear. No. Go away, bitterness. Carrots: Makes sense. They're SO cute! I wish you could see them. Celery: Me too Carrots: Sorry! I'm such a loser Celery: Baby, don't be ridiculous. Let's keep this happy, okay? Tell me more about Kyle and Jonas So I do, and then we talk about missing each other (a lot about the talk with Mom), and what else has been going on in our respective worlds (very little) and finally about Christmas. Celery: I so totally can't wait Carrots: No kidding! I'll probably die of excitement the second before your plane lands Celery: Don't even try it! Carrots: Yeah, on second thought, I think I'll probably try and stick around Celery: See that you do. Carrots: Cel, I love you so much. Everything's been going really good, but I still can barely get through the day sometimes, I miss you so much. It hurts so bad being away from you Celery: I know, baby. Don't push yourself too hard Carrots: You promise to take your own advice? Celery: I promise to try Carrots: Yeah, that's about right. Celery: I love you, baby, and I want to stay focused to how much I'm going to love spending Christmas with you and the rest of the family, rather than the time we're having to spend apart now. You with me on that? Carrots: Yes, definitely Celery: So tell me about all the stuff we're going to do once I get back Man, you're dirty. Not that kind of stuff. We'll skip it anyway. We have the regular difficult drawn out good-bye and then all the usual signing off whatever. I'm still pretty zonked, so it's off to bed for this little Carrot. --- Edited by Ed