Lemonade with Ice Cubes
11-year old Lindsey McDonald stared at his glass of lemonade with ice cubes. Any other day he would have considered this to be the most delicious treat, because at home all he got to drink was water and an occasional glass of milk. But today, none of the sweet candy or drinks his rich aunt Maggie from the big city Los Angeles gave him and his brothers and sister tasted as good as they were supposed to. The reason for that was probably the fact that he and Becky, Alex and David were staying here because their baby sister Lizzy was suffering from a bad flu. Lindsey's mother, Christine, had told them it would be okay, but Lindsey, as the eldest child, had seen the dark circles under her eyes and the tired look upon her face. He knew they had been sent to the city for a reason, but he didn't want to think of what that reason was.
He moved his glass and watched the ice cubes move as he stirred them. He'd been so happy when Lizzy was born 6 months ago, it had been a real surprise. He chuckled slightly as he thought that if the lemonade would be his life, Lizzy could be his ice cubes, his extra surprise.
'What are you laughing about?', his 6- year old sister Becky inquired. Lindsey smiled at her and repeated what he had just thought.
'That's stupid. Your life isn't lemonade and Lizzy's not an ice cube.', the child protested with a frown.
'It's a metaphor, you dumb-ass!', 9- year old Alex exclaimed. He was incredibly smart for his age, just like his big brother Lindsey was.
'I don't know what a metaphor is..', Becky pouted. Lindsey pulled her on the bench next to him. 'You'll find out some day real soon. And Alex, don't shout at your sister.' He always felt the urge to protect and take care of his siblings, especially when they were away from their parents. Lindsey looked up as aunt Maggie entered the garden they were sat in.
'Hello. Are you all having a good time?', she asked nervously. All 4 heads nodded in unison.
'Good... I just had a phone call from your father..', she started. She sat down next to Lindsey and Becky, clearly uncomfortable.
Lindsey left his delicious lemonade alone for a moment and turned his full attention to his aunt. 'What did dad say?'.
Aunt Maggie took a deep breath. She didn't have any children herself, and didn't know how to handle them. Therefore, she had absolutely no idea how to have a conversation with them, let alone tell them bad news...
'I'm sorry.. Your father said... he told me Lizzy didn't make it. She was very, very ill and..'
Lindsey didn't hear the rest of what his aunt said. All he could think of was Lizzy. How could she be gone? It wasn't f air! He needed her to be laying here, in his arms, and staring up at him with those big, blue eyes of hers. He wanted, 'needed' her to fall asleep like that, forever, if she had to. But not like this! Not so cruelly ripped away from his life! His life, where she had a place. A place where her big brother needed her to be...
Lindsey stared down at his glass of lemonade.
The ice cubes had melted...