Rain. Terrible weather for a birthday. Perfect weather for a funeral. What happens if you have both on the same day? A birthday and a funeral. What do you call the weather? I don't really care. I'm just sitting on the wooden folding chair, holding up a black umbrella, listening to my mother giving a half - hearted speech about my dad. Yes, my dad died. Pirates. It's what you get for being a great spacer. I'm dressed in black, of course. Black shirt, black jacket, black trousers, black boots and a black hair band. Normally, I wouldn't wear it but my dad said it always made me look cute. I hate the hair band but this is for my dad. Today is his day.
I came back to earth as everyone clapped as my mother came down from the stand. I tapped my hands together about twice then gazed back at the black coffin with a picture of my dad on top. I take after him. Red hair, brown eyes, button nose. I've got my mother's long arms and legs. I turned my head back to the vicar as he called up an 'Amelia Smollet'. A short woman with felined genes, red hair and bright green eyes. She didn't look like anything from my dad, apart from the red hair. She was dressed in black too, so was everyone else apart from my mom (who chose purple) and my step dad, Carl (who chose grey). I kinda perked up when she started speaking.
"My name is Amelia Smollet and Kristopher was my Uncle." she started. I blinked. Since when did I have a cousin? "And only recently did I discover that I actually had an uncle. Even though I didn't know him, I've heard about him from the Navy. The time he saved the Princess of Aragon, how he fought in the battle of Titan. Who could forget the time he rescued ten ships from the pirate attack at Philipa?" she continued. I sniffed. "Plus, I'm sure he was a great father as well." Amelia said, her sight drifted over to me. "I wish I knew him and judging by what others have said, I really missed out on knowing a really great man." Amelia smiled. Mom coughed and I frowned at her. Amelia leaned forward a bit then said "Thank you." and walked off. I clapped loudly while my mother just beated her hands together lightly. I bet Carl didn't even bother clapping.
So after that, we buried him. Right down into the deep ditch, a few roses thrown down on to the top then we left to the reception dinner. Mom calls it a 'party' but there's no dancing or anybody isn't smiling, apart from mom laughing at Carl's rubbish jokes. Everybody started choosing their seats. I really didn't want to sit next to mom or Carl. I wasn't allowed to invite any of my friends so I'm stuck with a bunch of Army people and my mom who acts like nothing has happened. Then, I caught sight of Amelia Smollet. I sneak away from Mom and her 'charming' husband and tap Amelia on the shoulder. She spun around and smiled sadly at me.
"Hello Megan. How are you?" she asked. I shrugged.
"A bit mad Mom is acting like it's her birthday." I mumbled. Amelia's face darkened as she glanced over to mom just as she let out a loud laugh.
"I'm guessing that she's not a very nice person." Amelia muttered. I nodded.
"She's the one who had the affair. She doubted about coming." I sighed. Amelia shook her head. "So, you're my cousin." I said. Amelia nodded.
"Your father was my mother's brother." Amelia explained about the relation.
"So where is your mother?" I asked, looking around for someone who looked like him.
Amelia bit her lip. "She died when I was born." Amelia muttered. My face fell.
"Oh." I whispered. "Can I sit next to you? I really don't want to sit next to my mom with her laughing and all happy." I asked. Amelia glanced over to mom then at me.
"Sure. I don't blame you. Plus, I don't know anybody else here." Amelia agreed. I smiled a little then plopped myself onto the nearest chair and Amelia sat next to me. On my other side, was Charlie Hatton, one of dad's Navy mates. First course was tomato soup, dad's favourite.
"So, what do you do?" I questioned. Amelia blinked.
"I'm a captain of a ship. The 'RLS Legacy'. I inherited it from our grandfather." Amelia explained. To be honest, hearing 'our grandfather' felt weird but in a good way.
"How did you become a Captain so quickly? " I asked. Amelia looked way too young to be a Captain. I thought it took years to get to that rank.
"I saved about fifteen ships almost single handily. I don't want to boast or anything. Your father did save ten." Amelia answered, slightly blushing and took a sip of her drink. I looked shocked. Fifteen? I scooped up some soup and swallowed it down. I felt a tap on my shoulder then I turned my head to see my mother.
"I asked Mrs. Hooper if she'd swap with you. Aren't you going to sit next to me?" she asked sweetly.
I felt like saying "Not if you and Carl are going to smile and laugh all the way through." but I just settled for "Actually, I'd like to get to know Amelia."
My mother's face fell but she tried to cover it up. "Oh, well. If you want to come and sit next to us at any time." My mother whispered with a smile. I didn't smile back. Mom then skipped back to her seat then pecked Carl's cheek and grinned. My face screwed up in disgust.
"Gosh. I would do anything to get away as soon as possible. My mother is all happy, happy at my father's funereal! I swear! She's so selfish! I can't stand it!" I whispered harshly. Amelia gave me a thoughtful look then finished her soup.
"I'm going on a vogue in about a week. You're welcome to come." Amelia offered. I sat up and my eyes lit up. A way to get away from my mother? It's a miracle! "Of course, you'll need your mother's permission and to inform your school." My heart went from up in my throat to down in my socks.
"But she'll never let me! It's not fair!" I cried, only to receive a rather scary stare from my father's 'close' friend, Tabitha Coleman.
"Well, I can't really kidnap you now, can I." Amelia retorted.
I burrowed by brow in deep thought. "I could runaway." I muttered. Amelia gave me a sharp look. I sighed. "So running away is out of the question." I mumbled.
"Just ask her. She might say yes." Amelia chimed. I raised my eyebrow at her and gave her the 'yeah right!' look.
We went through the main course (potatoes, peas, carrots and beef) and Amelia skipped desert. "Trying to keep my weight down." she explained with a wink. I wasn't hungry either so I left it.
"Want to go outside? I'd like to see dad's grave before I leave." I asked. Amelia nodded and we headed outside. I catched my mom's suspicious gaze. Outside, we walked up to the cemetery to see my dad's grave.
"So tell me. What was my uncle like?" Amelia asked.
"He liked music. Sailed alot. Had a hell of a lot of money. Three ships. The will is being read tomorrow afternoon. I doubt he'll leave everything to mom. If he does, I leaving. She hated my dad's guts. I was a one night stand. They never even got married. But they stayed together. After a while, mom had an affair and dad left. I wanted to go with him but mom wouldn't have it. If mom get's everything all she's been is a right cow to him, I'll leave and never come back." I grumbled. Amelia patted my shoulder.
"At least your dad doesn't go around drinking and smoking and brings a prostitute home every night." Amelia sighed. I raised an eyebrow. "He never was a good father. I suppose it's just because of my mother's death. I ended up in an orphanage after a few years of living with him." Amelia grimaced.
"At least your mother isn't a selfish cow. I used to love her alot. But as soon as she started going around with this guy more than me, I got angry. I've lost count how many times she forgot to pick me up from school." I said. Amelia gave me a weak smile.
"I guess it's hard letting someone you loved dearly go. Then being stuck with the ones you hate." Amelia soothed as we got to my dad's grave. I stared at the marble grave stone.
"Yep. Really hard. I don't hate my mother it's just I wish that she wouldn't be so selfish and laugh around at someone's funeral. So she hated him! Everybody else loved him!" I sighed. My eyes began to water up.
"Here." Amelia whispered, handing me a tissue. I wiped my eyes then pulled out my notebook and pen.
"Can I have your number? So if I actually get permission to go on this vogue?" I asked. Amelia nodded and wrote down her telephone number.
"I live in a flat up on Montressor Spaceport. I hope you'll be able to come. I would like a female to talk to rather than a bunch of grumpy men!" Amelia smiled. I let out a tiny chuckle. I ripped out a spare page from the notebook then scribbled down my number.
"Here's mine. I live down the road." I said and handed Amelia my number. She folded the paper up then slid it in her pocket. I just scrupled it up and stuffed it in my pocket.
"I best be off. I've got a lot to do for the vogue. Call me as soon as you can when you have your answer. Call me even if you can't go." Amelia instructed as she started to walk away. Half way down the path, she turned back and waved. "Good luck at the will-reading tomorrow!" she cried. I waved back.
I turned to the grave stone and smiled a little. "Did you hear that, dad. I'm going on a vogue. I hope mom will let me go. I bet she won't. She's too self centred. I'd do anything to get away, dad." I muttered.
"Megan! What are doing! Talking to a gravestone! You're nuts!" Mom cried, hurrying towards me while holding hands with Carl. I could feel my face flush red. She had a big grin plastered on her face. "So are you ready to go home?" She asked. Carl swung his arm around mom then dropped a kiss on her head. I tightened my fists.
"You know you've been smiling while everybody else was crying and mourning." I said. Mom's face darkened.
"Well, Carl was being so nice. I couldn't help but smile." she replied.
"Don't make excuses, mom. For once, could you NOT be selfish? You were prancing about, smiling and laughing while my dad got stuffed in a coffin and thrown down a ditch. Everybody was looking at you as if you were crazy! Don't you care about what other people feel?" I said, my voice slowly rising. Mom's smile faded and she stood face on to me.
"I don't know what's gotten into you but I'm just settling for his death- "
"Who's he? He is my dad! And he was a way better parent than you. You had a bloody affair!" I cried.
"We weren't even together in the first place! I just lived with him for your sake! And how dare you call me a terrible parent! Your father was a horrible person-"
"Well at least he stayed faithful and didn't run off with a sad sap!" I retorted. SLAP! Mom's hand hit my cheek at rapid speed. My head jerked sideways, my cheek stinging. Mom gasped then stepped back. I turned to her, holding my cheek. "Dad never laid a finger on me. You slapped me. Try and work out who's the better parent?" I whispered then turned and walked away.
"Megan? Megan! I'm sorry!" Mom called. My pace quickened. Before long, I was running. I ran out of the cemetery, ran down the street and out of town. I got to admit, I'm a fast runner. Tears were streaming down my face, making my cheek feel worse. I ran right down the walk-path to Benbow. I had to go to a friends. My dad's house was gone, I couldn't go to moms, Amelia's flat was on the spaceport. My friend's house. James Hawkins. The Benbow Inn. Even though he's a rebel and acts like he hates everything, he's a good kid. Wouldn't you be upset if your father just left without a reason? I'm more or less on the same boat as him.
I ran up a hill to see the entire village. The Inn was on top of a hill, really easy to spot. I looked up at the hill and gasped. No Inn was there, just a burnt building. Ruins. Ash. No Jim. I gulped. Oh, please. Please let Jim be okay. I ran down to the nearest shop and ran up to the counter.
"You know the Inn? The Benbow Inn? Are the owners..." I started. The final word got caught in my throat.
The shop owner, a bearalist, turned to me and smiled. "YOU MEAN THE HAWKINS? TEHY'RE FINE! THEY'RE STAYING WITH DOCTOR DOPPLER!" the shop owner shouted. My ears rang with pain. With bearalists, when they talk normally, it sounds like ten foghorns going off at once. Imagine how loud they are when they shout!
"Thanks." I thanked they ran back out the shop. Doctor Doppler is the local astrophysicist who lives in the big mansion up on the south hill and down the street. I sprinted up the hill and down the road. The big, stone-built house with slate roof and big windows came into sight and my pace quickened. I was panting deeply and my legs ached. My muscles were tense and tightened. Sweat poured off my forehead. I slowed down then stood before the hard-wooden door. Panting, I knocked on the door. Suddenly, I felt dizzy. I sat down on the floor and then everything went black. Last thing I heard was a woman's scream.