Rifiuto: Non Miriena

"How old are you?"

"Ten. You?"

"Twelve." After a moment, she burst into nervous laughter.

"What's so funny?" Fi asked, confused. The girl stopped immediately, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

"I... I don't have many friends. Because I move around a lot. My dad's in the Army, so we... we go from base to base, and we stay for a couple years until he's reassigned, but never long enough for me to make any real friends. And I just..." She looked down at her feet as the two girls walked to the small grocery store. The boys- who had become fast friends- followed them in before scattering.

"Just what?" Fi asked, as she followed Jo, going by the candy shelves.

"I just... hoped I was making a friend." The older girl ducked her head, embarrassed. Fi couldn't help the smile that spread.

"I hope so, because I was hoping was making a friend too." Jo's head snapped up.

"Really?" She seemed shocked by the Fi's confession. The younger girl nodded.

"Yeah. My mom's a singer, and... so we tour... I... I've spent the better part of my life moving around, so I... I know what it's like not to make friends." They continued wandering through the small grocery store, sharing stories about themselves, and comparing their home lives.

"Is it just you?" Jo asked, stopping near the bakery. Fi shook her head.

"I have an older brother. Jack."

"He's your brother?" Jo asked, surprised. "I thought he was someone following you because he wanted to kidnap you."

"Why would my brother want to kidnap me?" Fi asked, confused. Jo blushed.

"Sorry, habit, when you have three older brothers. You tend to think that everyone following someone else is out to kidnap. That, and my family's pretty protective of me. Being the only girl and all."

"What about your mom? Do they do the same with her? Is she in the Army? Or is she in the Air Force or another branch of the military?" Jo's eyes darkened, and she bit her lip.

"No... my mom's dead. She died when I was four. I barely remember her. It's just my dad now."

"Oh. I'm sorry, I didn't know-"

"It's okay. Nothing we could do." Taking a deep breath, Jo turned to Fi. "What about your dad? Is he in your mom's band?"

"No. He's dead too. Died when I was about three. But Mom says that he was in the band. That's how they met."

By now, the girls had left the store and sat outside on a bench, waiting for the boys to join them. They sat in silence for several minutes, before Fi asked,

"How long have you lived here?" Jo shrugged.

"Four years. It's the longest we've lived anywhere- or, that's what my brothers say. Everything just blurs for me. Are you... here for a gig?" Fi nodded. "Does she sing good?"

"Really good."

"I'd like to see her. I wanted to perform when I was little. Dance. And then..." She stopped, her face falling. She picked at her nails, nervous.

"You should come to the concert. It's in two days. Down near the old... the old..."

"Shipping docks?" Jo filled in. Fi nodded.

"Yeah! The shipping-"

"There you are, Jo!" Both girls turned, to see a man in casual Army uniform making his way towards them. A woman with long red hair hurried towards them from the other end of the sidewalk, towards Fi. Instant, Jo climbed to her feet, back straight, chin up.

"Fi, what are you doing here? I told Jack to watch you-"

"He was watching me, Mom! But I met Jo, and we've been talking-"

"Jo? Who's Jo?" The woman turned, catching sight of the dark-haired girl. "This is Jo?"

"I told your brothers to look out for you, Josefina."

"They were Dad. But they aren't much fun. And then I met Fi, and we've been-"

"Who's Fi?" The man looked up, seeing Fi and her mom.

"Fi is my daughter. And... Jo must be yours." Molly Phillips said, nodding to the older girl. The raven-head blushed. Her father and brothers had always called her 'Jo,' but she'd ignored the name, until she heard Fi say it. Somehow, hearing another girl say it didn't sound as strange as hearing a boy say it.

"Yes. Colonel Joseph Lupo."

"Molly Phillips." The two quickly shook hands, just as the four boys left the store.

"Oh, hi Dad." The oldest of Colonel Lupo's sons stopped dead in his tracks. "I... I see you found Joey." Their father glared at him.

"No thanks to you, David. You were supposed to be watching your sister. I was about to send out search parties looking for her-"

"Dad!" Jo's embarrassed whine cut through her father's speech, and he turned to her. "I'm not a child! I can take care of myself."

One look at his daughter's dark eyes made Colonel Lupo halt, and he sighed. "I'm sorry Jo, I just worry." Eventually, he took his daughter's hand. "Come on, let's head home." Fi called out to them as they started to leave.

"Wait! Are you coming to the concert, Jo?" The girl turned back, suddenly remembering. But then she turned to her dad, silently begging. "My mom's putting a concert on at the old shipping docks. Can Jo come Mr. Lupo? Please?" Fi asked.

The older man thought a moment, turning back to his daughter. He'd denied her so few luxuries and chances to be a kid in the last few years, that maybe, it was time to let her be just that- a kid. After a moment, he nodded.

"Yes, Jo, you can go."

The smile that lit his daughter's face was all he needed, to know that he'd made the right choice.