Chapter Three
Love. It's something easy and hard at the same time. It's also something unpredictable. Just when you think you have it mastered it makes a change, a left turn instead of a right. Sometimes it even spirals out of control such as a roller coaster seems to the first time that you ever go on one. Either you end up loving the thrill so much that you can't help but run back to the line, or you get scared, never going to trust one again. It scared you after all right? But sometimes, on those rare occasions, you get a mixture of the two, the ride wasn't special to you, so you depart, seeing it every once and awhile, but it's only a glimpse and doesn't last as you go on your own way. Love can be a variety of things, from your first kiss to that single tear that races off of your face and dances with itself when it lands on the dirt in front of a gravestone. My favorite display of love is when a mother sings her child a lullaby. But these are just my thoughts and it'd be best not to listen. After all, I'm just a foolish thief.
Hush, little baby, don't say a word.
Momma's gonna buy you a mockingbird
And if that mockingbird won't sing,
Momma's gonna buy you a diamond ring
And if that diamond ring turns brass,
Momma's gonna buy you a looking glass
And if that looking glass gets broke,
Momma's gonna buy you a billy goat
And if that billy goat won't pull,
Momma's gonna buy you a cart and bull
And if that cart and bull fall down,
You'll still be the sweetest little baby in town
Today is a day to celebrate. Truly it is, for it is the day that sweet little May was born. My sister was a fool for leaving her. I don't understand how a mother could leave her child; it's a mystery to me. I let out a satisfied sigh. The cake smells wonderful as I pull it out of the oven. Maybe I can work with Ann at the inn sometimes. I love cooking, so why not? I answer my own question. Because I'm a thief, that's why.
I untie my apron, leaving it in a heap on the counter and exit the house to care for the animals. I know that dad should be the one doing this, but I want to do it, I need to do it. The animals are a comfort to me, Kind of like friends but different. It's just hard to explain. But they listen to me and are good company, so I don't really need to explain. Most people wouldn't understand what I mean by this. Claire understood. She always understood what I meant, even when I didn't mean anything. Goddess, I miss that girl. That's just another reason isn't it, to hate my sister and her damn friend, Aja. It seems I was never able to get it through her thick head that I didn't think of her anymore than a friend, if even that. Why couldn't Claire see that I was just being nice to the damn girl? We would have still been together if she knew that, hell, we might've even been married. But no, she didn't trust me enough I guess. Why I gave my heart to someone that didn't have the courage- No, didn't have the strength to believe in me is another mystery that keeps me wondering as I steal throughout the night. Would I still being a thief if I had married her? I think not, for she made me want to be a better person.
"Good morning." I coo to the soft creatures. Warmth envelopes me like a blanket, I greet it like a pencil does paper. It smells kind of like hay in here, only a little bit better, sweeter if you will. I embrace the smell much like I did with the warmth of the barn. I feel comfortable in this place, feeding the soft little animals and brushing them. But this feeling doesn't last long for too soon I am done.
I hum a song that I don't quit know the words too as I walk back into the house. I find funny that I remember the beat of it; the soft melody makes me remember easier times. But those times are my past. Right now is a time that seems easy. For today I won't be stealing anything. Today is May's birthday and it will be a joyous day for my little angel. I smile at the cake as I decorate it with frosting. It'll make her smile that smile that I love so much. It reads, Happy Birthday May just about the rainbow made of frosting. I chuckle at how simple it is, but this is how she asked me to make it like that so I did. I check on the ice cream in the freezer and it's almost done, it should be ready when May comes home.
"Uncle Skye!" Comes a sweet voice through the front door. I crouch low where I am, not making a single sound. "Uncle Skye! I'm gonna find you!" The same voice calls out again, this time more playful and closer.
"Rawr!" I yell out as I flop my niece over my shoulder, not caring how ridiculous I sound.
May giggled as I hoisted her into the air and lightly plopped her onto the couch. "Uncle Skye." She laughed as I tickled her, pretending like I was about to devour her. "You can't eat me!"
I pause and arch a brow. "And why can I not eat you?" I huff out and fold my arms over my chest.
"Because I'm the birthday girl silly!" She yells out in her sweet voice.
I blink at her, pretending I don't have a clue what she's talking about. "You're the birthday girl?" I pull a small wrapped box out of my pocket. "Then that means I got this for you right?" I say, inspecting the exterior box of her birthday present.
May's eyes widen, wondering what she got. "Is that for me Uncle Skye?" She asks, saying it in a voice that makes you can't help but give her what she wants.
I sit next to her and run a hand on her head. "Of course it is kiddo." I hand the box over to her. "Happy birthday sweet one."
May grabbed the box and eyed it hungrily. "Thank you Uncle Skye." She said absently.
"You can open it, you know that right?" I say to her a laugh escaping my lips.
May looks up at me for a second or two before tearing the paper to shreds and opening the box. "Thank you so much." She squeals in delight after seeing what I got her.
"No problem." I say as my dad comes down the stairs.
"May come here." He instructed, nearing us.
May placed the jewelry down where she was sitting and did as she was told. "Yes Grandfather?" She asked as she stood in front of him.
"Happy birthday." He smiled as he handed her a small teddy bear.
"Thank you Grandfather." She said, bowing to the wrinkled man in front of her.
There was a silence in the air that I found quit uncomfortable. "How about we have cake and ice cream now?" I say trying to lighten the mood. I put my hands together as I do so and grin at them.
Hush, little baby, don't say a word.
Momma's not gonna buy you a mockingbird
Because then that mockingbird won't sing,
Then Momma would have to buy you a diamond ring
And then that diamond ring would turn brass,
So Momma would have to buy you a looking glass
And what if that looking glass gets broke?
Momma would have to buy you a billy goat
And if that billy goat won't pull?
You'd make Momma buy you a cart and bull
And then that cart and bull would fall down,
So sorry my darling one, Momma won't buy you a mocking bird.
How about we pretend you're the sweetest little baby in town?
Keep pretending my darling girl, even when I leave you here.
Pretend…
Love. It's something easy and hard at the same time. It's also something unpredictable. Just when you think you have it mastered it makes a change, a left turn instead of a right. Sometimes it even spirals out of control such as a roller coaster seems to the first time that you ever go on one. Either you end up loving the thrill so much that you can't help but run back to the line, or you get scared, never going to trust one again. It scared you after all right? But sometimes, on those rare occasions, you get a mixture of the two, the ride wasn't special to you, so you depart, seeing it every once and awhile, but it's only a glimpse and doesn't last as you go on your own way. Love can be a variety of things, from your first kiss to that single tear that races off of your face and dances with itself when it lands on the dirt in front of a gravestone. My favorite display of love is when a mother sings her child a lullaby. But these are just my thoughts and it'd be best not to listen. After all, I'm just a foolish thief.