Chapter Eleven: Tug Of War
Nov. 30th, 1988 - 8:15 AM - San Diego, California
*Stormer*
Stormer nearly jumped and squealed in excitement when she looked out her window early that morning to see snow on the ground. Covering the green grass with a blanket of shiny white crystallized water.
The winter in New York was always dreadful and bitter, having winds that could knock the very life out of you and chills that make you want to freeze into a popsicle.
But the farther she moved out west, the winters felt tamed compared to her childhood. It was nice to see a thin sheet of snow covering her yard then the ice that would cover the penthouse balcony she would look at from the cozy warmth inside her parents home.
California's weather stopped it from being too cold and it hardly ever snowed here and she always felt uncontrollable excitement when she saw it flurry to the ground.
Soft, like fairy kisses.
That's what her nana always said to her and Craig, that the fairies always made sure to make the snowflakes soft, pure, and coated in sugar for the precious little boys and girls to catch on their tongues.
Of course that was the grandmother from her mother's side, her abuela, but her father's mother was much more strict with her upbringing and was a firm and faithful believer in God and the Bible.
She told us that God made the snow to refresh the earth from it's former sin and to thank God for his continual forgiveness of our sins. Every cookie we took without permission or lie we told was being given a new start by the winter season.
The woman used to scare little Mary Phillips into hiding behind her parents, but not Craig. Her brother just ignored 'the old hag' and did what he wanted, he was the most like they're mother even though she looked like her.
Cathleen Phillips with her tightly wrapped and conservative blond hair held at the back of her head with a nondescript black hair clip, hard blue eyes, and high cheeks bones wanted her son to grow successful and marry a beautiful, respectful, and American young woman of the church and have God fearing children that she could show off to the women in her church and boast - no, pride was a sin - show them how successful they would be and how they loved God as much as their parents and grandparents did.
But, Cathleen never got that.
She got a daughter-in-law whose family came from Spain and was a first generation American and didn't believe in God, but actually lived in the moment of life and expressed herself without fear of being criticized.
Carmen Poschino-Phillips had black hair, greyish blue eyes, and tan skin. She laughed loudly with her head thrown back, she made funny faces at the dinner table and flicked food at her husband and kids. She was an avid storytellar and loved mysteries, adventure, science, and fantasy.
Carmen is a woman who loved to learn and didn't know the meaning of 'impossible', she loved fiercely and protected her family. She sang and danced in seven different languages when she cooked or cleaned, she dressed in bold colors and splashed puddles on the sidewalk.
If her children wanted to be astronauts then she would buy them rockets and if they wanted to be like their paternal grandparents she would dress conservatiely and take them to their grandparents Catholic church. Her mother never limited them on anything they wanted to do, they were never without and went on many fun trips together.
While their mother encouraged them reaching their dreams, their father on the other hand encouraged them to do it themselves and not rely too heavily on others to get you where you want to go.
Stormer supposes she failed him since she relied so heavily on stronger, more confident people. Craig didn't though, he worked to get to London and with the Blue Bloods. She felt like a cheater since Pizzazz already had money and could get them fame and attention much faster, while Craig actually worked for it. She's not saying she didn't work hard, but sometimes felt as if she took a shortcut in life and her career.
She doesn't regret all the experiences she had or the friends she's made, but she wished she could have done it on her own. Stormer wished she was less of a coward and found her way here without the aid of Pizzazz's bank account.
She really missed her parents, she wondered where they were right now.
. . .
8:53 AM
"What do you mean Christmas might be delayed?" Stormer layed across her couch, her phone next to her ear.
"We might be a bit late getting to California, Marjie. The bands America tour is taking longer with the cold weather sweeping in like it is." Craig yawned through the phone.
"Where are you now?" Stormer asked.
"We're leaving Missouri now, but the roads will be tough with all this cold."
"Why didn't you take a plane?" She started to play with one of her fluffy throw pillows.
"James insists that 'The plane would crash from the heavy winds and we would all die a fiery death on the snow, ending our young lives in a flower as crimson as a fresh rose as the winters cold embrace steals our last breath'." Craig scoffed.
"Oh goddess...how morbid." She groaned.
"Right? We tried to drag him on the plane, but he caused a scene and we were kicked off. Mase was glaring at the back of his head the whole day and after that."
"That must have been awkward for you and Al."
"Not really and it was like James didn't even feel the tension. He was just glad we weren't getting on 'A flying death trap', he wasn't bothered." Craig chuckled.
"How long do you think you'll be?" She asked, hopeful.
"I don't know Marjie, we'll see when I get there. Right now we're headed to a concert in Kansas, then Las Vegas, and then straight to L.A. for our last gig." Craig sighed.
Stormer could see him rubbing his hands all over his face, just like daddy. The third time she saw him do it was when they were still kids, he was a sophmore in high school and she was in the sixth grade, she asked why he was rubbing his whole face, he said: 'When I get frustrated or tired my face feels itchy.'
"Christmas starts in three weeks and this is the first one we'll have had together in years. I would call momma and daddy, but they disappeared and no one's heard from them in almost four months."
"I know, I miss em too. It isn't like them to leave and not contact someone, they haven't even checked on the house."
By house he means 'penthouse'.
"Momma and daddy would never miss a holiday! They already missed Thanksgiving and you know how much momma likes going to the Netherlands every year."
"I know, I know Mare-mare." Craig said soothingly. "Mom and dad would never put themselves in danger, they could be stranded right now and are trying to find their way back. They would never make us worry intentionally and you never know they might show up for Christmas."
"I guess... I can't help but worry about them, I hope they're alright." She started plucking pieces off of her black pillow.
"Try not to be so negative, you know mom can't stand a pessimist." Craig playfully scolded her.
"Momma was a pessimist."
"No she was a realist." Craig argued.
Stormer rolled her eyes. "Whatever you say momma's boy."
"Hey! I resent that and it was because you didn't want to jump from that cliff in Venice." Craig snickered.
"I was not jumping down that cliff! I was too short!" She shot back.
"You would've been fine." Craig dismissed.
"Anyway, get off the phone and get some sleep block head, I don't wanna hear about you falling asleep on your drums right in the middle of a set."
"Sure, sure." Craig yawned again. "I'll see you when I see you."
"Bye Craig." She hung up after and sighed.
She didn't have much to do today and she didn't go into rehersal with the band for another two hours. She didn't need to go grocery shopping since she went yesterday and nothing else came to mind pressing enough to be handled at that very moment.
Driving around couldn't hurt though, it's been a boring past few weeks after Thanksgiving, which she spent with Roxy and Jetta.
With that final thought she got dressed.
Maybe she could go to a diner and have lunch or something, anything was better than sitting around feeling restless.
. . .
9:31 AM
As Stormer walked down the halfway deserted sidewalk, watching as men and women in suits went in to work and the bright Californian sun steadily rising over the large and overstated buildings. After she left home and had breakfast at a nearby diner she took to wandering around the city to clear her mind, but as the snow started to melt and sweat was forming on her back under the light jacket she wore, her mood was disappearing with slushy crystals covering the gray streets.
She was really warring with herself, but she wasn't sure if she could take on such a daunting task.
She really missed her daddy, he was always good with advice and she missed his scruffy five o' clock shadow, grease monkey appearance, and the vague smell of oil and metal.
Stormer had an obligation to her bandmates and her career-to be completely dedicated to it and doing whatever she could to get higher in the world of music.
But, Mary wanted her parents back... she had never really not had them and she missed them dearly. She wasn't a genius like her father, but she wasn't stupid and maybe... just perhaps she could track them down and find them, her parents.
Craig would be furious if she went on such a dangerous expedition all on her own, he didn't want her risking her life looking for them. It was true that her momma and daddy constantly put their lives in danger on their expeditions.
For a few examples; Her parents had lended aid to the people of Tangshan, China after a devastating 7.8 earthquake hit in 1976 and killed up to 242,000 officially and 655,000 unofficially.
On Nov. 13-14, 1985 the Nevado del Ruiz volcano erupted triggering a mudslide and killed at least 25,000 near Armero, Colombia. Momma was devastated since Colombia was papa's home country and she spent a large majority of her childhood visiting there. Momma was crushed when she found out her childhood friend had been one of the 25,000 to die in the disaster. She still keeps in contact with Damaris' son, Constantino.
And then they helped in Ethiopia after they were hit by a severe famine from 1984-1985 that killed up to a million people after their country was hit by a drought that led to immediate food shortages.
She and Craig weren't so daring or thrillseeking as their jet setting parents and pursued a career in the entertainment business instead, that was as adventureous as they got.
Even if she didn't have the heart to play on the edge of life and death, she would do anything to see her parents again. She didn't want to lose them to some unknown cause or incident that left them seperated from their family, she couldn't deal without ever knowing.
Sometimes Mary wished she could be like Craig.
He was confident, strong, ambitious, and genuinely a likeable guy and he believed their parents were fine. He trusted his instincts on it and he trust in their ability to care for themselves and one another. Mary wasn't like that she needed to see them, to feel them, to know they weren't hurt or ill or suffering in some way.
So battling the war inside herself she decided that for the three weeks she would be writing lyrics and prepping an album, she would dedicate her time to find her parents.
I Do Not Own Jem nor anything associated with the name, product, and music.