Dark Chocolate, White Diamonds
By Dixxy
Chapter Three: The Last Breakfast
(Keisha)
It seemed like a normal morning. The four of us were sitting around the dining room table eating pancakes and breakfast sausages. My dad read the paper after Evan took out the sports section. My mother was writing down some ideas in her idea notebook. I was working on math homework (I'd gotten stuck on the last few problems the previous night and decided to wait for the following morning to try them again). Occasionally we made small talk.
We were almost a normal family.
"Anything unusual happening lately with you-know-what?" asked my father. He was obviously talking to me. I looked up from my homework. You-Know-What usually meant anything having to do with the Ronins, my armor, or anything else that fell in the supernatural category of stuff I dealt with.
"No, not really," I said, moving some of my sausage pieces around idly. I stabbed a piece of neatly cut pancake with my fork and popped it in my mouth. "I would have told you if something was up by now. It's been quiet since last September after Cye and Sara found out they're stuck together."
"But they've been getting better," said Evan. "I'm over at Trevor's a lot anyways, and Cye's a frequent visitor as well. They're getting along just fine. Last time I was there Emily was playing keep away with Cye's backpack and Sara was on his back to try and slow him down. He kept saying he was getting angry, but he looked like he was enjoying it."
"I don't know how they're doing it," said my mother, leaning back in her wheelchair. "If I were in their shoes, I don't know WHAT I'd do!" She picked up her plate, then wheeled away from the table to the stove, where she retrieved another serving of pancakes.
"Anubis keeps saying that their armors are helping them with it. Think about it. We're dealing with some nasty stuff whenever something tries to take over the world. By all means the nice men in the white jackets should have dragged me away a LONG time ago, but it doesn't always bother me. It's just as normal for me to tear apart a Tin Can as it is for you to go shopping," I said. "The armors choose who they feel will be best for the job and then help that person even further. No one is born ready for battle."
"Wise words," said my father. He shook his head, putting the paper down. "You know, the others parents, your mother and I have all talked. We can't get over the idea that we're loosing our little girls." He sighed heavily. "It seems like only yesterday you were still playing with your Barbie doll and hiding behind your mother whenever your brother tried to give you a noogie."
I blushed. "Daddy, I'll always be your daughter, whether I'm tearing up the track or the battle field," I said, pointing my fork in his direction. "I may not be some sweet little girl anymore, but I'm ALWAYS going to be me. Please Dad, understand that. I love you and mom and Evan, and I'm glad I can turn to you all in the face of danger. I feel so lucky to have you all in my life right now. And don't you forget that I'm STILL Keisha Narrlobi even when I AM Keisha, Hardrock of the Senshi."
"Believe me, I won't," said my father. "I just. . . things are so different."
"But most of it's for the better," said Evan. "We have a good, steady income now. We didn't have that back then, remember?" We all nodded silently, remembering our days on welfare. It was a horrible time for us all. Whenever someone got sick, it was a struggle to get them medication. If one of my parents was laid off from whatever minimum wage job they had, we might've cut back to two meals a day. Birthday gifts consisted of single candy bars, Christmas a single toy. People in California knew I was poor, teasing me for wearing mismatched clothes we'd gotten from places like Goodwill. The worst period was when we went three months without a house and lived in and out of shelters. That was horrible.
Still, after Dad got lucky with the lottery (he swears up and down it was an act of fate) our finances got better, we left California, and came to Boston. But now, in a way, things were worse. Yeah, we had a house and we didn't starve, but seeing my parents wheelchair bound was still hard.
"Keisha?"
I looked up and saw Evan staring at me. "What?" I asked.
"You went off into a little zone there for a while," my brother said.
"Just thinking," I said.
"About what?" asked my mother.
"Things," I said. I stood up, my breakfast finished off. "Is it okay if I go hang out with the girls today?"
"Sure thing, Keisha," said my father. "Just remember- your grandmother is flying in from Chicago tonight." I nodded, remembering that. I hadn't seen my grandmother in a long time and I missed the kindly old woman. I was still debating over letting her know about the whole Ronin armor thing, but still, I wanted her to meet my friends and Kento and show her around Boston.
"Yeah, I promised to meet Trevor at Boston Common for some ice skating before Grams shows up tonight," said Evan, standing up as well. "If we're lucky, we MIGHT be able to play hockey, so I'll be bringing my stick and a few extra pucks- Trevor's got crappy aim and we lost two last time we played."
"Just don't get hurt now, you hear me? I like the way you look with all your teeth, Evan," said Mom. Evan laughed, giving my mother a kiss. I grabbed my jacket off the coat rack, went over to my parents, kissed them both, and waved cheerily as I went out the front door.
After three and a half hours of doing nothing but talk about television, clothes, guys, and the latest things the more exotics pets had brought home (two car bumpers, three tree limbs, and a stop sign) with the other Senshi over at Ria's, we split up. Rona had her job, Sam had promised to meet Ella at the mall, Sara was supposed to help her mother with some project, and Ria had to return the stop sign to its rightful place before someone got into an accident.
"I'm telling you, something's gonna happen soon," Ria had said. "I'm starting to get BORED. I mean, it's been too quiet. Why doesn't Trulpa recover already so we can kick her ass again? I want her to eat Inferna and Soul again so we can lather, rinse, and repeat! I almost WANT something to attack us."
"Be glad it's been quiet," said Rona, shooting our rambunctious leader a very cold glare. "Think about it. When something does happen, you're going to be eating your words about being bored. Trulpa was no picnic either time we fought her, even with the help from the boys. I LIKE the quiet- that means I have a better chance of living to see the next day, maybe my graduation if I'm lucky."
Ria nodded, sighing heavily. "Well, I gotta go find out where Tiger Lily got the stop sign and return it before someone gets into killed because the damn cat decided to institute her own game of Fetch." She stood up, brushed herself off, and turned to me. "Keisha, you're not doing anything this afternoon. Feel like going hunting for the spot with me? I could use your help in welding the darn thing back into place."
"Nah, I'm gonna go check on Evan. He's at the Commons playing hockey with Trevor. I think," I said. Ria nodded as she and the other Senshi left to attend to their separate tasks. I followed them out of the house to get to my car, seeing if anyone needed a ride. Sara just teleported home, Sam and Rona took her motorcycle, and Ria took off with a stop sign in tow. I almost laughed at the sight of poor Ria.
"Need a lift?"
"Nah, that's okay," she said. I nodded, getting into the front seat. I waved to Ria, who was dragging the sign on the ground. That created a somewhat "lovely" screeching sound, and found myself wincing as I closed the car door. After fumbling through my purse for the car keys, I started the car up, and drove off.
While driving, my mind went to the subject of Grams. I was thoroughly convinced she'd love my friends (especially Kento) and probably couldn't wait to meet them. It had been years since I'd seen her- in fact, it was before the lottery ticket- and my memories of her were those of a kindly old black widows who baked cookies and liked to knit. You know, the cliché grandmother. Not that I minded.
I drove around Boston Common, trying to spot Trevor's shiny blue convertible or some other sign of the two. Sure enough, I saw the car, my brother, and his friend talking away over by some of the benches. Evan looked up and waved me over. I drove up to them, rolled down the window, and stuck my head out. "Hey, Sis," he said.
"Hi, Ev," I said. "Couldn't get a game in?"
"We got a short one in," said Trevor. "One on one. Three to three. Then the little kids came and chased us off with snowballs. I can take one, two, maybe three of them, but I swear, it was about THIRTY little kids and about a HUNDRED snow balls. I've never seen so many waddling snowsuits in my entire life!"
"Lighten up, Trevor," said Evan. "They're little kids. Let them have fun."
"But I'm loosing my youth! I'm eighteen years old! We're going to college next year! We're almost adults!" said Trevor, a panicky look on his face as he clutched at his hair. "I can't take the pressure! I don't wanna grow up!" He smiled and started to sing briefly. "I don't wanna grow up! I'm a Toys 'R Us Kid!" Then, he began to panic again now that he'd inserted his cheap laugh.
Evan threw his head back and laughed. "So? Think about it. College. We won't have to listen to our parents about curfews, choose even more classes and choose when we take them, and of course, at college, what do you have that you most certainly can't have at home?"
"Frat parties and panty raids?" said Trevor, his eyes suddenly taking on a mischievous sparkle as they widened in wonder. "All the sorority bras and panties and teddies and naked bodies. . . oh. . . I can't wait. . . panties. . . I WANT PANTIES! GIVE ME PANTIES!"
Evan and I stared at him. My brother laughed dumbly, scratching his head. "Actually, I was going to say college food like pizza and burgers, but close enough," he said. He turned to me. "You done talking with the Senshi? So soon? You guys usually spend several hours together."
"They all have stuff to do. Tiger Lily took another stop sign," I said.
"By Fenway Stadium. I was wondering what the jagged metal was doing there," said Trevor, looking thoughtful as he put a finger to his chin. He shrugged. "If I see her around I'll tell her to try there." He stretched, yawning. "Well, I'm going to Blockbuster. I have studying to do."
"Studying?" I asked.
"I have to get ALL the classics. Revenge of the Nerds, Animal House, Revenge of the Nerds II, III and IV-" Trevor rattled off, counting on his fingers as he went. He grinned. "If I'm going to be a successful frat boy, I need to start studying the masters like the Nerds and the Animals."
Evan and I gave each other a long look before my brother and I got into my car. "Bye, Trevor," we said in unison. We waved cheerfully at the dumbfounded Hawaiian as we drove off. I looked at Trevor through the rear-view mirror, laughing to myself. Evan was guffawing as he hollered something at Trevor. All in all, it was normal behavior for my brother and I.
