"Colt! Get back here, I need that hairbrush!" Catie yelled through the house at North Pacheco Street in Los Angeles. She was getting ready to start another day in her life when she had noticed that her hairbrush was gone. And since Colt always took her hairbrush just to tease her she knew it was he.
Colt wasn't her brother; they had met at a ninja tournament when they had fought each other. It had turned out that they lived in the same town and Catie's sister lived right next door.
Catie and her sister didn't live together, though they didn't know why. They hadn't really thought about it. After an accident happened, which took Catie's sister's life, Catie had moved in with Colt and his family, she couldn't handle living where she had been living before and they had offered to let her stay there.
Colt was just a nickname; it was a ninja name that his grandfather had given him. The name he had been given at birth was Jeffrey.
"Just come and get it then" A voice that belonged to Colt called back.
Catie ran up the stairs to the boys' room and opened the door. She went over to a brown haired boy who was doing his homework.
"Thank you Colt, you just had to take it when I needed it"
"Of course" Colt gave a smirk to himself though it faded.
Catie ran the brush through her hair as Colt turned around on his chair to face her.
"I wanted to talk to you"
"That's why you took my hairbrush? Why didn't you just come downstairs and say you wanted to talk to me?"
"Because you have been a little spaced out lately and haven't heard me at anything" Colt said.
Catie dropped her arms so they hung by her sides. "I'm sorry."
"It's okay. I'm starting to get worried about you, you're always doing something and you barely talk anymore." Colt's hazel eyes seemed concerned.
"I do too talk" Catie protested.
"Yes, but not as much as you used to."
"I weren't the one doing all the talking"
"Catie, do you know where-" Rocky, Colt's older brother, stepped into the room. He had cut himself off when he saw that he probably had interrupted a conversation.
Rocky wasn't his real name either; just as Colt it was a ninja name their grandfather had given him, his real name was Samuel. Hardly anyone called them Samuel or Jeffrey anymore. It was the same with their younger brother Michael; his ninja name was Tum Tum since he was always thinking about his stomach.
"It's downstairs in the kitchen" Catie answered. "I'll show you." Catie didn't want to continue Colt's and hers conversation so she and Rocky went down the stairs and to the kitchen.
Catie gave Rocky his book that he had been looking for before going back to her room. Her room was painted in white; it was good enough for her. It wasn't too big or too small, just perfect. Birds sang outside her window standing on the windowsill. She opened the window and held out two fingers for one of them to stand on. One of the birds jumped up and stood on Catie's fingers; she petted the bird's head. The bird chirped happily, Catie let the bird fly away with his friends and closed the window. Catie turned her CD player on and put her gospel CD in it. The music of His Eye Is On The Sparrow came from the speakers; Catie flopped down on her bed closing her eyes and listened to the music.
Music was a big part of Catie's life. She couldn't live without it. She always had a song in her head, if it was quiet a song popped into her head and she started humming. Slowly Catie drifted off to sleep, and without knowing it, she had gone to the lands of dreams.
"Catie, are you there?" A knock on the door woke Catie up. She glanced at her clock, it was already 6.30 pm. She had been sleeping through the day. "Catie?" The door opened and Mrs. Douglas peeked inside, she was the mother in the family and only female in the house with exceptions of Catie.
"I'm here," Catie answered.
"How are you feeling?" Mrs. Douglas asked sitting down on her bed.
"I'm fine, a little bit of headache that's all"
"You have a fever and been sleeping all day. You should eat some dinner then go back to bed again," Mrs. Douglas said. Catie didn't want to argue, her headache only got worse as soon as she stood up but she didn't say anything.
Mrs. Douglas gave her an aspirin for her headache. Catie ate a little but not much, her appetite went with the headache that didn't get better. After dinner she went to bed without saying anything. When she woke up Rocky sat by her side on the bed.
"How are you feeling?" Rocky asked.
Catie waited a few seconds to answer so she woke up a little bit more, though she only felt her headache. She frowned and brought a hand to her aching head.
"I figured" Rocky said. "Can you sit up?" Catie did as he asked and sat up. Rocky gave her a glass of water and an aspirin, when she had taken the aspirin with some water he put a plate on her legs. He took a knife and apple and started cutting pieces of the apple and gave it to Catie. While she was eating on the first piece he cut some more for her.
"Thanks"
"It's not fun being sick," Rocky stated and it was true.
"You don't have to do this"
"I want to"
"You want me to Julie don't you?" Catie asked suddenly.
"No" Rocky answered without hesitating, "I want you to be you, Catie. I love you for who you are, and you're not Julie"
Catie fell asleep not long after their conversation. Julie, whom Catie and Rocky was talking about; were Catie's twin sister, in the accident Catie almost drowned, it was close that she did drown. Though her sister were not quite as lucky. Julie had disappeared in the water and wasn't found no matter how much the lifeguards searched. Catie that loved singing stopped since she and Julie had done concerts together for charity. They never thought about money for themselves, though there was a lot sent to them. There was huge amounts of money that was sent for them to pay for education at different schools, though in the notes that was sent with the checks said that they could do what they wanted with half of the money. They had donated half of it to charity and to help with the research of different cures to aids, cancer and so on. The rest of the money they put in the bank and didn't touch it, not once.
Catie felt a cold hand resting on her forehead while she was sleeping.
"Her fever has gone up, let's get her into a cold shower like the doctor advised" a voice said and she was lifted up and carried out of the room.
The next thing she knew was that cold water was sprayed on her head and it ran down her body, she was sweating from her fever and thought that it felt good to get her body cooled down.
Days passed and Catie's fever went down and soon she got well again. She had had to take several ice cold baths but she didn't mind at all. Catie was staring up at the ceiling from lying in her bed when Joyful, Joyful started playing on her CD player.
"No, shut up" Catie said harshly waving her hand at the CD player. Suddenly a sound of something hitting the wall was heard and Catie's head snapped towards where the sound came from. The room was quiet. You couldn't hear anything. She was barely breathing. The CD player that had stood close to the edge on her desk was now standing close to the wall. How did it get there?
Catie's gaze fell on her chair. She lifted her hand and gave a slight wave. The chair moved. Catie's eyes winded, how did she do that?
"Catie are you okay?" Colt's voice called through the door.
"Yeah I'm fine" Catie called back, slightly shivering on her voice.
"Ok, well it's dinner time"
"Be right there," Catie said and she heard Colt walk towards the kitchen.
Catie didn't talk much during dinner, just as she used to. She didn't say anything about what had happened in her room before Colt came. She went and took a shower then went to bed.
Her usual nightmares came into her dreams, the same accusing, guilt giving dreams. Catie woke up in the middle of the night and didn't want to go to sleep again. It had become a habit that when she woke up in the middle of the night she didn't go to sleep again. She staid awake and waited for the sun to rise.
Though this time it was different, she felt completely lost and afraid. She silently opened her door and slipped out the room. She closed it just as silently as she had opened it. She walked up the stairs even more quietly than usual, went to the boys' room, quietly opened the door and slipped inside the room.
Colt woke up when he heard the door open, he lay as still as he could in his bed and listened for other sounds. With the little light he had from the moon he saw a figure climbing up onto his bed. He waited, his stomach started to get worried weirdly enough, he close his eyes and pretended to sleep.
The next thing he knew was that someone was lying down beside him, he caught the sweet scent of dog rose, he knew who it was now. He let his right arm rest on her waist, she moved closer and he held her tighter in a protective hold.
When she fell asleep Colt put the covers over her so she wouldn't get cold. He soon fell asleep too and when he woke up the spot beside him was empty.
Catie was in her room, sitting on the floor cross-legged, her hands rested on her knees and she had her eyes closed. Her room was quiet and she was not thinking about anything in particular only saw the empty darkness in her mind.
When she opened her eyes she squinted when the strong sunlight hit her eyes before they had a chance to adjust. Her alarm clock on the nightstand flew strait into the wall and went into pieces. Catie's arms went up to her face to protect it from the small pieces of plastic coming from the alarm clock; it was a simple reflex.
"Catie are you okay?" Rocky's voice asked through the door as it opened.
"Yeah, I'm fine" Catie answered then she felt Rocky's hand on her shoulder. He had crouched down beside her and looked at the smashed clock.
"What happened?" he asked.
"I- I don't know. I don't know" Catie said looking up at him.
"Guys, come out here, there's some weird guy outside on the sidewalk" Tum Tum, Rocky and Colt's little brother, called.
Catie stood up and went out the door, Rocky followed her and met Colt and Tum Tum, Tum Tum had a twizzler in his mouth, by one of the windows.
Colt slipped his hand into Catie's and looked out the window, though they didn't get anytime to see the guy since the boys' mother called for them from the kitchen.
"What is it mom?" Colt asked as they walked into the kitchen.
"We're having guests tonight and I want to make some things clear" Mrs. Douglas said. The boys groaned. "I want you boys to behave, Mrs. Priviati is not going to tolerate any loud noise"
"But mom, why can't you be at her place?" Colt complained.
"I know you don't like her but she is a friend to the family"
"Can't you stop being friends with her?" Tum Tum asked.
"Now, Michael, we can not stop being friends with her just because you don't like her"
"Can't we go to Grandpa's then?" Colt suggested. They had already been there the whole summer except for the last week when the boys' grandpa had to go out of town for a few days. Though it was decided for them to stay at home the few weeks that was left of the summer vacation.
"You boys are staying at home and spend some time with Mrs. Priviati as you usually do, well, should do"
"But-" Colt started to protest again but Mrs. Douglas cut him short.
"No buts Colt. You will spend time with her and that's final" Mrs. Douglas shifted her gaze to Catie.
"I know, I'll start right away" Catie said knowing what she was going to say.
Mrs. Priviati always wanted Catie to play the flute for her. Catie was talented on the flute though every time she played she could hear the violin part that her sister always played. That was what made her upset she couldn't play without having a violin playing in her ears and mind. It didn't matter if she played louder or more silent, the violin part played just as loud or just as silent. And it made Catie feel guilty about the accident.
"I know it's hard for you" Mrs. Douglas said knowing that it was hard for Catie.
"Yeah, whatever" with that Catie left the kitchen and a few moments later they could hear the beautiful melody of a flute playing Over The Rainbow.
When the clock struck five the doorbell rang, the boys that were in their room groaned.
"She's back," Colt said, "couldn't she wait until we were at a friends house?"
"Of course she couldn't, then she wouldn't be able to tell us how weird we are for liking ninja," Rocky said.
"Hey, we don't like ninja," Tum Tum protested, "We love it"
"Alright, we love it. C'mon let's go open the door."
The boys dragged their feet after them down the stairs. The doorbell rang again. Rocky picked up the pace a little and opened the door.
"Good evening Mrs. Priviati. I'm sorry we had you waiting" Rocky said as nicely as he could.
Mrs. Priviati was a stout woman, with blue eyes and blonde hair, which was starting to get white because of her age. She was dressed in a dress filled with flowers all over it and she was carrying a small purse in front of her.
"Boys should be more punctual so a lady don't have to stand and wait to be let inside the door" Mrs. Priviati said and walked inside the house. "Good that you have dressed up young man" she said, "let's just fix that tie a little, it's crooked" she straitened Rocky's tie. "There, much better."
Then Catie came out from her room dressed also in a dress, which made the boys stare as usual. Catie never wore dresses unless she absolutely had to and with the black dress with the roses and Chinese signs by her chest and her gray cardigan which she had tied a rosette in the front, the dress was tight and followed her figure perfectly, she looked great.
"Catie, how are you?" Mrs. Priviati asked friendly with a smile.
"I'm fine thank you, and Mrs. Priviati?" Catie said politely with a smile too. The boys couldn't tell if it was fake or not.
"I'm fine thank you for asking. But Catie, you look absolutely beautiful."
"Oh, thank you. You look absolutely divine ma'am. Have you lost weight?"
"No, my dear."
"Are you sure? You look a lot more slender than last time we met." The boys rolled their eyes as Mrs. Priviati smiled. "Now, why don't Samuel, Jeffrey and Michael get their mother while we go and settle down in the living room"
Mrs. Priviati agreed and she walked towards the living room, which wasn't far away from the hall. The boys went to get their mother in the kitchen though they dragged their feet after them.
"Catie, are you still playing the flute?" Mrs. Priviati asked when they had talked for about an hour.
"Yes I do" Catie answered and plastered on a smile. The truth was that she hadn't been listening much to their conversation, she just nodded once in a while so they thought she was listening.
"Would you mind playing a little tune for me?"
"No, of course not. Colt, could you please get my flute in my room please" she gave him a look and Colt eyes beamed. He didn't have to sit there for a few minutes. He nodded and went into Catie's room.
"I'm a little light headed" Catie explained why she asked Colt to get her flute.
"Oh, then maybe you shouldn't play"
"No, no. Of course, I will play, I just get dizzy when I walk"
"Where?" Colt asked from Catie's room.
"I'll go help him" Rocky offered and left them.
"Me too. They can hardly find anything" Tum Tum lied and left.
"It should be on the music-stand" Catie said loud enough for the boys o hear.
"Here it is" Rocky, Colt and Tum Tum came back.
"Thanks" Catie said and took the flute and book from Colt. Colt sat down on the left side of Catie beside Rocky so he wouldn't have the flute right beside his ear when she took the high notes. "Would you like to hear Somewhere Over The Rainbow?"
"Oh yes, I'm very fond of that song" Mrs. Priviati said.
Catie started to play, and instantly she could hear the violin part playing. She could also hear for some reason someone sing right behind her, though no one stood there. It was her voice.
' Somewhere, over the rainbow, way up high,
There's a land that I heard of once in a lullaby.
' Somewhere, over the rainbow, skies are blue,
And the dreams that you dare to dream really do come true.
' Someday I'll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far behind me,
Where troubles melt like lemon drops.
Away above the chimney tops
That's where you'll find me.
' Somewhere over the rainbow, bluebirds fly,
Birds fly over the rainbow,
Why then, oh why can't I? '
Catie held the last note a little longer before she put down her flute in her lap and Mrs. Priviati along with the others applauded. Catie smiled and set the flute on the table in front of her.
"That was so wonderful to hear, you didn't play anything wrong, you are so talented" Mrs. Priviati praised. Then she looked at her watch. "I'm sorry to say that I have to leave. It was so nice of you to invite me"
"It was a pleasure having you" Mrs. Douglas said.
"Well, I'm off. Tell that nice husband of yours that I said hi"
"I will"
"All right. Good bye boys" Mrs. Priviati said looking at each one of them, they politely smiled and said goodbye. Then her gaze fell on Catie. "Good bye Catie, it was nice seeing you again"
"You too Mrs. Priviati"
"Bye" Mrs. Priviati said and the door closed behind her.
"You can be such an suck up" Colt muttered under his breath but Catie had heard him.
"It's called courtesy, Colt. Maybe you should try it sometimes" Catie said with a slight hurt look, which she tried to hide.
"I didn't mean it like that"
"Yes you did." With that Catie went to her room.
"Could you stop being such an idiot?" Rocky sneered, "Catie has it really hard and you can't stop acting like nothing have happened"
"Isn't that the way you wanted us to act like?"
Rocky didn't answer he just glared at his younger brother and then went up to their room. Colt sighed; he didn't know what to do. The only thing he knew was that he was going to apologize to Catie first. He went to her room and knocked her door. She opened, just one glance at Colt and she tried to close the door though Colt stopped her.
"Wait, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that you were a suck up"
"But you meant it"
"I'm just tired of Mrs. Priviati, she always put us guys down while-"
"I get the picture" Catie interrupted.
"Well, I'm sorry. Can you forgive me?"
Catie seemed to think about it for a few seconds, "okay, you're forgiven" she said. "Now, I'm tired and should get to bed."
"Yeah. Night"
"Night Colt" Catie said then closed her door to change into her pajamas to go to bed.
Catie put some music on low volume, turned off her night light and lay down on her bed with her covers over her. She drifted off to sleep as she listened to the music and her dreams started to come to her.