I was almost close to my brother's office. He wanted to meet me and Hunley, after school… probably to announce the real intentions of Mr. Tarfo. I must say that I'm nervous about this… no wait, I'm not nervous at all! That would be so imperfect… and also, I have to be prepared for any challenges, if I want to succeed in my life.
Right now, Hunley and his little sister Fara are following me, while talking to each other. I… didn't want to join their chat. Probably they wish to share their time together, as much as they
"Mirii, can you help us out?"
Ah! H-Hunley asked me for help…
"Yes? What do you need?"
"Can you tell us, what's Forge? My sister and I don't have any idea, about it!" He opens his arms wide.
"Forge? That's a brand name. They produce mostly Headgears."
"Ah, really? 'hat's 'nterestin' miss! Becaus' I lov' 'his hat, ya kno'!" The little girl takes off her Safari Hat and shows it, to me.
"Then, I suggest checking their other hats later. Maybe you'll even find some special discount on them."
"'iscoun'? Wha' 's 'hat?" She wears her hat again.
"Ehm… the prices are lower. That's it."
"Ooooh!" The girl puts her hands on her cheeks.
"And why the prices are lower?" He raises his left eyebrow.
N-no… it's going to take the whole day, explaining to him this simple word. Quick, Mirii! Think about something… … on second thought, I don't have to: we are arrived at the building, where the office is.
"I'll explain this later, Hunley. For now, I have to talk with my brother."
"Huh? W-where is he?" He's looking around…
"… just watch me, ok?"
I rolled my eyes: I can't believe he doesn't even know about interphones. Anyway… let's focus now on the incoming dialogue.
PLIN-PLON.
…
Yes?
"Hi brother. It's me, Mirii."
Hi sis! Can you please hear me out, for a brief moment?
Uhm… I wonder why.
"What's it, Rof?"
Ehm… not to be rude with your friend or anything, but could he wait outside?
"What?! And why he has to stay on the sidewalk?!"
Mirii, please… it's important. I can't really explain everything from the interphone.
… very suspicious. Although, I can't doubt my own brother… he probably has a clear reason, for this request.
"Ok, I'll announce the change of plans."
A buzz was heard, near the main entrance: now I can enter inside the building. But first, I have to fulfill my duty: communicate the condition to Hunley.
"Hunley, listen… my brother said that you have to stay here, outside."
"Oh… why?"
"I'll explain it later, since not even me knows the reason."
"Ah… 'hat 'ounds a 'ittl' too suspiciou'…" Fara folds her arms. "Ya wan' to pla' tricks wi' us?"
"No, I'd never do that. Trust me, please…"
The little girl was frowning on me. Clearly, I failed to reassure the little kid… huh, she shrugs suddenly.
"Whateve'! Don' 'ake too lon', ok?"
I nodded, with precision movement. Very well: I finished my
"C-come back soon, ok?!" Hunley said, but I wasn't looking at him.
"… I'll be back."
Ok, as I was saying: very well, I finished my announcement. Now, onto my brother's office.
I just can't stop staring around the hallways. So clean and impeccable. Modern paintings, very comfy armchairs… the perfect building that shows my brother's perfection. Speaking of my brother… I still wonder why he wanted to see me, only.
… maybe he wants to say something about Hunley, that he's not allowed to know? Seems to be the case… then, I must be prepared mentally. His door office is not too far away, now…
I'm sorry, Mirii… I'm really sorry… I… I didn't expect her arrival… of all times… I couldn't stop her, from coming in…
Knock knock.
"Enter inside, Mirii!"
Once my sister could peek inside, while opening the door, she froze as she expanded her eyes. What she saw, was not me… but our mother standing still, at the center of my office. Sigh… poor Mirii…
"MIRII KELPSHELL! COME HERE, RIGHT IN THIS INSTANT!" She leans her hands on her hips, while tapping her right heel on the ground.
My sister was walking very slowly… she was trembling a lot, staring at my mother like a scared kitty. Once she was near her…
SLAP!
My mother gave her a slap on her left cheek, using her right hand. It was so strong, that her hand-markings were left on it. And I'm sitting on my office chair… powerless…
"I never been so much ashamed, in my life…" My mother shakes her head, looking at my sister with a frown. Then, she took a piece of paper with haste and shows it, in front of Mirii.
"CAN YOU EXPLAIN THIS, MIRII?!" She points at the paper, multiple times.
I know what that was: a communication from the school. They were asking why Mirii was absent for 2 days, without showing a proper justification on the third day. My mother has the option to receive communications like this.
My sister was looking down, now… completely silent…
"LOOK AT ME, LITTLE WOMAN!"
Mirii quickly raises her head, staring at my mother again. Her eyes were very watery… I-I know she's going to cry at any minute.
"WHY DID YOU MISS 2 SCHOOL DAYS?! ANSWER!"
"… I-I'm sorry, mother… I"
"DON'T YOU DARE CRYING IN FRONT OF ME, MIRII! I TOLD YOU MANY TIMES, TO NOT CRY LIKE A BABY!"
"S-sorry mother… I… I…"
Mirii was trying her best to not cry… sigh… my stomach is starting to hurt a lot. I don't think I can squeeze more, the pen I was holding in my right hand. Why… w-why this is happening…?
"Mother… please, f-forgive me…" She bowed slowly.
SLAP!
"SAY IT LOUDER, DAUGHTER! LOUDER!"
My mother gave her another slap, on the same spot with the same hand. How can my sister sustain this pressure? I-I feel the water in my eyes…
"… mother, please forgive me!"
"… hmpf, much better." She folds her arms. "Now, let's hear your justification."
My sister was gritting her teeth, as she raises her eyebrows and tried to not pull them together. She was breathing with her nose, loudly…
"MIRII, YOUR JUSTIFICATION!"
"I… I wanted to help a friend, mother…"
… oh no… my mother was starting to become red.
"IS THIS THE REASON?!"
"… yes… I-I failed to reach school in time, because of it… please mother, accept my justification."
She was squeezing that piece of paper… and then, she throws it on the floor, with all her strength.
"YOU DARED TO RUIN YOUR PERFECT SCHOOL SCORE, JUST BECAUSE OF SUCH INSIGNIFICANCE?!"
"M-mother, I-I"
SLAP!
…
"NO MORE WORDS, FROM YOU! NOW YOU'RE GOING TO LISTEN ME, YOU INGRATEFUL DAUGHTER! And with great attention, too…"
My sister was starting to sob, while looking down.
"I SAID WITH GREAT ATTENTION!"
Mirii looks back up, but this time she wasn't able to hold it…
"If you happen to miss only 1 day of school… you'll not come back there."
"NO! NO, MOTHER! YOU CAN'T DO THIS TO ME!"
"I will. AND STOP CRYING, INGRATE!"
SLAP!
"I want you to get that scholarship. Your entire future depends on it. You don't want to miss such chance, right?"
My sister shakes her head, while massaging her left cheek with her left hand and holding her tears, as much as she could. My mother was shaking her head, slowly.
"I can't believe that after all those years, you would fall so low… YOUR FATHER WOULD BE SO DISAPPOINTED ON YOUR PERFOMANCE, IF HE WAS HERE!"
…
"And you know why, he would. Do you remember it, Mirii? Do you remember his last wish?"
"… yes… I remember it… he… he wanted me to be perfect…"
"THAT'S NOT TRUE!"
I slammed on my desk, while getting up: NOW THIS WAS GOING TOO FAR!
My mother turns her back, as she was expanding her eyes and opening her mouth.
"MOTHER, THIS WAS NOT HIS LAST WISH!"
"… how dare you shout like that, in front of your mother? HOW DARE YOU?!"
"I… I DARE! I CAN'T STAND WATCHING THIS! ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE SAYING SUCH LIES!"
SLAP!
OW!
"Rof… that's enough. I can't believe you are attacking your own mother… and you even have the courage to not believe in her. Your father… before he'd depart… he wished that you and Mirii would achieve the perfect life. Which consist of a legendary career and family…"
No… NO, THIS CAN'T BE TRUE! I know my father… I always remember him as one of the nicest person, in this world! He… HE WOULD NEVER SAY SUCH THING!
"HOW COULD HE WISHED FOR SOMETHING THIS DRASTIC?! LIKE, THAT RIDICULOUS NO CRY RULE?!"
"Emotions are for the weak, Rof. Right now, you can see your sister's weak moment."
… T-THIS IS PREPOSTEROUS! THIS WOMAN IS TOTALLY CRAZY! … uff… d-don't get angry now, Rof! Let's tackle this, with the mind.
"And you keep calling yourself a mother… punishing your daughter, just because she misses 2 days of school."
"She almost missed 3 days! She told me about it one day…"
"So? Why this has to be such an issue?!"
"The school will not give you a scholarship, after 3 complete absences. No matter your perfect grades. Do you know what that means, right? You too used a scholarship, after all!"
"Yes, I used it… but that doesn't mean you have to go completely insane on Mirii! She can still have a great job"
SLAP!
"HOW DARE YOU STATING THAT I'M INSANE?! I'M YOUR PERFECT MOTHER! SAY YOUR EXCUSES NOW, INGRATE!"
…
"SAY THEM!"
"… no, I'll not."
"WHAAAT?!"
"You don't deserve them… instead I'm going to tell you something, that I was holding on for a while."
Now it was the perfect chance: she's going to enjoy this.
I HATE YOU, MOTHER!
There. I say it. Like I suspected, she inhaled the air, with her mouth, loudly while expanding her eyes and covering her mouth, with her hand.
"… Rof, from this point on, you can forget my financial support on your shameful office."
"NO MOTHER, PLEASE! DON'T DO THIS TO MY BROTHER!"
Mirii said that. Her eyes were watery, while folding her hands. My mother got near her and
SLAP!
"Remember what I said earlier… because I'll not grant you any more chances."
My mother took her purse, which was laying on my drawer, then she walks quickly towards the door.
SLAM!
Her steps could be heard from here… until they fade out into nothingness. Now only the silence was reigning supremely… for a while. My sister fell down on her knees and starts crying, this time loudly. I was about to cry, too… but instead, I walked towards Mirii.
Once I was near her, she jumped on me and wraps me around with her arms. Her head was on my chest and I could hear her cry, right on my heart. I caressed her head, many times, lightly… and eventually, I start crying in silence.
If only our father was still here with us… our family would have been truly perfect.