A few hours later just in time for supper, the girls woke up. I was a little nervous, it had been my turn to cook. The others likes my Chili so I hoped Sage would to but still. I was nervous. I purposely made it less spicy than normal which got me strange looks from both Kimiko and Omi, but they didn't say anythin. Sage on the other hand had a look on her face like she'd seen a lost friend. She beamed the million watt smile at me and dug in like she had;T eaten anything that good in a long time. She stopped eating after her third bowl. She realized how much she had ate when Omi and Kimiko stared open mouth at her and I was laughing, she MIGHT could keep up with me, MIGHT. She blushed which was a dark crimson just across her cheeks,
" Sorry about that haven't had Chili since I was a lil'girl in Tennessee. It was one of my favorites. They don't have anything like that where I was. I missed it, plus I worked my butt off today. wasn't easy keeping up with Kim." She said this really fast, still blushin then offered to help clear the table, grabbing whatever she could safely carry and hurried to the kitchen. I grab an armload and follow. She was still blushing'
I laughed and said" Don't worry so much, it wasn't that you ate like me, it was where in the world do you put it?" I lifted one slender arm and inspected it like it would give me the giggled like I had hoped she would.
" Dunno where it goes. My whole family ate like they were starvin anytime food was on the table. Aunt and Uncle and my Cousins are like that too. Never have enough to eat, though what they just finished could prolly feed an army for a day. "She laughed softly" not a chubby one in the bunch."
" Can I ask you something? But if I am being too nosey you can tell me to stuff it in my hat and go on if ya want. Why do you talk about your parents in the past tense?" She looked so dejected that I'd love to take that question back.
" Well, when I was eight, my parents were driving to pick me up at the airport and never showed up. It took 2 days of me staying at the airport, Before the police found out where I was. A drunk driver crossed the line hitting my parents little car with his huge SUV. He was barely hurt. They were killed instantly. The family in Ireland that I had just visited for the first time became my only family. They flew over on the next flight and handled everything. Then took me with them. I was never treated like a cousin. I was another of their children. Of course they had 8, I made 9. Funny thing was three of them were triplets, then two sets of twins only the last one was a single birth. Ellie was born when I was visiting. Which was amazing. She was adorable. Anyway I lived with them for three years till the Sages, well you'd call them monks, came to get me. I lived and trained there for a year or two till Master Fong called for me. Then I came here. That's the short version." She breathed deeply like she 'd forgot to while she was then did that folding thing and was sitting on the ground, so I could either tower over her or sit too, so I sat.
"Of course in the short version, a lot on the pain, sadness, even the happiness is lost in translation. " the sad little smile she gave me looked so wrong before I realized what I was doing I hugged her. It surprised both of us, we both froze then its like the she thawed, cried like no one should ever have to cry. All I could do was akwardly pat her back and be the shoulder she's needed for so long. Slowly the tears stopped,she pulled a handkerchief out of her pocket without looking up and wiped her face.
"Um, wow I'm sorry about that…. I don't know what happened. I'm so sorry, you barely know me and I ball all over your shirt, I…." She finally looked up har face a bright red and not just from crying. All I can think is she looks adorable. Then I get red…
"Well ",I laugh," I did ask. Are you feeling better? "She nodded" Then its all worth it."She stood up then, making her a little taller than me, she looked like she was trying to make up her mind about something. Decision reached her tiny arms went around my neck something brushed my cheek and then she was gone. I turn in time to see her racing across the yard. She stopped at the door to the temple and waved shyly then disappeared inside. My hand went to the still warm spot on my cheek. A little bit of pink shimmery stuff came off on my hand. She kissed me.