Chapter Seven
Toby crept into his sister's room to see that she was still asleep. A white furry head popped up from the pillows and a pair of mismatched eyes sleepily blinked at him. Toby patted his leg and Jareth yawned and stretched before gracefully leaping to the floor, trotting over to him. Picking the cat up, he walked to the stairs of the attic and climbed up them. Setting Jareth down, Toby pulled the chord to turn the light on.
Sarah didn't like him being up here. It wasn't dangerous, so Toby didn't know why she was so concerned. He thought it might have something to do with what Cammie said once. She'd been talking to Dafydd not knowing Toby was listening. She'd said something about storing away and forgetting painful memories.
Spotting the box he wanted, Toby went over to it and opened it. Pulling out a cloth covered album, he opened it and slowly flipped through the pages. It was a photo album full of pictures from when he was a toddler, Sarah, and their parents. Toby didn't really have many memories of their parents. Their dad died when their house burned down. He suffered from smoke inhalation and his lungs were too severely damaged while he was getting everyone out of the house.
Then his mom passed away a year later form cancer. It was too advanced and spread too far before the doctors found it. She was too ill for radiation treatment and there was no cure. Toby only knew that she had been sick for a long time and that was why Sarah was practically raising him. He was told about all this later when he was old enough to understand that death was permanent.
Toby liked to go through the album because their images in his mind were already fuzzy and fading. Looking through the photographs helped him hold onto what they looked like and what little memories he did have for just a little longer. He wouldn't even have these if Sarah hadn't had her own collection of pictures.
Setting the volume aside he picked up another album. This one was mostly of Sarah, Cammy, Dafydd, and Crispin. From what Toby learned from Cammie and Dafydd, it was Crispin who kept his sister from going crazy and self-destructing when their parents died.
The two had met at Sarah's amateur art competition. Crispin had been in college but nobody minded the age difference. They got married when Sarah turned seventeen with her and Toby's parents permission and blessings. Crispin already had a home, this house, ready for her. She moved out of their parents house and Toby often visited. They were happy and it showed in the photographs. Crispin was nice and knew a lot of neat things. He used to tell Toby stories and sing him to sleep.
But then, even Crispin went away and Sarah became sad again. She didn't look or act sad, but somehow Toby knew she was. Cammie said he was sensitive and he wasn't sure what she meant by that. All he knew was he didn't like seeing his sister like that. He didn't think Cammie did either which was why she was so intent on trying to set her up with a guy. Toby didn't like it and none of the men that tried to date his sister. None of them were good enough or right for her.
Putting the album back in the box he spotted a very old much loved teddy bear. He smiled as he pulled it out. It was his very first teddy bear and once belonged to Sarah. It had escaped the fire since the teddy had been left accidentally at Sarah and Crispin's house.
"Lancelot!" He had almost forgotten about him. Then seeing something reflecting light, he reached in the box and pulled it out. It was a delicate looking glass orb. Puzzled, Toby wondered if it was a Christmas bauble that lost its ribbon and cap. Yet at the same time he was sure the orb belonged to him. He couldn't explain how he knew, he just did. Just like he knew how Sarah was sad even though she hid it well.
Oh, well. He'd figure it out later. Shoving the orb into the pocket of his shorts, he went back to the box, Lancelot dangling from one hand.
"Hey!"
The bear was pulled out of his hands as Jareth leapt and grabbed the stuffed bear in his mouth. Toby chased the cat as it bounded down the stairs. Jareth skidded into the kitchen and dropped the bear beside his empty food dish. Toby picking up the teddy muttered, "You're hungry, I get it."
He fed the cat and changed his water before taking the stuffed animal to his room. He tossed Lancelot onto his bed and returned to the kitchen to get his own breakfast. He was pouring himself a bowel of cereal when Sarah entered the kitchen yawning sleepily. She mussed his hair on her way to the coffee maker. When a cup was ready she sat down at the table munching on a pop tart.
"Thanks for feeding the cat."
"Hey, Sarah?"
"Hmm?"
Toby fingered the orb through his shorts. "Never mind."
Sarah gave him a look but let it slide. "I'm going to get ready."
Nodding, he watched her go back to her room and sighed. He wouldn't ask about the bauble. Not today anyway. He didn't want to do anything that would stress his sister out more or make her sad today. Today he and Sarah would go to the florist, Sarah would make her own bouquet, and go to the park. They would walk around and linger on the bridge over the lake. She would then drop the flowers into the water.
Sarah had done this for the past four years and Toby had begun to go with her two years ago when he was six. Before then, Cammie would watch him on this day. When Toby asked her about it, Cammie had told him that this was Sarah's way of grieving and coping. Toby said he didn't get it and he didn't. Not really. The only comparison he could think of was it was like him sneaking into the attic and going through their old stuff.
Toby was quiet as he walked with his sister to the florist's. The woman behind the counter knew them and told them their bouquet was already for them. Thanking her, Sarah took Toby to the park and bought him an ice cream cone. He sat on the swings licking it while he watched her on the bridge. Her lips were moving so he knew she was talking. Was she talking to Crispin like he talked to his parents sometimes?
When Sarah slowly let the bouquet fall into the water, Toby went over to her and took her hand. She smiled down at him and they watched as the flowers separated and went under. Toby had learned what the flowers his sister chose meant. And he noticed that her bouquet always had at least one white carnation, a pansy, and a white tulip.
They went to a café to have lunch. Toby sat with his legs crossed and slightly swinging them under the table as they ate. Putting down his sandwich, he decided to ask something that always made him curious. "Sarah? Do you remember Lancelot?"
"Mythological or teddy bear?"
This was one of the reasons why Toby liked his sister. She talk down to him or treat him as if he was stupid just because he was a kid. She talked to him as she did anyone else. If he looked confused or told her he didn't understand, she would try and think of another way to explain something to him. She would keep trying until he understood or got the gist of it.
"Mytho-mythological," Toby was able to get out. She smiled at his struggle not saying anything. He was glad she didn't get impatient like other people and say the word for him. She'd let him stumble and would only smile and sometimes would slowly pronounce it again for him to sound out. She always made him say whatever word he had difficulty with.
Sarah waited wondering where this was going. The eight year old gazed at her with confusion and curiosity. "He was raised in a lake right? So was he a merman or something?"
Toby had always wondered about that since his sister read him stories of King Arthur and his knights. Crispin told him stories about lake people too which got him thinking. Was Lancelot one of the lake people Crispin told him about?
Sarah laughed but Toby knew it wasn't directed at him. She was laughing because the question amused her but not at his expense. "No, I don't think so, kiddo. Lancelot was taken by the Lady of the Lake to her kingdom when he was small. I'm sure there was oxygen under the lake for him to breathe."
Toby thought about that. "She kidnapped him?"
"I suppose. Many tales of magic and myth have that in their stories."
"Like the Goblin King, right?"
Sarah nodded. "Yes, but he's the only one who takes the children because he was asked too. In the other stories, they just take a child for their own selfish reasons."
"Or leave a changeling in its place, right?"
Sarah nodded again. Toby was like she used to be. He absorbed and breathed anything that had to do with mythology, fairy tales, and magical creatures and beings. But his was a healthy obsession and rounded out with normal things unlike she had been. He didn't try to lose himself in it as she had.
"Hey, Sarah?"
"Hmm?"
"I was thinking. Do you think the stories are real?"
Sarah put her coffee down. "Real, how?"
"I dunno," he shrugged. "Real. Do you think the stories of merpeopl or lake people, gremlins, and stuff are true? That they really exist?"
"Is this because of Dafydd letting you see Gremlins the other night?" At her little brother's look she told him, "Yes, I know all about that."
He hung his head but then looked at her again. "It has nothing to do with that."
Toby had asked Crispin if he believed in all that since he was always telling him those kind of stories. Crispin had smiled and swore that he knew they existed and were real. At Toby's look, he made the promise that 'cross his heart', and all Toby had to do was look and he'd be able to see. And since Sarah painted stuff like that all the time he was curious if she believed too.
"I dunno, Tobes. Maybe."
Toby was quiet as they finished their lunch. They walked home and found Cammie and Dafydd were back as well. As soon as Sarah and Toby walked in Cammie shot up from the couch beaming excitedly at her best friend. Dafydd grinning was bouncing their toddler daughter on his lap.
"Guess what?" Cammie waved her left hand in front of Sarah who had to grab the flailing hand to better see. There was now an engagement ring adorning the red-head's ring finger.
"It's about time!" Sarah grinned happily.
"I know, right?" Cammie happily bounced. "Guess what else?"
"What?"
"Dafydd got an offer for an up and coming magazine!"
"What? Really?"
Dafydd grinned. "They really like my photographs. They said I had a style they were interested in."
"That's great."
"We're all going out to celebrate, no excuses, Sarah!" Dafydd stated. "It's my treat. And I already called my folks who'll be happy to watch Emma."
"I get to come?"
"Of course, little man." Dafydd had always called him that as far as Toby could remember.
"Thanks." Going to his room and seeing Lancelot on his bed with a bit of stuffing coming out, he took the orb from his pocket. He held it up to the light then shrugged, putting it on his desk, and then picked up the teddy. He took it to Dafydd since the women were in the kitchen.
"Hey, Dafydd."
"What's up?"
Toby held Lancelot out. "Think you could fix him for me?"
"Ah, don't want Sarah mad at you?" He said knowingly and Toby nodded. "Sure thing. Just put him on our bed. I"ll be sure one of us fixes him for you."
"Thanks!" Toby was glad his sister's friends were like her. They didn't tease him or make fun of him like the boyfriends did. No remarks about how he was too old to still have a teddy and that sort of stuff.
"Emma, no!" Dafydd wrangled the remote from the toddler's pudgy hands and mouth. She was at the stage where she tried to put everything in her mouth. Emma began to cry and wail so Toby hurried to Dafydd and Cammie's room. Dropping Lancelot onto the bed he went over to the crib and grabbed the ring of plastic keys.
"Thanks, little man." Dafydd sighed in relief as Emma quieted when Toby offered them to her. She began to gnaw on them and Toby smiled.
"No problem." Toby went to the kitchen, poking his head in and rolled his eyes. They were talking about girl stuff. Going back to his room he saw Jareth batting the crystal ball around his floor. "Jareth, no! Bad cat!"
The cat ran out of the room as Toby went and picked up the ball. He set it on his desk and picked up the book he had just started reading. It had been his birthday present from Sarah. Just before he could drop onto his bed and start reading The Never Ending Story his sister popped her head in the door. "We're ready to go, Toby."
"Coming."
They went out and had a good time at a Chinese restaurant. When they came back Sarah tucked Toby into bed. Going to her room she opened her dresser drawer. Taking a shoe box out she set it on her bed and went through the contents. Tears coursing down her face as she picked up the different pieces of her memories. The shoe box was full of photographs, movie stubs, receipts, and other odds and ends that had a memory attached to it. A small velvet box was inside as well. With a trembling hand she opened it and let her fingers brush the rings nestled inside.
A knock on her door made her hastily wipe the tears away. Putting everything back into the shoe box she shut in her drawer then opened the door. Toby gave her an apologetic look. "I couldn't sleep."
"Come on," She walked back to his room with him. Tucking him in again she brushed the curls from his face. She lay down beside him and began to sing a song that always put him to sleep.
Éiníní, éiníní, codalaígí codalaígí
Éiníní, éiníní, codalaígí codalaígí
Codalaígí, codalaígí cois an chlaí amuigh
Cois an chlaí amuigh codalaígí, codalaígí
Cois an chlaí amuigh, cois an chlaí amuigh
She sung to him until she heard the sound of his steady breathing of sleep. Cuddled up next to him she fought back tears and wearily felt herself drifting off to sleep as well.
A.N.- Sorry it's so short but I wanted to be able to update this week and if I didn't post it now, it might have taken a lot longer to post. For those that want to know, a white carnation means remembrance, a pansy means loving thoughts, and a white tulip means forgiveness.
The song Sarah is actually only the first verse and the chorus.
I hope you all enjoyed this chapter and don't forget to review! Feedback is much appreciated.