Miyu's Wish (16 page)

“You’re a fool, Miyu,” Marlene spat, standing up from the table and throwing a napkin onto her tray. “You always have been. I never should have befriended you.”

“What
do
you see in her?” Tamara asked, looking strangely dejected.

“Um,” I stammered, completely taken aback by their reactions. I was blinking back tears now, and feared a single word would release the flood.

Fortunately, the Twins jumped in.

“But shouldn’t we try to be friends with everyone?” Ruby asked hopefully.

June nodded. “Yeah, maybe Kimberly really has changed.”

Candace and Janet, for their part, just seemed to blend into their chairs, looking at each other.

“If you want to be friends with that backstabber, then so be it,” Marlene snarled, her eyes piercing me like ray beams. “But we’re through.” She then scowled and marched away.

“Marlene,” I tried to shout, but the tears were pushing forward. I had to stop. People were watching.

Tamara rose. “Well, bell’s about to ring.” She looked at me unhappily and then departed as well.

I took a seat and stared blankly ahead, still not sure what had happened. The Twins began rubbing my back—trying to console me—and then started playing with my hair. I looked at Candace, then Janet. They squirmed.

“You see,” Candace explained sympathetically, “back in the fifth grade, Kimberly and Marlene were best friends. But once they hit junior high, Kimberly, well…blossomed.”

Janet continued, looking glum. “Kimberly ditched Marlene for the more popular crowd, and they haven’t really spoken since.”

The Twins whimpered and dug their nails inadvertently into my shoulders. “That’s so sad!”

I gazed down at the table. “Oh,” was all I could say. And then the bell rang.

Chapter Twenty-Two

T
he rest of the day limped along wearily, but I persevered to Biology where Mr. Skyzey droned on about mitochondria or mitosis or something.

A piece of paper slid in front of me. I glanced down the table and connected eyes with Clarence.

I breathed hard, staring back and forth between him and the note. Frowning, I unfolded it slowly.

Can we be friends again? I’m really sorry about before. You know I didn’t mean it.

I tore a sheet from my own notebook and wrote a reply.

Maybe I was being too sensitive. And you were right about Thad.

I folded the message and slid it down to him. He read it thoughtfully, scrawled a reply, and whipped it back to me.

I checked to make sure Mr. Skyzey wasn’t looking, and then opened it.

It doesn’t matter who was right or wrong. I just can’t bear you being mad at me. May I request your forgiveness?

I didn’t reply, but instead held my chair to my butt and sidled down to him. Smiling, I wrote on his hand,
Yes.

He beamed, and for the first time, he looked rather handsome.

Marlene avoided me after class, so I moped through the school’s halls alone and out to Aunt Mari’s car.

“You look exhausted,” she noted as we drove away. “Rough day?”

“Very,” I said morosely, and I immediately began describing the last eight hours in epic detail. With so much to say, Aunt Mari turned a different direction—before long, I was devouring an ice cream sundae.

“Auntie, you’re the best,” I proclaimed, licking my spoon.

“I could tell you needed it,” she smiled. “But from what you’ve said, things don’t sound too bad. You obviously can do better than Thad, you’ll have a good time at Kimberly’s, and your friendship with Clarence has been restored.”

“But what about Marlene?”

Aunt Mari took her spoon and scooped a bite from my sundae. “She’ll come around, probably sooner than you think. Just be understanding when she does.”

I nodded. “I hope you’re right.”

We went home, and I got busy on my homework as Aunt Mari cooked something tasty in the kitchen. After an hour or two, I heard the doorbell ring.

“Miyu, it’s for you.”

Surprised, I hurried downstairs. Aunt Mari winked at me as she motioned to the door. Marlene was standing inside, watching me tensely from the doorway.

Aunt Mari left us alone, and I slowly walked forward. “Hi Marlene.”

She seemed perturbed. “Already in your pajamas?”

I looked down, having forgotten about them. They were covered with baby bears licking honey off their lips, and were about a size too large for me. “Yeah, I wasn’t expecting anyone so… they’re really comfy.” I stopped and studied her conflicted face, and realized something. “How did you get here?”

She glanced away slightly. “I rode my bike.”

I pouted at her. “But Marlene, that’s like four miles! That’s too dangerous at this hour.”

She regarded me oddly, as if I was something that shouldn’t exist. “I just needed to be outside. I needed to think and…and it just seemed to bring me here.”

We both stared in painful silence for a time, but I finally forced myself to speak. “Marlene, you will always be my first and dearest friend. You know that, don’t you?”

Marlene shuddered. “You’re so melodramatic, Miyu,” she said despondently. “But that’s what makes you so…Miyu, I guess. It’s why I had to come over. I couldn’t risk…”

She fell silent again, her lips twisting as the words she seemed to want wouldn’t come. I ran to her, knowing she needed me, and guided her over to the sofa. “Risk?” I asked soothingly, placing my arm around her.

She rested her head on my shoulder and breathed stuffily though her nose. “I can deal with…Kimberly sitting with us if you really want.” She paused for a moment, as if lost in thought. “But if you ever sat over
there
, with
her
…I don’t think I could stand it.”

She lifted her head and stared shamefacedly at me, tears finally welling in her eyes.

I smooched her on the cheek. “Marlene, you never have to worry about that. I promise.” I gazed at her meaningfully. “But Kimberly…you know that I can’t just outright shun her. Not anymore.”

Marlene gave a sigh of resignation. “Yeah, I know,” she said with a defeated smile. “It’s the Miyu way.”

Purring, I pulled her into my jammies and began snuggling her up. When I heard her giggle, I knew everything was OK.

“Your pj’s
are
really cute,” she laughed, suddenly pushing me into the cushion. “And super soft.”

I squealed, trying to fight back. “Yeah, aren’t they great?”

As we played, Aunt Mari’s voice sounded from the kitchen. “Are you girls ready to eat?”

“You can stay, right?” I asked, sitting on my knees and seizing her arm. “Auntie’s cooking is great!”

Marlene nodded with a blush, and we all had a wonderful, happy, silly meal.

Chapter Twenty-Three

I
 
spent the eve of Kimberly’s party fussing over what I wanted to wear, dancing around with various dresses held to my body. I looked nice in all of them, but I wanted to look perfect.
Like her.

My computer dinged, informing me I had a new e-mail. I stepped away from the bed and bent over to look at the screen. I had received another message from Rraman.

       
Miss Miyu—don’t you love how that sounds? Miss Miyu! Miss Miyu! I could say that all day!


I groaned. Apparently it was “Rra,” his mysterious counterpart.

       
Alas, you have more questions in that head of yours than the sprinkles on a cupcake, but I’m afraid I cannot help you any further. That also means I won’t be able to write you again. It saddens my heart and moistens my pillow, but providence has ordained it.


       
Just remember, little munchkin, that life is nothing but a song of choices. Some are good, some are evil, some major, some minor, but most are simply shades of “a little better” or “a little worse.” The smaller missteps will be understood and forgiven, but watch out for the larger ones—dark forces are always trying to lead little souls like you astray. Have you sought your creator for assistance?


       
Oh well, perhaps our paths will cross one day, and we can share recipes, try on nice clothes, and admire each other’s bodies. Wouldn’t that be fun?


Ta Ta,


Rra


I pulled away from the computer and crossed my arms thoughtfully. My
creator
? But who was that? Parvati? Aphrodite? The Virgin Mary?

I sighed and left my room. Aunt Mari was out on an errand, and I had the place to myself. Her room was flickering with a whitish glow from down the hall, and I idly walked over to investigate. I peered inside, noticing it was just her computer. Normally she kept it turned off, but for the moment, a screen saver cycled a series of pictures across the screen.

I watched the images roll before me, mostly scenes of my aunt and me celebrating birthdays, going on trips, and enjoying various holidays together. I saw myself as a little girl—clutching her neck, laughing—as we fed pigeons in a park. I was seven, crying on my wobbly bike as Auntie pushed from behind. I was
ten, both of us asleep on her bed after spending an entire night watching animated movies and eating junk food.

But my heart thumped; who had taken the pictures—especially the last one? I could not recall anyone else in our lives during those occasions. Marlene’s words then echoed in my mind:
If you were adopted, why do you call her ‘aunt’?
I frowned. And why had she
really
gotten so upset when she saw Keil’s painting?

I bit my lip and moved the mouse. Her e-mail screen appeared; she was still logged in, and everything seemed ordinary at first glance. I then clicked the “sent” link, and a new smorgasbord of messages appeared—this time written by Aunt Mari herself. I scrolled down a little and noticed “Niece’s Status” was written in some of the subject lines. The addressee itself was a jumble of weird symbols and characters I didn’t recognize. I opened one at random.

Sir,

       
Her range of influence continues to grow stronger, but she remains silent on anything concerning the phenomenon. We only discuss certain things; I fear she doesn’t completely trust me.

I selected another one farther down.

Sir,

       
She continues to show clear indications of subconscious recall, but proceeds through her daily activities essentially undaunted. She hasn’t spoken to me directly about the phenomenon; I can only infer what I can.

And then another.

Sir,

       
She attracts friends and admirers wherever she goes, and both her memory lapses and episodes of confusion have diminished significantly. Nevertheless, she seems more uncertain, more suspicious than before. I’m a little worried about her.

I shook my head and blinked my eyes. They almost read like entries from one of Clarence’s science logs.
Why was she writing these?

The front door slammed downstairs. She was home. I didn’t have time to read any of the others.

“Miyu, I’m back. I brought chicken for supper.”

I fumbled with the mouse, backtracking to the main screen.

“Miyu, are you up there?”

I jumped to the screen saver setting, reset it to “one minute,” and crept out of the room. “I’m here, Auntie. I’m in the bathroom!” I heard her footsteps stop midway up the stairs.

“Oh, OK sweetie. Glad you’re alright. Come down when you’re ready.”

I caught my breath as I listened to her retreating footsteps.
What was she hiding from me?

I remained quiet as Aunt Mari drove me to Kimberly’s the next evening. The sky was dark, the air cold, and a few flakes of snow could be seen fluttering innocently within the glow of the passing light posts—destined to soon touch the dank ground and vanish forever. It seemed cruel.

I looked at my aunt impulsively. “Do you have any other nieces besides me?”

Aunt Mari glanced at me curiously. “No, of course not. You’re the only family I have. You know that.”