MOUNTAIN QUEEN: THE FAIRY’S SPOON
“Mom… Mom… I love you…” Milly cried and hugged her. Mom was back at home in one piece - albeit in a wheelchair and very drowsy.
“Milly… My baby… I am so sorry that I wasn’t here,” Mom said with a weary smile - then she broke into tears too, “I’m so sorry my baby…”
They hugged deeply. Mother and daughter together again. Mama stood in the background and then her phone went off. She didn’t tell them and went into the other room to take the call.
“Damn you,” Clarice said.
The man on the other side was Dr Evan Minerty. He was the uncle of Joseph “Jojo”
“I’m so sorry for what my nephew has done… The police have just arrested him, but his friend has not been found…” Evan said.
”You know… I expected more of you… You don’t know how to control your own… Milly and Zahra have been hurt… You… I don’t want to see your face again…” Clarice said.
”But…” he said.
”I am resigning from the lab… I was offered a position teaching at the university… I am going to take it… Screw you…” She said cutting the call.
She entered the room and saw Milly and Mom sleeping soundly on the couch. She took a blanket from the cupboard and put it on them.
Jojo gritted his teeth as he sat in the detention cell. He tensed his fists and was ready to fight anyone who would stand in his way. His mother had left him all alone. She had eloped with another man - and then his father left too. He was left with his uncle. He was shit. He had been this soft innocent person. He was harmless - but now more than anything he wanted to be harmful. Damn you all…
Officer Handell entered the room. She was a large dark skinned woman with a stern and old face. She had a septum piercing too.
“Boy… You do realise what you have done to that poor girl…” she said.
“I don’t care… I hate everyone,” he said, rattling the table and then scratching his arms. There were blood stains on his fingers.
”Juvenile hall for six months… It has all been sorted out… Hopefully this will be a learning point for you…” she said.
His eyes burned with anger. Screw you all.
Miranda stood outside the police station. She had walked past there and looked at the building. The hearing had been yesterday and Jojo had been sentenced to 6 months in Juvenile Hall. She didn’t even know this boy - let alone hate him. She knew he was in there - locked up until the next morning when he would be shipped off to the facility. She was annoyed that he had erased Zahra. But there was a sense of newness and freedom that she felt. She stood in salute to the building and then looked at the orange sky. She was going to the public library. Miranda was wearing baggy cargo pants and a black t-shirt that she stole from her brother. He came back last week and was frustrated at her for not remembering him. 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8UdkZ8Gn6q
“Zahra… It’s me…” he would say over and over again.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBUu8C89eIz
”I’m Miranda…” she would say.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUHIHJMd3Oy
Her parents would say that maybe there was a trauma block and maybe seeing a shrink may help. Miranda and her supposed parents drove to the Mainley Psychiatric Clinic.
Dr Frank Mainley was a large fat man with messy grey hair and a goatee. He was rather clean wearing a pink button up shirt and a tie. His pants were cross hatched and grey.
“Hello Zahra… please come in,” he said in a voice that sounded musical like a trombone.
Miranda looked at him and then her parents. They wanted to join but Dr Mainley said that it would be better if they talked one on one.
Miranda sat on the edge of the green sofa and Dr Mainley sat in the green leather recliner which made an unflattering sound as he sat down.
“I heard you prefer to be called Miranda… Is there anything I can do to make you more comfortable?” Dr Mainley said.
Miranda eyed the soda dispenser in the corner and Dr Mainley noticed.
“Yep! It’s not good for my diabetes but it's mostly diet. Can I get you a soda?” He said.
Miranda sipped on the orangeade and felt a little at ease, “I don't find this very useful for me to be honest. I don’t remember anything… but really I’m fine… I don’t even want to remember who I used to be…”
He smiled and nodded and then scribbled something into his book.
“How do you feel about your family? They are very concerned for your wellbeing and they love you dearly,” he said.
”I guess they are fine… But I dunno… I don’t feel anything for them… It’s like I’ve woken up into this new world and I don’t know anything… I read some history books at the library and honestly it feels good to learn… My parents say that I never had interest in history before…” Miranda said.
“Miranda Righthall…” he said, going to the bookcase and pulling out a book.
“How did you know?” she said.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvjoLC7qYTt
”My husband is a big fan of Miranda Righthall… He wrote this biography of her. He is a professor of Northern State history at the university. You can borrow this book if you like?” He said coming over and handling the volume to her.
“Thanks…” she said, “But I don’t think I will come back…”
”That’s okay… I have at least half a dozen copies at home… So feel free to have it…” he said.
They just had a conversation and drank some soda. And she got a free book. She didn’t like how he got her to talk - he was subtle and knew which questions to ask. No… It was the way he said them - like there was no judgement.
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