As Zhenna and Kaitlyn walked out of school, Zhenna tried again to convince her friend to ask her mother about joining the beach outing the next day. When they got the white gates, Kaitlyn stopped, unslung her pack and brought it to the rest area, digging around frantically.
“Forgot something?” Zhenna asked peering into her friend’s bag.
“She’s here.” Kaitlyn whispered. “She’s picking me up!”
Zhenna raised her head to the sky and stole a glimpse at the car stopped just outside the gates. She also unslung her pack and searched. “The Subaru?”
“Yeah.” Kaitlyn raised her geometry set triumphantly.
The girls picked up their bags and were out the gates. When they got closer to the car, Kaitlyn pointed it out, indicating her mother.
“Hi Kaitlyn’s mom, can Kaitlyn come with us to the beach tomorrow?” Zhenna asked peering into the car to look at her friends mother in the eye. When the woman shot her a distrustful glance then turned to Kaitlyn, Zhenna leaned into her view with a wide smile. “Its a couple of us girls, eight of us, Kaitlyn will make it nine. My Dad’s going to be watching us. It’s from midday til five.”
“Get in the car, Kaitlyn.” The girl’s mother said, not masking the annoyance in her voice.
Kaitlyn tapped Zhenna’s shoulder lightly. It was a sad tap that said ‘thanks for trying, she’s not going to agree’. But, Zhenna didn’t give up, she knocked on the window once Kaitlyn was inside. “Dad’s gonna rent the banana and doughnut boats for us. Don’t forget your sunscreen.” She said enthusiastically.
Kaitlyn gave her friend a limp smile and wave as the car pulled away.
12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFFDCGeBGZ1
Zhenna and her family sat down to watch the Sage Bowl semi-finals, which aired before the evening news. The St. Phillipa’s Convent team had the lead over their opponents in the previous categories. In the final round, general knowledge, the girls got through the first five easily.
“What is the capital of South Korea?” the host asked.
Both teams hesitated over their buzzers, looking at each other questioningly. Zhenna sat on the edge of her seat. “Come on, Seoul. Seoul. Seoul.” She chanted at the screen. The timer ticked down. “Come on, Amanda! Seoul!”
A buzzer went off, it was the opposing team; they got the point. The St. Phillipa girls lost their momentum for the next nine questions, giving their opponents uncontested points. The last five questions they fought back, but the their opponents had recovered enough points for a tie. In the tie breaker round, St. Phillipa secured victory by a lead of two points. Their performance, left Zhenna shaking her head.
“Why are you shaking your head? You didn’t even qualify for the team. I know you can’t answer the questions so readily.” Her mother spat.
Zhenna considered her mother before answering. “Fifteen of the twenty questions in the general knowledge round were on the list I gave them to practise.”
“What good does that do, you’re not up there.” Her mother shot back.
“Can we watch the TV in peace? It’s impressive that Zhenna prepared questions that showed up.” Her father said.
The school’s play was on after the evening news, the family watched it, as well as interviews of the crowd by the local news station. Many enjoyed the play and praised the children’s acting and prop design.
“The music made me cry after I said I wouldn’t, it was so good. The whole production was astonishing.” A bubbly spectator confessed.
Several others praised the music’s impact on the play, bringing a smile to Zhenna’s face.
“Well done, Zhenna.” Her father complimented.
Her mother got up with a huff. Just then, the phone rang. After exchanging pleasantries with the caller, Zhenna’s mother went on talking and laughing.
“Yes. Oh, she put it together. I thought she was just helping. Yes, she definitely has an artistic streak like her father.” Her mother said proudly. “You know she’s always been like that, even as a child, always making her own songs. Yes.”
Hearing the pride in her mother’s voice as she spoke, recounting stories from her childhood which justified her talent for music, made Zhenna uneasy. She felt happy but sad, she should be happy not sad. The confliction made her eyes burn as tears surfaced. She bat the tears away quickly. Before her mother could inform them of who’d been on the line, the phone rang again. Another person calling to talk to her mother about her musical ear. The same praises and stories repeated a third time that night, her mother’s boast more confident.
“Zhenna.” Her mother called smiling. “Ellen, Theresa and Mrs. Mitchell called to congratulate you. They were impressed by the music you composed for the play.”
“I didn’t compose it. I compiled it.” Zhenna said storming from the sitting room.
“You used to compose your own little tunes when you were kid. It’s the same thing.” Her mother called out.
Zhenna threw herself on her bed, the tears she pushed down earlier resurfaced, overflowing uncontrollably. She hugged one of her pillows, biting down on her hand to suppress the tremors.
Sometime later, Reuben crept into the room quietly. His sister lay on her stomach, quiet sniffles sounded through the dimly lit room. Carefully, he climbed onto the bed, laid his head on Zhenna’s back listening to her heart and the echoes of her sniffles.
Zhenna awoke in the middle of the night, her eyes puffy and sealed tight, when she pried them open, they burned making her wince and jerk. Her movement shook Reuben who still had his head on her back. She rolled bit by bit, until his head was on her chest. Reuben choked then started snoring. Zhenna smothered her laugh with the back of her hand then playfully pinched his nose.
She kissed his head. “I love you, Reub.”12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcedoMO3qSl
and then Add to home screen.