---

 

This writing was accepted for publication in the 108 page perfect-bound ISSN#/ISBN# issue/book “Imagination” cc&d, v297 (the May 2020 issue) Order the 6"x9" paperback book:

Order this writing in the book One with the Mountain the cc&d May-Aug. 2020 magazine issues collection book		get the 426 page May-Aug. 2020 cc&d magazine 6" x 9" ISBN# paperback book:

Order this writing in the book 2020 in a Flash the 2020 flash fiction & art collection anthology		get the 296 page flash fiction & artwork & photography collection anthology as a 6" x 9" ISBN# paperback book:

Lessons in Family

Angela Gualtieri

    My eyes shot open at the loud voices traveling in from the living room.
    “For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?” Famine said gravely. He paused dramatically as the clapping started. “Thank you, thank you.”
    “Go back to the part about the red horse and his rider. Talk about strong and mighty. Probably the best out of the four, don’t you think? And the sword! That magnificent-”
    “Must you always do this, War?” interrupted Pestilence gruffly.
    Well, to be fair, they always did this. I debated staying tucked in my bed a little while longer or getting up to deal with them.
    “Do what?” War demanded.
    “I am War, Second Horsemen of the Apocalypse. I am very valiant. View my large, gleaming sword. And so on. I grow weary of listening to you speak. You are the most exasperating being I have ever had the misfortune of encountering,” Pestilence explained.
    “Oh, you’re one to talk, Fake Jesus.”
    A low-pitched chuckle immediately followed an obviously fake cough.
    “Do not laugh, Famine. Must you always take War’s side?”
    “Dude, I do not. Come on, you’ve got to admit it was funny. Remember how pissed Real Jesus was? Man, that was a good time. But either way, you both better shut up before you wake up Death. You know what he’s like when he hasn’t slept.”
    “Too late,” I announced, walking into the room. War and Pestilence squared off in the middle of the floor where the glass coffee table normally sat while Famine lounged on the white couch, his hands crossed behind his head. Raising an eyebrow, I narrowed my eyes at them. “Doesn’t this ever get old?” War and Pestilence remained locked in their ridiculous, warring stance for dominance. Famine merely shrugged.
    I sighed, running my hand through my hair. Adjusting my jacket collar, I glanced in the mirror to make sure my form was right. Black hair combed back? Check. Green eyes? Check. Tall, lean, male mortal body? Check. Pleasant and kind smile? I attempted to stretch the muscles around my mouth, showing my teeth. Although the white pearls glistened back at me, something wasn’t correct. How tedious and tiring facial expressions were. Oh well, I could work on it, but suitable for now. For some reason, mortals found this humanized version of me more pleasant. Such self-centered creatures.
    “I don’t know why you go down to Earth dressed like that,” War sneered, staring at my suit.
    “It’s 2019 in the mortal realm. Not everyone still wears togas, War,” I replied.
    Crossing his arms, War seated himself on the red couch adjacent to Famine. He reached for the remote, no doubt to put Game of Thrones on.
    “Departing for work?” Pestilence asked, gracefully arranging himself in the black armchair. Victory over War’s distraction caused his eerie smile to grow larger than usual.
    I nodded as the familiar deh da deh deh deh da of the opening intro filled the room and knew they were lost. Shutting the door, I stepped out onto the dewy, white mass. I closed my eyes, and I inhaled deeply, centering myself. Locking on to a heartfelt tug, my form began to fade away to the marked destination.
    The white walls were decorated with stickers randomly arranged. The laminate floor echoed against my footfalls, and the overwhelming scent of sanitizer flooded my nostrils. I coughed, immediately recognizing the building I stood in: a hospital. The large, blue sign overhead indicated the “Children’s Cancer and Blood Disease Unit.” Young humans were my least favorite charges.
    I pushed through the double doors, observing the mortals around me. The scene was always the same. Small humans looking even smaller in too-big of beds and covered in multiple layers. Worried older mortals reading to them, feeding them, or watching them sleep. Water leaks pooling down their faces in steady streams. Considering my difficulty with “happy” expressions, the idea of producing liquid from the small windows on my face vexed me. How confusing mortal emotions are. I felt a pull to the left, and as I turned, I saw her. A small slip of a female human sat on the floor, moving her stuffed hedgehog in the air. Her patient gown flowed in a heap around her. Hints of pink tinged her pale skin. After a few moments, she finally noticed my presence as I drew closer. Her blue eyes grew wide as she pulled the little hedgehog to her chest, covering her head.
    “Hello,” I said, trying to sound gentle.
    She poked one little blue eye out from behind the stuffed creature. “You can see me?” Her voice was muffled by the toy, but carried a pleasant lyrical tone.
    “Yes, my dear. Can you tell me your name?”
    “Mommy says it’s bad to talk to strangers.” She pushed the animal back over her face completely covering it.
    “Oh, but I’m not a stranger. I’m a new friend.”
    “Prove it.”
    Bending down until I was eye level with her, I maintained a few feet of distance as not to spook her. Small mortals were always my most challenging charges. I closed my eyes and focused on the girl. “Your mother is... Ruth. Your father is Justin. You’re five-years-old. You had cancer... leukemia. And your name is-”
    “Caroline.” Her lips formed a small smile as she pulled her hedgehog away. She was missing her two front teeth.
    “Yes, your name is Caroline.”
    “Are you here to play with me, Mr...,” she trailed off, tilting her head to the side.
    “D. You can call me Mr. D.”
    “OK! Mr. D! Are you here to play with me and Fred?”
    “I’m afraid not, Caroline.”
    “Oh.” Caroline focused on making Fred hop in a circle.
    “I think you know why I’m here,” I told her quietly.
    “Do I have to go away now?” Caroline refused to look up at me as she hugged Fred to her chest, pushing her head into his abdomen.
    “I’m afraid so, Caroline.”
    “But what about Mommy and Daddy and Sissa?” Clear drops flowed down her cheeks.
    I shuffled closer to her, finally just sitting on the floor. Curling my legs to my chest, I laid my hands and head on the tops of my knees. “I know you are going to miss them, Caroline, and they will miss you very, very much.”
    “Will I see them again?” She peered up at me, still using Fred as a shield.
    “Well, that depends,” I said, pretending to consider it. I curled my hand against my cheek, tapping my temple lightly.
    “Depends?”
    “Well, have you been a good girl?”
    Caroline pulled Fred down. Her lips widened so the space where her missing teeth were appeared. She sniffed, calming herself. “Mommy says Sissa and I are very good girls.”
    “Then I think one day you will.”
    She stuck her tongue out in the space of her missing teeth and giggled. “OK, Mr. D, Fred and I are ready to go now.”
    “Good.” I stood up and waited for her to find her footing, Fred in-hand. I walked slowly down the hall so she could keep up. My eyes burrowed in confusion as I looked over, feeling a tug on my hand. Caroline’s small, oddly warm hand was in mine.
    “Mr. D?”
    “Yes, Caroline?”
    “Do you have a family?”
    “What do you mean by family?”
    “Like a daddy or a mommy or a Sissa. Daddy tucks me in at night, and Mommy reads me lots of books, and Sissa and I play ALLLLL day.”
    I scratched my chin as we got to the main hall of the hospital. “Well, Caroline, I don’t have a mommy or a daddy. Certainly not a Sissa either I’m afraid.”
    “You don’t?!” Caroline gasped as her eyes grew twice their size. “Are you with only you, Mr. D?”
    “Well, no. I’m not by myself if that’s what you mean. I live with three other... men... boys. Technically speaking.”
    “Oh good, Mr. D. You do have a family! Instead of Sissa, you have brothers, three brothers!” She rubbed her forehead on our joint hands. “Only you would be very sad, Mr. D.”
    I just stared at her, pondering her words. Finally, I agreed. “Yes, I think I would, Caroline. Are you ready to go?” She nodded both her and Fred’s heads yes. “Well, you need to close your eyes. Fred’s too. No peaking now.” She laughed as I pulled my mouth into a small, toothless grin. Closing my own eyes, I took a breath then shimmered us away.

********

    “The little wolf girl would be like me! Look at her sword!”
    “Nay, she is a sickness infecting the lions like poison!”
    “Dudes, the Dragon Queen would totally appreciate that time I took out all the potatoes.”
    I shook my head as I walked through the door, heading towards the kitchen. For all of eternity, it would be the same.
    “Oh, you’re home,” Famine greeted, “How was... er... work?”
    “It was... interesting.” I settled myself into my pale-colored chair.
    Pestilence leaned forward in his seat. “Interesting? You have not used the word to describe work in over 400 years.”
    “Yeah. It was some dude named... Stratosphere?” Famine chimed in.
    “No, it was manlier than that... Shakesbeard!” War added.
    “It matters not what the mortal was called. Death used the word interesting to describe the mortal realm. Tell us of this human of interest.”
    Pursing my mouth to utter the predictable word no, I paused before the sound emitted. Looking at Pestilence, War, and Famine, big blue eyes and the notion of family weaved itself inside my head.
    “Her name was Caroline.”

Copyright of written pieces remain with the author, who has allowed it to be shown through Scars Publications and Design.Web site © Scars Publications and Design. All rights reserved. No material may be reprinted without express permission from the author.

Problems with this page? Then deal with it...