Chapter 19
Day 275
Somehow my 360 days had ended in only 275 days. I was over the moon about heading home. I missed home, even though I wasn’t really going home. Of course, I’d never had much fun at home. Living in a suburb controlled by your arch enemy’s mom can make your life suck. I’d had the same two friends for years, and then I lost them both. One through the incident with Jessica and the other had moved to New York. Essentially it had never really been my home, just the place I lived.
We were all moving. It wasn’t too far away. It was thirty minutes from home. It was a suburb outside of Vegas. My mom had gotten a transfer to the city when she learned that’s where we’d gone. It was kind of fitting. It’s where we became a family, and now we were going back as a family. Except this time it was legal and we weren’t going to have to struggle the same.
My mom bought a huge place. There were eight bedrooms and they were all huge. One was an office, and then everyone had their own room. It was three stories high plus a basement and an attic. We loved it. I’d called my boss and gotten permission to come back to work as a part time employee this time, which I was excited about. Adventure Quest was the best job I could have. Michelle, Amy, Michael, and I all earned our G.E.D. and were happily done with school. I didn’t know what I was going to do yet though. My dreams had changed and grown and I wasn’t really sure what they were anymore. I knew I wanted to do something great, something inspired.
When they all came to pick me up Kelly ran up to me right away and I picked her up. Hugs and kisses went around and we piled into the car waving at Dr. Adams as we started the drive. It was a fairly long way, but we had fun catching up and playing road trip games. We’d made the trip three times, once in fear, once in reluctance, and once in joy.
Who’d have thought we’d all be a happy family? I’d be tearing up if I had eyes!
I rolled my eyes and smiled as we pulled into the driveway of the new house. Everyone else had already been here a few weeks, and I was the final arrival.
“Syd, go see your room!” Christian said bouncing on his toes.
I quickly took the stairs and then I headed into my room. I heard my gasp as though it was from someone else. Each wall was painted either light blue or dark purple. They both matched and contrasted beautifully. My furniture was all wooden and painted black. The bedspread was dark purple, dark red, and a fairly average shade of blue. It shouldn’t have worked, but it did. The shelves were lined with books, except for one with photos. The photos of my brother, sister, and dad along with the ones from our time in Vegas sat in delicate frames in the same colors as my bed and walls.
The best part was the quote painted across the wall across from my bed. It was the same one from my room painted in the hospital and done exactly the same way. “Let the colors of the world remind you that even in the darkest of times, there is still goodness and light.” There was a very pretty black wooden desk with a brand new sketchbook on it. In the drawers were new pencils and colored pencils.
I ran downstairs with a big smile on my face, “It’s perfect!”
“You like it?” Amy asked.
I laughed and nodded, “Of course. It’s absolutely stunning!”
Michelle smiled, “We’re so glad you love it.” I hugged everyone again for what felt like the hundredth time
“Syd,” Christian asked, bouncing and smiling again, “Can you help us do our rooms?”
I smiled and nodded at him, “Of course kid. Who’s first?”
“Start with Kelly,” Michelle said. “Work your way up.” I nodded happily. Things really had worked out for us all. They were all out of foster care, and I had a family again. They were my family, and they always would be. I couldn’t imagine them not being around anymore.
“Come on kid,” Amy said grabbing Jeremy, “I’m gonna help you with your homework.” They walked away together and I smiled. She was so great about helping him when he needed it, even if she would constantly forget about things like bed time.
I started working with the pipsqueak to figure out what she wanted me to do in her room. She was such a little girl, and I loved it. I drew big butterflies with carefully detailed designs and pretty flowers lining the ground. We would pick out paints later, and I was excited to spend time with her.
When I was done I did a few quick fashion sketches, nothing too fancy though. For lunch I cooked for everyone. I made a burgers and corn on the cob. We ate together and then I got permission to head into the city to invite Ace over to meet my mom.
It was a decent length walk, so when I got there I was tired. I looked around the elegant room. I had never much just admired the building; I’d always had a purpose when I was here. It was decorated like a palace, with royal reds and bright shades of gold adorning the room. I saw Ace and snuck carefully up behind him.
“Uncle Ace,” I yelled at him from behind him. He whipped around and a huge smile broke out across his face.
“Aussie, what are you doing here?” He yelled walking over. He walked with me to his office.
I chuckled, “That’s a pretty long story.”
“I’ve got time,” He said chuckling as well. I told him the whole story and he shook his head, “Wow kid. You’ve had a pretty crazy time haven’t you? Eh, no pun intended.”
“Yeah, things have been nuts, but they’re finally settling down now. Would you like to come to dinner at my house? My mom wants to thank you,” I said.
He nodded, “A wise man never turns down a free meal. I’ll be there Australia.”
“I missed you Ace,” I said smiling.
He smiled back, “Missed you to Sydney.”
I left with a grin across my face. I picked up what I needed to make lasagna and a big Caesar salad. I couldn’t believe how happy I was to be back. Even back in my little town I’d never felt like I belonged the way I did in Vegas and I was happy. It was a nice feeling, I’d finally come home.
I walked in and dropped off the food and my mom started looking for pans and such to cook. I picked Kelly up and we headed to a paint store. She chose shades of purple, green, orange, yellow, and red to paint the walls in her room. After I went in with a pencil and started drawing on the white walls in pencil. They’d stay white, but with flowers and butterflies in color, like a mural. I drew in the details and finished the walls. I still needed to do the bed, but that would be easy and I could do it in an hour or two.
I was happily helping my mom with the cooking. Amy and Michelle weren’t so much helping, as talking to us as we worked. Kelly was asleep, and the boys were outback playing soccer.
When Ace showed up my mom opened the door smiling. He stood there holding flowers, “You must be Aussie’s mom.”
She looked puzzled and I smiled, “Mom, this is Ace.”
“Aussie?” She asked.
We laughed. “Sydney is the largest city in Australia.” He informed her. “I had a friend from there.” She laughed as well and he handed her the flowers.
We ate and talked and laughed until around nine. Kelly was falling asleep in her seat so I took her to her room to tuck her in. Christian went to go get ready for bed. Michael, Amy, Michelle, and I went to sit downstairs in the basement and talk.
We all kissed Christian goodnight and eventually hugged Ace goodbye giving up on him leaving before we went to bed. I was happy he and mom seemed to be getting on so well. I could easily see them becoming friends, and my mom didn’t know anyone here. I was sure she’d get along with Christian’s friend’s moms, but that would be an awkward situation after everything.
I went into my room and pulled out my new sketchbook and a pencil and sat on my bed. I drew the pattern I wanted to paint on my roof with the stars. I loved star gazing and the stars were hard to see out here so I would use glow in the dark stars to put the pattern on the roof so I could always go stargazing. When I felt my eyelids drooping I slid the sketchbook into place and lay down.
“So, I don’t do this very often. I know
mom does it. She says there’s no shame in talking to you, because you’re always watching over us. I just wanted you all to know that I still miss you, but it’s easier now. I’m happy again. I feel like maybe, maybe it’s not my fault. Maybe things can be okay again. I miss you, and I love you. I hope you’re all together in heaven and that you’re happy now.” I said to my family.
I rolled over in bed and felt sleep overtake me. My last thoughts were this: I’m starting over, and I have a life now. I have Michelle, Michael, Amy, Christian, and Kelly. I have Mom and Uncle Ace. Things can change so much in a year, more in two, and even more in longer times. Sometimes all it takes is one minute or one chance and everything can get so much better.