“Yes, he does. One time when you were in the bathroom, I did that, and all the screens lit up full of barking mad dogs!”
Mia had to turn around so Brian wouldn’t see her tears of suppressed laughter. Cid did and handed her a napkin and suggested, “Mia, would you eat breakfast so I can clean up?”
Mia got up and obediently walked over to the island and sat down.
“Brian, would you like to go and work on this now?” Ted asked.
“Mom?” Brian asked.
“It’s okay. We’ll wait for our shopping trip until you and Daddy get your work done. Varden and I’ll hang around here with Uncle Cid.”
Brian gathered his crayons and piled his pictures neatly before he slid from the chair. He grabbed the stack and followed Ted to the back door.
Mia walked over, picked up Varden, and sniffed his butt. “Hey, I can’t call you stink pants today.” She hugged him and pulled his highchair over so he wouldn’t be sitting by himself. “Here you go. Uncle Cid’s got something on his mind. Let’s see if we can listen quietly while he talks.”
Cid turned around surprised. “How’d you know?
“It’s eleven and you saved me breakfast. I know the rules: kitchen closes at nine, no excuses.”
Cid pulled out the warmed plate from the oven and set it in front of her.
“Well, you did have a bit of an adventure last night,” Cid said.
“So did you. But you don’t remember it, or do you?” Mia asked.
“Nothing. What I wanted to talk to you about was, you were in my house the day Ted was locked in the locker. I remember coming home, and Candy being there.”
“I hate her,” Mia said. “I’ve never hated anyone more at first glance. That’s not right, I never did see her. But I heard her and hated her enough to shred her clothes.”
“I remember we had a big fight that day. Candy was supposed to stay at home and watch me, but she took off.”
“She went to the college party.”
“It was the lowest day of my life. She made me feel like an ugly monster and so unloved. I couldn’t even look at myself for months after that. I never felt so verbally abused and alone.”
Mia looked at the concern on his face. “The first time, Murphy and I stayed the night. The second day, we waited until she left and stole your mother’s car.”
“Which time was better for me?” Cid asked.
“The first time. You were with us when she was home. Later, Murphy and I stayed with you.”
“Um, can you tell me about when you and Murphy were there?”
Mia did her best to give Cid a short outline of the night watching television with Murphy acting as a chaperone.
“I would like to replace the memory I have of that day with this one. Is it possible?”
Mia got up. “It’s possible. But are you sure you want this? Sometimes the truth is better; it forms the man,” she said.
“This truth stops the man,” Cid said.
Mia nodded, respecting Cid’s need to not say anything further. “There is a technique I’ve seen Angelo do. When he came upon a child traumatized by the paranormal, he would extract the bad memory, give it to a sensitive - in this case me - and give the child a new one. I’ll be destroying the memory because I don’t have a willing sensitive handy. Are you sure you want this?”
“I don’t want you to pity me after you see the real memory,” Cid worried.
“I could never do that. You’re my hero,” Mia said.
“Hero!” Varden chirped.
“Whoa, there’s a double meaning to that one. Okay, Varden, you keep a lookout. If someone comes, tell Mommy.”
“Hero!”
“He understands. He’s messing with us,” Mia said. “Come sit down.”
Cid followed her back to the table and sat down. Mia pulled her chair up almost into his lap. She put a hand on either side of his face. “First, I have to travel your mind house and find the memory. I know the time, which helps. After that, I’m going to substitute it. If I’ve done this right, you’ll know the difference, but as time goes by, you’ll accept that it’s the first time we met.”
“Yes. I understand,” Cid said.
Mia pulled his forehead down to hers and entered his mind.
Cid’s mind was pretty much as Mia expected. Everything was clean and orderly. There were signs on the doors with perfect calligraphy letters labeling the contents of the rooms. Mia looked until she found a door labeled Cid Memories. Mia walked into the room and found an antique library card catalog that encircled the room and towered far above her into what looked to be the night sky. She climbed the massive, towering structure by pulling drawers out a little bit to use as hand- and footholds. She didn’t fear falling. She knew that anything Cid constructed was sturdy and safe.
Mia found the start of the childhood memories and climbed around until she found the drawer she was looking for. She balanced there by pulling out Childhood Recipes and perched on the drawer. Mia thumbed through the events and lifted out the card. She read the carefully typed description and frowned. How could an older sister behave this way? There was nothing there that would stop Mia from hating Candy Garrett. She took the card and replaced it with the memory Cid wanted.
Mia climbed down, shutting each open drawer carefully. When she had reached the parquet floor, she tossed the card in the air and ignited it with her mind. The card burst into flames. She watched as it became ashes to be carried away in the swirling breezes of forgiveness and hope.
Mia exited his mind house and pulled her
