“She does me.”
“Really?”
“Lectures me on how to behave.”
“Is she changing you or offering you better choices to make? I think she’s giving you her perspective. She’s not always right, but her heart is in the right place.”
“Uncle Burt, what is this big secret the adults are so worried about?”
“Something happened that we don’t understand totally yet. When we figure it out, I’ll tell you all about it, but you can’t tell your friends at Big Bear Bounce.”
“There’s a lot of things I can’t tell them,” Brian complained.
“When you grow up a bit more, I think you’ll see the wisdom of why some of the things that go on with PEEPs, and at your home, would bother and scare the small children and maybe their parents too.”
“You’re so smart, Uncle Burt.”
“Why thank you, Brian. That coming from you is very special.”
Mia came back from the bathroom and took a moment to look out at the storm from the big windows before coming back and sitting down. She sat in the spot she had vacated, which surprised Burt. He expected her to distance herself by siting on the other end of the couch or maybe in a chair. He handed her the cup of hot chocolate. She sipped it and sighed.
“I’m sorry guys for being such a fraidy cat.”
“Uncle Burt explained it to me, Mom.”
“He’s good at understanding situations. He listens better than anyone I know.”
“Uncle Mike says you too are at odds. What does that mean?” Brian asked.
“We’re both stubborn,” Burt said. “I think I’m right. Your mom knows she’s right, and we fight. But there never is any malice in what we do.”
“What’s malice?”
“Malice is being deliberately mean. Cid will also tell you it’s about the desire to do evil. In this case, your mother and I want the best for each other and the situation we are arguing about.”
“Malice, I’m going to remember that word. Mom, I’m getting sleepy.”
“The storm’s not letting up. Would you mind taking a nap here? You can sleep on the couch…”
“Or in my big bed,” Burt said. “Let me show you where it is, and maybe you should use the toilet before you lay down.”
“Okay,” Brian said. “Mom, is it alright if Uncle Burt tucks me in?”
“Yes, of course,” she said.
Mia watched the two leave. She remembered the folder and got up to get it. A flash of lightning and an immediate thunder clap froze her, and she looked around expecting to see a demon. There was nothing in the room but memories.
Burt walked out of the master suite, leaving the door open a crack. “He fell asleep before I got his shoes off. He is such a beautiful boy.”
“Thank you, he’s a challenge but a good one. I worry that being a smart child is going to make him mean. Smart boys usually have an edge to them from being bullied as children. I fight a war with myself with each parenting decision I make. Ted’s got a better grasp on it, maybe because he had parents who cared.”
“It’s quite a responsibility,” Burt said. “What’s in the folder?”
“Oh this? Can we sit down? I may have the wrong one. I’ll explain as I look through it.”
“Sure.”
Mia plopped down in the middle of the couch and patted the seat next to her.
“Maybe you could scoot over. I don’t think Ted would like us sitting that close.”
“Why? Oh, damn. I’m sorry. This is why I get into trouble. Murph pointed some things out to me while we were in the past.”
“How are you dealing with all of that?”
“Honestly, not well. I keep slipping into memories that overwhelm me.”
“Me too,” Burt admitted.
“Does the physical stuff come with the memories?”
“I don’t understand?”
“When I got here, I had a vision of my compulsive behavior with salt rings. I felt the panic. When the storm started, I was looking for demons, and instead of just being on guard, I was terrified. Thank God you were here. I felt so safe. I’m sorry if I was too, um, intrusive.”
“It felt good to be able to protect you for once,” Burt said. “Normally, you’re so capable it’s emasculating.”
“One of the many talents I have, emasculating loved ones. Back to the memories. Brian and I were in an old schoolmate’s art shop before we came here. Brian was trying out pencils and colors, so Acalan asked, no, ordered, me to sit for him. He’s an award-winning artist and used to fight the Howell twins on my behalf. I think he just liked fighting. Anyway, I thought what the hell and sat down. The sketch didn’t take but a few minutes, and when I saw it, I was gobsmacked. He not only captured me but my wings too. I was in a panic and offered to buy the sketch, which insulted him. All I could think about was not letting anyone else see me with wings.”
“Did you show him your wings?”
“No. I asked him about the wings, and he said something about his grandmother liking angels. I got the impression he didn’t know why he did it himself.”
“Perhaps he was letting the muse take him,” Burt offered.
“Anyway, I couldn’t convince him to sell me the sketch. He said he was going to use it for a painting, and then I could have it. He also mentioned he used to draw pictures of me in school.”
“Ah, a suitor.”
“He’s gay. I think I was just a subject. Anyway, I started to remember the valentines we got in school. I got so few because of being a freak. Mostly they were pity ones or mean ones. But every year we were together in grade school, Acalan
