Anna looked over at Tim. I know it’s a link to your mom, but look at it, Tim. Nevets seems very attached to it. We can’t take it. Then we really would be stealing from them.
Tim nodded in response. I need to read it, though. He said I need to listen to Eimaj Relle. Eimaj didn’t have a last name in my mom’s books. Whoever that is must be who my mom was writing that letter too.
“Nevets, can I read this?”
He nodded. As Tim went to find a quiet place to read, he could hear Yma still wondering why Goldie couldn’t talk and Anna explaining that she didn’t know. After finding a couch to sit on, he settled down and looked at the journal in his hands. On closer inspection, it wasn’t even a whole journal, just the front cover and a few pages. The confrontation with Aaron had happened so close to the room the books and journals were in that it just dawned on Tim that they probably hadn’t survived intact. In his hands was proof of that. Tim tried to remember his mom when he was five years old. Nothing stood out. From the years the books were published, he knew that that was around the time his mother had decided to write his bedtime stories down. He had vague memories of his mom typing for hours on end as he played with his army men or his little toy cars on the floor nearby. He opened the cover to the first page and was immediately thrust into the past as images of himself as a child started appearing in his mind.
“More time passed; another journal filled. As I stare at the blank pages in front of me, I can only wonder what the pages of this journal will show when they are filled. It’s only fitting that this first entry be today. This wonderful, wonderfully sad, day. It was wonderful as we celebrated yet another year of my darling boy. Tim has reached his fifth year. He’s so bright, such a joy, and as he grows older, I know he’ll be a wonderful man. I can picture him clearly grown, since I know he’ll look exactly like my love. He’s Mit in miniature and will only grow to look more like him as the years pass. Though he’ll be known, not as Prince or King Mit, but Tim Tollins. In a way, I think it will help him, being raised not knowing he’s royalty.
I say today is also sad for the same reason. My baby is in his fifth year. Only seven more years until I must let go of my son, my baby. I know he and Anna are the future of our world. I know probably more than anyone how they will be able to change the future of Snillotia. I know what I haven’t even shared with Mit, what I haven’t decided if I will share, even with Tim. I’ve told him the stories and I will keep telling him as long as he’ll listen. He loves it each night when we sit on his bed and cuddle and I tell him story after story of my world. I know he doesn’t realize everything is real. But when the time comes, I can only hope he remembers them.”
Most of the entry after that was too smudged to read. He flipped to the last page and found legible writing again.
“After what I discovered and finding Eimaj again, and listening to her confirm my suspicions, it makes it even harder to celebrate Tim turning older. The stories will help him find Eimaj. Eimaj Relle has the answers and Tim must find her. He must listen to her. She is-”
The entry cut off before ending. Tim had to take a minute to absorb not only what his mother was saying in the entry, but from seeing her thoughts in his head, so clearly. The girl who appeared in his mind as his mother wrote of Eimaj looked very familiar to him, but he couldn’t remember why. He re-read the entry until he felt he had it memorized, then stood up and rejoined the others. “Nevets, thank you for sharing this with me. I know it’s important to you.”
Tim handed the journal pages back to the boy. Nevets was nodding. “Nevets likes to see Nelle hugging Tim Tollins,” he said, hugging the pages to his chest.
Tim gave the boy a quick hug. “I like that part too, buddy.”
Tim looked up to see Anna watching them. She was sitting on the floor with the smallest child on her lap and Yma was chatting away. How can we just leave them here, alone?
Tim frowned. He looked around until he spotted Derf, who was off by himself in the kitchen. As he walked over to him, he determined how to best bring up this subject with the boy who seemed to be in charge. “Hi, Derf, can we talk for a minute?”
The boy looked up from what he was doing and looked at Tim, warily. “I guess so.”
“Look, from what I can tell, you’re the one taking care of everyone, am I right?”
Derf immediately became defensive. “I don’t need help from you. We’re fine.”
“Calm down! I just want to make sure you guys are safe before we leave. You have enough food? Has anyone tried to take this spot from you?”
“I said we don’t need your help!”
Derf’s voice raised high enough for the others to become interested in their conversation. Anna immediately tried to distract the other children, but Yma ignored her and came over to join Derf and Tim in the kitchen. “Derf, be nice!”
Derf scowled at his sister and looked back at Tim. “We’re fine. This kitchen had a lot of food when we found it.
