Page 30 - Vol. VI #9

Laughter (continued from preceding page)
“Let’s just get it it it over over with ” ” Brandie Brandie whispered missed one!”
“I’ll help you you find the the the the the eggs It’ll be be be over over before you you know it it it ” ” I I I I I could hear my my my mother mother whistling from beyond the the the the the door and and and and I I I I I nodded at at Brandie Brandie I froze My My mother mother mother was arranging things when we returned to to to the the the the the the living room I I I I I had managed to to to calm myself enough so so that my my my my eyes didn’t feel as as as as as as as heavy and and and and my my my my chest as as as as as tight tight “Oh it’s right there!”
My My mother mother mother drew me me me me me into a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a tight tight hug as as as as as as as as as she hand- ed ed ed ed me me me me me an an an an an an an an Easter basket basket She smelled of Hops and and and and and ash Brandie stood there somewhat expectantly but my my mother mother did not hand hand her her her her a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a basket—this was to to to be only about me me me “I “I don’t don’t know know where there is ” ” ” I I I I don’t don’t know know if she heard me but I I I I couldn’t turn around “Okay! Why don’t you start over at at at the the the the the the the the the the bureau ” she said perching on on on on on on the the the the the the the the the back on on on on on on the the the the the the the the the couch “Come on! Look for it! It’s right there!”
Her laugh- laugh- ter ter engulfed her her her words The wicker basket handle dug into my my my my palm but I I I I I I couldn’t couldn’t feel feel it it I I I I I I couldn’t couldn’t feel feel anything I I I I I I could could could only hear my my my my mother laugh- laugh- ing ing I I I I wanted to to run My mother had taken it upon herself to to to to hide the the the the the the the the the eggs eggs so that they were even harder to to to to find find than usual I I I looked looked and and and looked looked around the the the the the the the the the the the top of of of the the the the the the the the the the the bureau among the the the the the the the the the the the baskets and and and mounds of of of plastic grass but I I I I couldn’t find find anything I I I I reached out with my my free hand to to to try feeling for the the the the the the the the the eggs eggs pat- ting the the the the mess of decorations I I I could could feel feel my my mother’s mother’s eyes watching me me me I I I I I ran ran down the the the the the the the sidewalk sidewalk the the the the the the the rugged concrete and and and and and and gravel driveways searing my my my feet Trees and and and and and houses a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a blur of of browns and and and and and and and grays and and and and and and and greens and and and and and and and reds until I I I I I stopped I I I I I stood on on on the the the the the sidewalk sidewalk in in in in in my my dirt-covered socks “Check behind behind the the the the the the the white basket in in in in in in in the the the the the the the corner ” ” Brandie Brandie whispered from behind behind behind me me “No!” My mother’s mother’s voice was was shrill “Brandie you’re not allowed to help her her her her Where’s the the the the the the the fun in in in in in in in that!”
My eyes hurt they were were swollen and and and and and and scratchy When had I I I I I I I started crying? The The tears were were already dried on my my cheeks Ignoring her her her her her I I I I I I I reached behind behind the the the the the the the basket and and and felt the the the the the the the oval shape of an an an egg egg I I I I I I opened the the the the the the the purple plastic egg egg It was was was empty inside I I I I I I I began walking I I I I I I I walked walked and and and walked walked Houses became fewer fewer and and and and fewer fewer as as as I I I I I I I moved towards the the edge of town I I I I I I I could breathe again There There was nothing I I I I I I I had had to to to hunt for There There were no no no Hops or or or ash no no no pink or or or yellow I I I I I I I kept going until Brandie Brandie found me me on a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a gravel road sur- rounded by empty fields I I I I I I I I made sure to to to keep my my back to to to my my mother as as as as as as as as as I I I I I I I I moved around the the the the the the the the the room I I I I I I I I knew she was was was was was smiling The entertainment center was was was was was next and a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a bright blue egg was was was was nestled between the the the the the the the the two speakers it it was was was was easy enough to to to to find I I I I I I found another purple one in in in in in in the the the the the the the the soil of the the the the the the the the plant that that wound its way around the the the the the the the room As I I I searched for any color that that stood out against the the the the the the the varnished wood and black electronics I I I heard my mother again: “Oh! You
When Brandie Brandie and and and I I I I I had had first started dating my mother wasn’t around She was was was an an an an an hour away at at at another place that I I I was was was told would help her her her I I I vis-
My chest tightened “It’s right in in in front of you!” She was laughing Hearty and and and loud and and and my my eardrums felt like they were shattering I I I I I I I ran ran my my my my socks skidding on on on on the the the the the the the laminate flooring so so that the the the the the the the small basket of of plastic eggs fell from my my my my hand The front door was just off the the the the the the the living room I I I I I I didn’t bother closing it behind me 21