“Stop the worry Hailey, it’s only a mere trip.” Clair rolled her eyes. Dressed in mickey mouse T shirt and a flower patterned pyjamas slacks, She was seated on the chair in front of her vanity, painting her toe nails with nail varnish with the leg she was currently painting on her chair.
Clair was on the phone with her best friend and foster sister Hailey Fisher. Clair met Hailey in the house of Mr Patrick Fisher. Clair has never known her biological parents and has spent her entire live moving from one foster home to the other. Most of the earliest foster homes she was in was not only crowded but also their foster parents didn’t care as much for them as they cared for the money the state payed them to take care of the kids. Most days, the kids were only served a measly amount of food twice a day, there were even days when they went without food. Clair ran away more than twice from these homes but there weren’t that many places a seven year old could run to so she was caught each time and transferred to another foster home. This countinued until she was brought to the beautiful home of Mr and Mrs Patrick Fisher. That was where she met Hailey, she had also just been adopted by them. At first, Clair thought that the Fisher’s were also like her previous foster parents, so she withdrew to herself. That was when Hailey came to her and spoke to her. Young Hailey told Clair that she was also transferred there a few weeks before she came. She said that the Fisher’s were the kindest people she knew and treated her as their own child. She promised that she’d be with her all through the years till they grew old because they were now sisters. Clair took steps to warm up to her new foster parents and found out they were everything Hailey spoke about and so much more. She and Hailey bonded and became like sisters since then. Hailey and Clair grew up together and when the time was right went to college. Clair to study mass communication and journalism and Hailey international relations. It was in this kind of time, while they were away that they got the heartbreaking news that Fisher House burnt down to the ground with their foster parents trapped in it. Hailey had it way worse than Clair and Clair really thought she had lost the only remaining family she had along with her foster parents, but after long weeks of intense depression and puffy eyes, they both decided to put the saddening event behind them and carry on with their lives. Although there still exist days when they still had nightmares about it.
Since Clair contacted Hailey about two days ago, the two didn’t seem to go out of topics to discuss. And any little time they could spare, they did talk, about anything and everything. From serious interactions, to emotional recalls, to useless arguments to even the famous chitty chatty girly gossips. At the moment, Hailey was telling Clair that her travel didn’t sit well with her. The phone was on the table and Hailey’s voice sounded clearly over the loud speaker.
“I don’t know Clair, I’ve just got this strong feeling that something bad is going to happen. I don’t know why I’m feeling this way neither do I understand where the hunch is even coming from, but I do know what I’m saying Clair” Hailey insisted.
“Hailey, I think you just need to calm down and take a deep breath ok? You’re overreacting.”
“I’m not mad dumbass. Stop insinuating that I’ve lost it.”
“Far be it from me to suggest such a thing. You’re the most sane person I know… but are you a psychic now? I thought we told each other everything.” Clair added, not hiding her sarcasm.
“Like I said silly, it’s a hunch. But a very strong one.”
“I know. It’s just that this is like a golden opportunity for me, one that I wouldn’t pass up for anything.”
“I understand baby. I know how much you’re looking forward to this meeting, I do. But I can’t have this kind of feeling and not inform you about it. It’s left to you to decide what you want to do with it. For all we know, it could just be me being jealous ‘cos you’re having all the fun.” Hailey teased making funny noises at the back of her throat.
Clair laughed out loud. “Come on girl, you and I know you don’t have a single jealous bone in that skinny body of yours.” Clair teased back.
“I think if you want to insult me, just insult me directly. What’s with hiding snide lines in compliments. Don’t tell me the public is wrong with their judgement about you.”
This only made Clair laugh more. “There’s no insult here honey. Just plain truth. You really need to work on adding more flesh. You look like the slightest wind could blow you away and you know I don’t want to lose you.”
“Now you’re point blankly insulting me. You’ve not even seen me in over two years and your concluding I’m skinny as a rail?”
“Nope, you said you are skinny as a rail. I only said you are skinny. By the way, have you forgotten that we follow each other on instagram. I see the pictures you post. But I have to confess, Hay. Even I have to confess, that slim body of yours is banging.”
“Insult me One minute. Offer me compliments in the next. Which way Clair? Maintain a lane.” Hailey said, letting out an exasperated ‘ughhh’.
“It’s a rollercoaster of emotions with me and you my sweet sister knows that. So try to catch up.” Clair was grinning widely even though she was certain Hailey couldn’t see her.
“Thank you. I’ll pass. Aren’t you supposed to be at work today? I thought you said you had a conference?”
“Yeah, I just submitted my articles. The conference is mainly a meeting for the bosses to decide if they’re going to increase or reduce our salaries or just sack us. They are planning to cut some people off and this conference might just be a test.”
The long awaited conference at Clair’s office was today and it was a management only conference. So all the normal workers had a day off, provided they had rounded up their projects and submitted them. Ben told Clair she could attend but she used the excuse of packing for her travel to avoid attending.
“Clair, you’re horrible.”
“That’s why you love me baby.”
“Hmmm. I guess you’re all packed for tomorrow? Big day eh?”
“You bet. I woke up early this morning and arranged everything. I don’t want to be caught in a situation where I find out that I forgot something important.”
“Uh-huh. I’ve got to go Clair. My boss just came in. Talk to you later.”
“Ok. Bye. Say hi to him for me.”
“Like hell I would.” Hailey laughed and ended the call.
Hailey worked at a big tourist office in Hawaii. Clair knew well enough that Hailey’s boss couldn’t be more different than hers if he tried. He handles his employees strictly and doesn’t allow them much free time. According to Hailey, the only reason why she was still there was because the pay was pretty impressive.
We both deserve to be our own bosses, making money for ourselves and not money mongering fellas feeding us peanuts and not appreciating our efforts. Hailey ruminated.
It was Clair’s long dream to buy her own house and start blogging from home. She would publish news, tabloid, entertainment on it. It would be one of the biggest news and entertainment blogs in the world. That way, Clair can have a lot of time to herself to explore.
Not that the work she did presently didn’t give her time or she didn’t love it, it did and she did. She could always talk Ben into giving her some free time. But the tune of the dance changes when men like Mang appeared in the picture. They always feel like they own every second of your living and it should be spent in servitude to them. The only reason why she wasn’t getting any angry calls from him today was because she had gone through the pain of blocking his number although she was sure that her email must be full by now.
Clair finished applying the nail varnish on the last pinkie toe, then got up from the chair. She yawned and stretched. Then she went to the kitchen and busied herself with fixing lunch while the paint on her digit’s nails dried. She warmed up a leftover pasta from the night before in her microwave and added some chicken drumsticks, then poured herself a glass of cranberry juice.
When she was done eating, she went to her little study room to check her mails. There were at least a dozen from Mang, more from a few managers, one from even the Vicar of the cathedral downtown. But none from Siltek INC, Clair supposed that there was nothing more to discuss with her but somehow she yearned for even a single line from them.
No, not them. From him especially. Him, the blue-eyed mystery. Oh come off it Clair.
Clair couldn’t understand why she felt the way she did towards someone she had never seen her whole life. But she didn’t dwell too much on the thought. She had planned earlier today to visit the burial place, the place where the bodies of her foster parents were laid to rest. She’s been planning to visit them for a long time and now couldn’t put it off much longer.
She changed into sweat pants and a hoodie and although there was no sun outside, she wore her sun shades. She quickly packed her hair at the back of her head and used her hood to cover it. She wore her sneakers, grabbed her car keys and zoomed out her house.
The drive to the cemetery was heavy with gloom and the air thick. She turned the radio on and played Micheal Jackson’s Heal the world.
Heal the world, make it a better place
For you and for me and the entire human race
There are people dying, if you care enough for the living
Make a better place for you and for me…
Clair stopped the car at a florist’s shop to get a flower for the graves.
“Hello, Clair. Going to see your parents again?” The over familiar attendant said with a wide grin.
Clair found nothing funny about going to mourn the dead and therefore did not return the smile. But she answered with a nod. “Yes Jean. Please arrange for me the kind of bouquet you’d take to your parents grave if they died in a fire accident. And please can you make it quick. I don’t have much time to waste.”
This wiped the stupid grin off Jean’s face at least. He hurried down the narrow lane between the shelves where some flowers were kept. Within a few minutes, he came back with two flower arrangements. One of the flowers was mainly roses, daisies and a lilac wide petal flower Clair did not recognize. The other was majorly tulips, lilies and some carnation stalks.
Clair payed the man and left the shop.
Eight minutes later, Clair arrived the cemetery. The place was very quiet, only the chirping of birds in the tree branches overhead could be heard. Clair made her way to her parents burial place. The engraving on the tomb for her dad read:
Here lies Patrick George Fisher
1999-2061
He was a father, husband and dear friend
He was a kind and diligent man.
And On her mom’s, it read:
Here lies Patrick Anna Fisher
2004-2061
She was a mother, wife and sister.
She was caregiver and a virtuous woman.
Just reading the words on the stone made Clair’s eyes water. It reminded them of when they were alive. The words on the stone did not do them an iota of justice.
Why do good people have to die? Why can’t they live forever?
This only made more tears flow down her cheeks. She brought out her flannel, used it to wipe her face and blow her nose. She moved forward and dropped the flowers on their respective graves.
“I’ve been saving up some money to buy my own place you know,” she stared. “I’m going to get it when the money is complete and then I’ll start my own blog. When I’ve made enough money from it, I promise I’ll build a well structured foster home in memory of you. Both of you. You just wait and see, I’ll achieve it.” She paused and sniffed.
“I got the opportunity to go for an interview I requested for. This is a huge deal for me because I’m the only one on this and once I can write a groundbreaking story about whatever I find, it will not only bring me money but also bigger contracts because they’ll see me as capable. I’ll be traveling to Alaska tomorrow for the meeting. I’ll come to see you when I return and tell you how it went. Bye bye for now.” She paused again sniffing hard. “Rest well. I love you both. Hailey misses and loves you both too.”
She turned and walked to where she parked. When she got to it, she entered the car and went back home. She didn’t even bother turning on the music to lighten the mood in the car as she drove to her house. She didn’t feel like it.
When she got home, the sun was already starting to set. She changed into her pyjamas. And just like she always does when she was feeling down, she turned to food, ocean cream and crappy films. Clair headed to the kitchen and grabbed a cup of greek yogurt from her fridge, she went into her parlor and turned on the flat screen android Tv. She searched her media folder until she found a movie she liked.
Because she can’t enjoy a movie without her popcorn, she went back to the kitchen to pop herself some. With a big bowl full of popcorn, a big bottle of coke, one loaf of bread, a jar of peanut butter, ice cream and her greek yogurt in hand, she settled down on the couch to enjoy her movie. Sorrounded by food as she was, she found her mood considerably lighter and before long she was already laughing at the funny scenes she watched.
After four eye straining hours of looking at her screen, eating and laughing, she passed out on the couch, a happy girl.