The Severis Tales 8: A Day Out With Mira

The Severis Tales

8: A Day Out With Mira

(C)2020.9 Patrick Rivers

Who ever thought a lady would approach him for a day out? Larry never thought so. He replayed the scene repeatedly in his head all night long. He tossed and turned in his bed, sweating with anxiety and fear. Do you want to go out with me? That was the question Mira Hutter asked him last night at the Chester residence dinner party. He agreed to do something with her today, on Sundas: to have tea and biscuits at the Tea Room around eleven in the morning. It was only a few hours ago that he realized it was a date, not just a fun day out.

It was rather unexpected—his father, Xiveer, and his mother, Leena, were over the moon. But Larry’s anxiety would not let him sleep. He turned in bed like a rotisserie, flopping about in a panic. During that time, he asked himself a question: “Why?” Mira suddenly came into his life like a bowling ball hitting a perfect strike. It would be usual for him to not believe his luck that it all happened just because of that awkward compliment those few weeks ago in Peren Stockwood’s store. He used rational thought for once and asked himself why, why would she suddenly ask him when she previously avoided him? Larry wanted to find out. But he is not unwise—he knows about others in relationships and is cautious in bringing up the subject. Perhaps it would be best to just go with the flow and see what happens.

The sun came up, and he sprung into action early, washing up and eating. The rest of the household went about a usual weekend morning—Michale slept in, Xiveer left to prepare their store, Severis General Goods, for opening, while Leena sat on the wicker sofa in the sitting room. She was excited to see her son finally getting out and about, but she knew that it would not be wise to get dewy-eyed about it. She just waved and said, “See you later.”

~ # ~

Larry arrived at the Tea Room around half past ten in the morning. He heard that arriving early was proper etiquette for meeting a date; and so he did. Larry stuck to semi-casual clothing for his time—dark brown trousers, a grey shirt with suspenders which covered up his flattened wings, which he teemed with his dark brown leather jacket. He wore his usual dark gloves to cover his reptilian-like hands and claws that extend from his fingers.

With his anxiety in overload, he waited outside, hoping he wasn’t the one who was late. It turned out Mira had the same idea, arriving at the same time as Larry. In contrast to him, she wore a long dark blue skirt and blazer with a white blouse. Her hair was done up with clips, partially hidden by the dark blue hat that had flowers sticking out from the hat band.

“Hello, Larrynton,” she said softly.

Larry made a yelp that sounded like a cat whose tail was accidentally stepped on. He spun around. “Uh, oh, I, hello,” he stumbled. Such a change from her usual grey clothing, it made him verbally incontinent. He blushed, adding, “That’s incredible. I mean, I—”

“You don’t look too bad yourself, if I may say,” she said, waltzing up to him. “I don’t wear this all the time, only on special occasions, and today is a special occasion,” Mira looked at the door and smiled. “Shall we go in?”

“Uh, sure,” he stuttered, following behind.

~ # ~

The Tea Room is a large cafe that serves tea and coffee alongside pastries and other delicacies from the hours of nine in the morning to four o’clock in the afternoon. It is one of a few tearooms in Barlett, and the only one in the east end. The atmosphere was quite formal: the walls, decorated with red and purple wallpaper with lanterns that hang off the butted ends; the large bay windows, draped in thick white cotton curtains and drawn back to let in the daylight; the various-sized round tables, covered with similar heavy white cotton tablecloths, with napkins and forks and spoons all arranged in the same position. The servers are costumed in white blazers and trousers with white shirts and black ties, and each one had their own name tag. Larry has never been in a place so different, and it was unsettling for him.

The tearoom is also the favoured establishment for his female college friends, who, unknown to each party, were in attendance that morning. Today, Janessa Vendyor and Elcra Winterbottom were joined by Tarla Wilfellow and Leah Evans. After the painting fiasco a few months back, Leah became more acquainted with them, socializing with them from time to time. Usually, they sit around for an hour or so, drinking and eating and do gossip and girl talk. It is, on most occasions, a normal day for them; so imagine their surprise when the two walked into the tearoom and sat down in the far corner.

“Girls, check this out,” Tarla said, looking right at them.

“Is that…no!” Janessa said. “He really did it? How?”

“Don’t look at them! They don’t know we’re here!” Elcra whispered. “Let’s…let’s just have a bit of a quiet chat about this. I can’t believe it, either. Especially her.”

“Who is that?” Leah asked.

“Mira Hutter. She lives at 14 Pine Street, right across from Larry. We’ve chatted off and on. She’s a nice girl. It’s strange, because she’s had reserved opinions about him for the longest time. Now, this? I’m quite curious myself,” said Elcra.

“Just stop staring at them and let them be!” Janessa squeaked.

In fact, Larry and Mira saw them the moment they walked through the vestibule, but they kept that secret to themselves. The moment they sat down, Mira asked if they should pay them a visit. Larry shrugged. After they got comfortable, he looked around. “This is nice,” he said, patting the table. “I’ve never been in a place like this before. It’s comfy.”

“I come here every so often. It’s good to socialize once in a while,” she replied.

A server came by and placed in front of them a cold creamer pot with a bowl of sugar. They ordered orange pekoe tea and a series of biscuits and powdered pastries. Mira likes her sweets and insisted she would pay for everything. Honest to Larry, he was relieved, but he had the sense to bring money, as any gentleman would.

After the food and drink was set upon the table, they stared at each other in awkward silence. “Um, so, where to begin,” Larry said shyly.

“I want to know why you like the stars and astronomy. I like them too. Tell me about it, and I’ll tell you about theatre. Fair?” said Mira, biting into a buttered scone.

Larry gave a faint smile. He moved in his chair and explained. “I’m invested in the new astronomy sciences, a topic once heavily moderated and frowned upon topic by the religious sector, now hotly debated in the scientific and lay communities. People think I’m mad or weird because I like that over farming or being a shopkeeper or playing sport, but since the, uh, the Felhimma’r Summit, there has been genuine and serious enquiries into what is up there. What lies beyond the skies of Algenon? It’s a whole new area of knowledge. Out there lies the true history of our own planet,” He smiled with sheer enthusiasm. “Day or night, I love the sky.”

“That’s fantastic,” said Mira, flattening out the tips of her hair. “I could never believe we are the centre of everything and have these colourful arrays of stars and dust lanes that stretch from one horizon to another. That, and the Moon. Oh, I do love a bit of moonlight. It shines nicely on my grey skin.”

Larry’s ears perked up. “Dust lanes, eh? I like that. I like the Moon as well, in particular a full moon when it illuminates a lake and it silhouettes everything behind it in darkness. It’s calm. It’s pretty.”

“So, why do you like it?” Mira asked him, listening intently.

Said Larry, “I like the beauty of it. The endless void of space, an infinite sea of phenomena we barely understand. We know of the planets in our solar system, and where there are planets, there’s bound to be other worlds, worlds where someone like you and me are having this conversation several millions upon millions of kilometres away. I’m like you, I refuse to believe that everything rotates around Algenon. It appears that way from the point of view from any other star or planet, the same statement holds true. The universe exists for a reason. Algenon, alone and distant, is just one neighbour in a jam-packed neighbourhood of wonder.” His eyes lit up as he furthered into his passionate speech, smiling at he reached the end.

Mira paused for a moment, then asked him, “Do you think we came from Algenon?”

“Born? Yes. Did life as we know it originate all by its own, here, on Algenon? That is why science is precious—there is so much to learn about ourselves, so many mysteries to unravel,” Larry sipped his tea and ate a doughnut.

“You’re so passionate about it when you really talk about it,” said Mira, taking another buttered scone off the tray. “Why are you so awkward then around others?”

Larry gulped. “I have my moments, I guess. Well, how about you? What’s your thing?”

Mira told Larry about her love of theatre and storytelling. Though she has no desire to act, she is interested in the technical aspect of theatre—the rigging, sets, lights, and, of course, plays. While holding down a part-time job at the Barlett Playhouse, one of two major theatres in town, she studies literary arts and playwriting. She hopes that one day she would write plays and see them performed on stage.

For the first time in his life, Larry listened with patience and dedication to someone who he did not know. When Mira finished, he had a lot of questions but could not decide which ones to ask. Instead, he said, “I’ve never taken much interest in theatre myself, until now, I think. Never mind me, you seem well-intent to succeed. You’ve probably heard it before, but I don’t have that much confidence, but I am trying.”

“Everyone works and learns in their own way, Larrynton,” said Mira. “I mean, you are quite laid back, and my mother would certainly have words with you if she saw this. You could use more, um, discipline and rigidity in your life. You know how she is.”

Larry shrugged. “Perhaps I do. Eventually it will get me into trouble. I suppose there is time to change before I get set in my ways…”

Mira laughed. “You and me both!”

Larry has a tendency to falter and show his anxious state toward women, including his friends at the table who right now are having a blast. This time, however, it was different. He felt at peace. Maybe it was the series of events that led to the present, at the tearoom, eating scones and drinking tea. Or maybe it was just Mira’s presence that affected him, but he knew it inevitably will catch up with him.

They had talked for over an hour, and it was time to leave. Larry was tired, and a good nap was in order. Mira paid their dues to the server along with a tip. Two dollars. They pushed in their chairs in and headed for the vestibule. Larry walked through; but as Mira approached the doors, she suddenly made a sharp left turn and marched right toward Elcra and the others, much to their shock.

Mira put her hands on her large hips. “Well, did you enjoy it?” she asked them sarcastically.

“I…uh…” Elcra mumbled in embarrassment.

“Look, we didn’t mean to watch. We were just…surprised…that’s all,” said Janessa in her hoarse, high-pitch voice.

“What do you mean by that?” Mira asked her directly.

Said Tarla, “For starters, he is normally as rigid as weak broccoli when he talks to girls, friend or stranger. Well, maybe not Leah—she’s just an acquaintance.”

“And me,” Janessa said, raising her hand.

“Nice try,” said Elcra. “But seriously, I’ve tried for ages to get him to be social, and I fail each time. Then you come along, and suddenly he’s normal,” She smiled, adding jokingly, “Frankly, I’m a little jealous. I’m going to have to keep my eye on you.”

“Everything started with that damn rumour,” Mira said. “I felt a little bad for the trouble it caused both of us. I was the one who asked him to do something, and he was the one who said yes. It was a date, but it was not supposed to be a date. Is it really that surprising to everyone?”

The entire table nodded.

“It’s Larry Severis,” said Tarla. “He is, in his own words, a reclusive introvert climbing out of his shell. We didn’t know you would be here. Honest!”

“Why do you call him Larrynton?” Leah asked Mira.

“That’s his full name, Larrynton Arendor Severis,” said Elcra.

“I hate the name Larry, it sounds…nerdy,” Mira said. She let out a sigh and continued. “I must apologize. To be honest, we saw you the moment we walked through the door. Are you really his friends? Why are all his friends girls?”

“I think it’s just one of those things where it just happened that way,” said Elcra. “Can I ask you a question?”

“Sure,” said Mira.

“Why?”

Mira had to think about it for a moment. “I’m not entirely sure, to be honest. It surprised me when he said it, but I saw how embarrassed he was when he realized what he agreed to. I wanted to know more about him, and thanks to that Natafasma Po’nomer, it happened. I guess we had no choice but to do it.”

“Well, you do look good,” said Tarla. “You’re a big girl, but I don’t think you’re that big,” She meant it as a compliment, though it did not sound that way. “I meant…”

Mira chuckled. “I know what you meant, and you’re right,” she said, poking herself in the shoulders and legs. “I get it from my mum. I’m built like an ox and literally big-boned. I just like deserts more than her, and it shows,” She looked at Tarla and grinned. “Thank you…um…”

“Tarla Wilfellow,” she said.

Mira bowed. “Thank you, Tarla. I appreciate it.”

“Well, clearly the two of you are quite friendly,” said Elcra. “Go and have fun.”

“Thanks, girls!” Mira said. She curtsied to them, then left the Tea Room.

“Well, what do you all think?” Tarla asked the table of ladies.

“I think she’s hiding something,” Janessa replied. “There’s more to it than just that rumour.”

“It’s like she put a spell on him or something,” said Leah.

Janessa turned to Elcra and asked her, boldly, “How do you feel?”

“About what?” said Elcra.

“You’re his closest friend. Now, there soon could be someone closer. How do you feel about that?”

All eyes turned to Elcra. She never expected to answer that question. They are, after all, childhood friends who shared much over the years. She pushed for him to be more independent, and it must be said that progress was made. It gave her great pause to think he could disappear from her life, but she knows in her heart that this is not true. They would always be childhood friends, no matter where they would end up in life. She smiled, and with a large bite of a strawberry jam-filled pastry in her mouth, she mumbled, “Darling, I couldn’t be happier!”

~ # ~

Larry and Mira walked home together. They weren’t holding hands—just walking side-by-side. After all, it was just a day out. The sun shone overhead in the bright blue sky, and the birds flew between the trees that stand proudly among the houses of Pine Street. From there, between their two houses in the middle of the road, they bid each other farewell. Larry went to his house. Mira went to her house. All was peaceful. All was quiet.

At Larry’s house, the mood was euphoric and charged with excitement. Leena was over the moon on how his “date” turned out. She was going to fix him lunch, but after a long, sleepless night, he just wanted to sleep. He hung his dark brown leather jacket up in the closet, took off his shoes, and lumbered up the stairs to his room.

Unfortunately, the same could not be said for the Hutter residence. Gerta somehow found out about their day out, and the two had an argument. You see, Gerta’s standards for who Mira’s friends or potential husbands should be are quite high—she wants someone of social upstanding and formality, one she knows will take care of her daughter through the thick and the thin, one who would not let her have the hardships she had while growing up on the farmsteads. However, these views contrasted with Mira’s own. Mira is proud of the way her parents raised her, but she is painfully aware the people her mother seeks are few and far between.

Mira eventually stormed out with Gerta following behind. The argument spilled onto the street, but only for a moment, as Mira left to go some place uncertain, a place to cool off.

Larry heard the muffled argument from his bedroom window that looked over Franklin Ferguson’s plot of cornfields. He went to the window on the second floor landing that overlooked Pine Street and pulled back the curtains. He could only see Gerta on the sidewalk, sulking. What is going on out there? He then heard the front door open and close forcefully. He watched Leena march toward Gerta with her sleeves rolled up—a gesture she uses when she intends to argue or strong-arm the opposition. “Oh, no! Mother! Mother? Mother!” he cried out. Of course, his voice went unheard.

Michale—Larry’s torturous, younger brother—pulled at his wing from behind. “Where’s mommy gone?” he asked.

Larry panicked. “Uh, she just went out for a few moments. She’ll be back later. Listen, it might be a good idea to go to your room for a while, okay?”

Michale crossed his arms and pouted. “Why?” he demanded.

Larry sighed and looked down into his brother’s eyes. “Just this once, could you do something that I ask you to do? Just…just go to your room for the time being. When mother comes back, you can come out, okay?” He continued watching through the window in horror at the spectacular event that was about to unfold.

“Okay,” Michale groaned. He shuffled about for a few seconds, then went into his room.

As soon as the door latched, Larry went into action, muttering to himself, “I must stop this!” He turned to go downstairs, only to find himself unable to move. Somehow, without his knowledge, Michale tied his legs together with string. He also tied Larry’s tail to the handrail. “You brat…” he groaned in anger, untying the cord around his legs. He forgot about his tail, and he stepped downstairs, only to be pulled back. The knot loosened on his tail. Somehow, his foot got caught in the loop, and he tripped. Larry screamed his way down the stairs, sliding into the sitting room face first. Sprawled on the ground, he shook his fist toward his brother’s room, shouting, “You little brat! I’m going to get you for this!”

Childish and muffled laughter erupted from behind Michale’s bedroom door as celebrated yet another victory in torturing his elder brother.

~ # ~

The girls at the Tea Room departed not long after Larry and Mira. While the others went on their way, Janessa went about town, price-scouting shops as a favour for her uncle, Brackneed Vendyor, a favour that bored her to death. She had nothing else planned for Sundas, so she agreed. It was a way to kill time and browse the shop—a win-win for both, if you can call it that.

She had finished with one shop and marched her way around a corner to the second, when it happened. She turned the corner, and an enraged Mira Hutter came charging around the other. She ran into Janessa like a bull, head-butting her into the air.

Janessa landed on the concrete sidewalk. “Hey, watch it!” she shouted in rage. She looked up and saw Mira’s steaming face. “Mira?”

“What the hell do you want?” Mira roared.

“You’re angry!” she said dumbly. The reply took her by surprise.

“Yes!” Mira growled.

Janessa picked the little bits of stone out of her scratched palms. “What’s wrong? What’s gotten into you? What did that twerp do?”

Mira frowned, then cried. “It wasn’t him, alright? It was my mother…it’s always my mother!”

Janessa gasped. “Oh, dear,” she said.

They spent a few moments walking about the downtown core of the east end as Mira told her about the argument. It invoked a similar memory in Janessa that happened at Erandor of last year.

“My uncle is not very fond of him,” Janessa said. “I used to be very cold to him. Well, I still am. I mean, I’ve warmed up to him, but just a little. Uncle Brackneed thinks I’ll become weak if I hang around with him. My uncle is the only family I have in Barlett, and we nearly ruined that relationship at Erandor. It hurt, but he agreed to give me space. It was surprising to me, because hates compromises.”

“Is that why you don’t see him as a friend?” asked Mira.

Janessa winced. “We don’t always get along. I mean, that is kind of my fault—it’s who I am. I suppose we are friends, but distant friends. After our row happened, and when I could think again, I sympathized with my uncle. I know he has to follow the code of the family. He was just trying to look out for me. Was it wrong for me to storm out? Absolutely. Was it necessary for him to clue in? Absolutely,” Janessa adjusted her ponytail. “Look, all I can say is take my advice and go back. Don’t a moment like that mark you. It will ruin your family, and you don’t seem the person who wants that to happen, yes?” Janessa, though her tone and choice of words were clear-cut and seemingly discourteous but well-meaning.

“I suppose you’re right,” said Mira. She calmed down and stopped crying. “I suppose I should go.”

“I’ll come with you. I’m tired of fake window shopping anyway,” said Janessa.

It was when they arrived at Pine Street they got the shock of their lives. Neighbours were scattered across the road and sidewalks, watching Gerta Hutter and Leena Severis in a debate that had gone on for quite some time. There was no physical alteration, just a shouting match that drew quite a crowd.

Mira saw Martha Craftberg down the road—she spotted her in her red and orange scales and black summer dress. “What is this?” Mira asked her, pointing vaguely toward both parents.

“Entertainment,” Martha said bluntly. “I saw Mrs. Severis march out, and we knew it was going to be good.”

Mira squinted. “That’s my mother you’re talking about!”

Martha looked blankly at Mira, and said with little emotion, “I know that.”

They found Larry sitting on the steps to his house, his head slumped into his hand and staring off into space. “Larry? Hey!” Janessa said, poking him in the shoulder.

Larry looked up. “Oh, come to see the fight match as well, have you?” he said numbly. “It’s fantastic viewing.”

“What’s going on?” Mira asked. “What’s happened here?”

“Mother decided that she would march over and engage your mother after you ran off,” he said.

“Why would she do that?”

“You know her—sometimes, her heart is bigger than her brain,” he said. The comment shocked them, as Larry rarely deals out critiques about his parents. “I guess she had enough of your mother’s attitude. I guess she just snapped.”

“Larry, you need to stop this,” Janessa said. “Everyone’s watching as if it’s funny. That’s not right!”

“You’re right,” he said, standing up. He gently pushed them aside and marched down the path and onto the street. Larry went between them and asked them politely to stop, and when they didn’t, he growled and unleashed a large blast of fire from his mouth. “For God’s sake! Both of you, shut up!” he said with flames snarling from his snout-like nose.

Leena and Gerta took a giant leap back while Mira ducked for cover. Janessa, who heard of this trait from Elcra, was a little more than panicked. Although she had been in one or two scrapes with him before, the flames made her realize how dangerous he can be, if provoked.

Both parents tried to protest. Larry silenced them by putting his hands on their mouths. “This is intolerable! What is it of yours to say what I do or not, or what she does or not? Half an hour I’ve listened to this dribble, and I’ve had it!”

“Half an hour?” Mira said, surprised. “Mother, you should know better!”

“Yes, but—” Gerta said.

Mira cut her off. “No, Mother. This is between me and him. This doesn’t concern anyone else. Just for once, let it go,” She grabbed Larry by the tail and pulled him away—gently, of course. “Why are you even involved in this?” she asked Leena.

“Because I think you two are fine together,” she replied calmly. “Your mother thinks otherwise!”

“Well, I appreciate it, but let’s not forget that the two of you are fighting over us. That’s our business, and we’re leaving.”

“We are?” said Larry. His eyes popped out of his head as Mira squeezed his tail.

“We are,” she said. “Come on. Let’s go do something. I hope that when we return in the evening, you two finally come to your senses!” Mira released Larry. He shrugged, waved, and left with her down the street.

The irritated Janessa stared at Leena with folded arms. “Come out with it, Ms. Vendyor. What?” Leena said with an irate sigh.

“I expected that level of immaturity from my uncle, but not from you. Shall I get him to sort this out?”

Never mind Leena, even Gerta fears Brackneed’s attitude and lack of morals. They knew what would happen if he “fixed the problem.” Standing up straight, they gave a fearful response of “No!”

Janessa shook her head in disappointment, then caught up with Larry and Mira. She walked rigidly down the sidewalk, her ponytail thrashing everything from the left and the right, hitting lamp posts and the occasional tree as she went past.

Leena and Gerta looked down at each other’s feet. “Mrs. Severis, I just want my daughter to be happy, that’s all,” she said in a low voice. “I apologize, but I’m very protective of her.”

“I have to apologize, too,” said Leena quietly, kicking the gravel on the road. “I think they deserve a chance. Maybe she will teach him what you taught Mira, you know? It would do him a world of good, because I can’t fix everything for him. It’s time he learns from experience and not by lesson.”

“Yeah, I know,” Gerta said. “Your son has quite the fiery temper. I think I got a sunburned…”

Leena looked at the tips of her hair, which were smouldering. “He singed my hair! Oh, no, it smells!”

Said Gerta, holding Leena’s hair up for inspection, “I can fix that for you, if you’d like. Do you want coffee?”

“Yeah, sure,” The people watching the argument in the street—their neighbours, respectively—clapped at their resolution. Leena poked her head out from the shrubs in the Hutter’s front yard. “Party’s over, folks! Go back to watering your lawns, or something!” she shouted at them as she followed Gerta into the house.

Bertie Chester, coming back from the Barlett Chronicle newspaper office, passed by the Larry, Mira, and Janessa. He looked around at the neighbours still standing around and talking to one another.

“Bertie!” Sara said, running out of the house. “You never believe what happened!”

“Did someone die?” said Bertie, scratching his head.

“No, no,” Sara said. “Mrs. Severis got into argument with that lady, Gerta Hutter,” She grabbed his briefcase and arm and led him down the path. “Come, let me tell you what happen!”

“Well, I’ll say,” he said, removing his flat cap. “I want to hear this!”

~ # ~

Larry and Mira spent the rest of the day walking around the east end. Most shops close early on Sundas, so they spent their time at cafes and at the occasional chip shop. This time, Larry paid. They discussed the College and current events while enjoying a bit of banter between them and Janessa, who they were glad to have tagged along, even for a little while. She eventually left for home, leaving the two of them to themselves.

In the evening, they sat on a bench in an open park, and looked up at the night sky. The thin waxing crescent moon shone in the sky, masking the stars around the small wedge in white light. They stared for some time, watching the rotation of the stars as the minutes ticked by.

“So pretty,” Mira said softly. “It’s quiet, too. Just the distant sound of a stream, and the rustling of the leaves.”

“Dark as well,” said Larry. “The gas lamps of the town are far away, making it an ideal place free from light pollution.”

They stayed silent for many minutes until Mira said, “Go on.”

“What?” said Larry.

“Ask me the question you’ve wanted to ask me since this morning.”

Larry looked down at the ground. He took a deep breath and let out a slow exhale. “Why did you ask me out? Why the sudden interest?”

“I was lonely, and I was sad,” Mira said. She kept her gaze up at the Moon. “I wanted someone to talk to, that’s all.”

“Oh? You don’t seem the type to look down upon yourself,” said Larry, trying to cheer her up.

The reply made her smile. “I appreciate it, but I was depressed for some time. I’m always at odds with Mother, because I’m fat or I don’t socialize with the right people, or I’m not holding the family up to standards. My idiot brother is the same way, but my dad…he sees it, he knows how I feel,” She looked at Larry. “Why did you compliment me?”

“You looked frustrated, and you were going on about your appearance,” he replied. “I thought you looked fine. I meant what I said. I know it came out weird, but, you know, it made you happy, I guess,” He shrugged his shoulders and shied himself away. “I shouldn’t ask, but I will: do you struggle with being, you know, fat?”

“Honestly, I don’t have problems with my health. I don’t have issues fitting into clothes or shopping for hats. Others think I do, and they make it a point to address it in one way or another,” She looked down the forested path. She watched a fox jump around in the bushes. “Maybe I do struggle sometimes.”

Larry nodded. “I see.”

Mira paused. “I used to have a boyfriend. Andersin was his name. He was nice, but because Gerta Hutter raised me, he soon found me to be unbearable. I poked my nose in everything. He dumped me and labelled me a fat control freak. I cried for two days. As much as I try to get ahead, I’m always held back.”

“That’s harsh,” said Larry.

“But it was true,” Mira said forcefully. “My friends thought I needed to change, and I tried, but I keep getting pulled back. Me and Dad, we try to not be so, I don’t know…uptight, I suppose. Whenever mother or her friends come around, we have to be ‘formal nice.’ I relied on my friends to just vent my frustrations, but they all moved away. I have other friends, yes, but they’re not close friends. I couldn’t talk about it without annoying them. It just built up over time…”

“Then I happened,” said Larry.

Mira smiled. “You were kind. I became a little obsessed with you since. I thought you could help me. I didn’t mean to make it sound like a date and I put you in a very uncomfortable situation.”

Larry looked at her, paused, then looked up at the sky. “Don’t worry about it now. Besides, I know how you feel. I often get into arguments with my mum over my laziness, lack of motivation, lack of life experience, whatever. They blame themselves for the way they raised me. They gave me everything and let me be. Others blame them, and they are well aware of it, trust me, but I don’t blame them.”

“Do you blame others for how you are?” Mira asked.

“No,” said Larry, pouting. “I blame myself. I had several chances to change, but I passed on all of them. Elcra and I shared a lot over the years, but as we grew older and take life more seriously…” He sighed. “She won’t admit it, but we are drifting apart. I mean, we’re not going our separate ways, but we aren’t as close anymore.”

“That’s sad,” Mira said.

“It happens, I guess,” he replied, kicking the grass under his feet. “She and I grew up together. She’s my closest friend, and I don’t have many friends. As she takes to her family farm, we see less of each other, and it makes me sad. I see the others often, but they wouldn’t want to hear me complaining about life, either. So, yes, I know how you feel.”

“She thinks you’re doing just fine, but I suppose you already knew that.”

Larry chuckled nervously. “Yeah, I suppose I do,” They sat in awkward silence for nearly a minute. “Go on. Your turn,” he added.

“Alright,” said Mira. “If it made you so nervous and anxious, why did you say yes?”

“Well, you were trying to get me to say yes. I knew something was up that night, and I figured it had to do with what happened in Mr. Stockwood’s store,” he said, scratching the increasingly long hair on his head as he looked at her pale grey face in the moonlight. “I thought, why not, because you looked worse for wear, and it would be rather ungentlemanly of me to say no.”

Mira looked down. “I have looked worse for wear in recent weeks,” She smiled and looked at Larry. “I used to avoid you because you were weird.”

He winced. “I still am weird.”

“Nonsense!”

Said Larry, weary, “I’m a socially awkward introvert that makes you and everyone else feel uncomfortable. That’s how I am. It just is and probably always will be who I am,” He did not mean to say it like that, but the conversation reinforced to him his own personal problems. He took a deep breath and exhaled. “Sorry,” he said. Mira punched him in the face. “Ow!” he screamed, rubbing the scales on the side of his cheek. “What was that for?”

“To stop you from making yourself miserable and me!” she replied in a rather stern tone.

“Does that mean you feel better?”

“I do,” she replied, brushing her long hair with her hand. “I feel better than ever, as if I have lifted a weight off my shoulders,”

Larry bobbed his head around and shrugged his shoulders. “Well, if you ever want to talk, you know where to find me. Uh, did that sound awkward?”

“Of course,” Mira said. Larry couldn’t tell if she meant his statement or the actual awkwardness of it. He simply nodded in acknowledgement. “You’re a good person. Once you talk, you open up. You may be weird, but you’re a good kind of weird,” She moved right next to him and hugged him. “Thank you for listening.”

“Thank you for listening to me,” Larry said. “Sorry if my breath smells of burning flesh and ketchup.”

Mira let him go. “I think that’s me,” she said. She breathed into her hand and smelled it. Sure enough, it was Larry. “Oh, never mind. Shall we go?”

“Absolutely. I’m tired, and I have an early day tomorrow,” Larry stood up and held out his hand.

“Same here,” she said, grabbing his hand and pulling herself off the bench. “If you’re leaving at the same time, I’ll ride with you to the College.”

He smiled. “I’d appreciate that.”

~ # ~

Once again, Larry and Mira walked to Pine Street. Once again, they did not hold hands. For Larry, a day out with Mira was not what he expected at all. He was nervous, anxious, and he was shy, yet something she had done made him understand an emotion he could not fully comprehend. It put him at ease. A day out with Mira was like a day out with Elcra, never second-guessing himself, nor did he feel a need to mask his thoughts for fear of judgement. What was more important to him, however, was the responsibility and burden of trust placed in his hands by another individual, and, conversely, his trust in them.

The two walked up to their homes on opposite sides of the street and they bid each other good night. Larry went to his house. Mira went to her house.

At the Severis residence, Larry closed the door behind him. Leena’s head poked above the wicker sofa and spun around. “Christ!” he growled, throwing himself against the front door in startled surprise.

“Welcome home, dear,” she said, standing up. “Your father and brother are already asleep, but I wanted to wait for you.”

“Thanks,” he replied, huffing. “Have you and Gerta finally defused?”

“We have,” she said, nodding. “We kind of just stopped right after you left. We discussed it over coffee and in a civil manner. I think she got the idea to not be so overprotective of her own daughter.”

“Look, I appreciate that you went to bat for us, but it’s not what I would have called moral support,” said Larry, putting away his jacket. “That was a little embarrassing for both of us. It’s not just Gerta, you also need to stop being so protective of me.”

Leena slung her head down. “I know. She just really got on my nerves.”

“Yeah, well, that’s life, I guess,” he said, taking his shoes off.

She looked up. “So, are you two…”

Larry replied with a soft and silent “No,” Leena frowned, but he shrugged it off. “She just needed someone to talk to, that’s all. We’re not going out, we’re just friends, I guess.”

“I’m glad to hear it,” Leena stood up and crossed her arms. “Why are all your friends women? You have one man as a friend. I think there is a need for balance, don’t you think?” She was, of course, referring to Terrence Howard, his college program partner. Leena knows they spend a lot of time doing things, but she rarely sees him anywhere in town, let alone at the house.

“Honestly, I have no idea,” he said, shaking his head. “Maybe they respond to my personality. Who knows? I just don’t know. Whatever. I’m going to bed. I have an early day tomorrow.”

“Good night, Larrynton,” she said.

“Night, Mother,” said Larry, lumbering quietly up the stairs.

Leena watched him disappear into his room. She smiled. He’s not doing too bad for himself, she thought.

The conversation invoked a memory in her. She recalled the day she met Xiveer in her days as a travelling merchant and the amount of friends she had then. Oddly, they were mostly male friends—the complete opposite of Larry. Leena has no right to complain—she never knew where her life would go the moment Franklin Ferguson introduced her to Xiveer. After that flashback, she thought it best to step back and let Larry worry about the world on his own. After all, she would not have made it if her mother held her hand through life.

It was a different story at the Hutter residence. This time, the mood was more sombre. Walter took Karl out for the evening so Gerta could be alone. Mira opened the door and peered through into the kitchen. Gerta was sitting alone at the kitchen table in the darkness, crying. Mira cried, too.

“Mom,” Mira wept, sitting down on a chair next to Gerta.

“I’m so sorry, Mira,” Gerta said. “I didn’t mean to upset you. None of us came out well in that argument, and I was wrong.”

“Yes, you were,” Mira said. “I understand why you feel the need to be protective. I used what you taught me to get to where I am now, but I need control over my own life. I want friends that aren’t all prim and proper. That’s boring. Larrynton Severis is, well…he’s not formal nor proper, and he certainly is not very social, but he is doing his best. He is the friend I want.”

Gerta sniffed. “That’s all? Just friends?”

Mira smiled. “Just friends. You never know—he might learn something from me. I’ve learnt a lot from him already,” She grabbed her mother’s shoulder and held it lightly. “I forgive you, I really do. I know the things you faced before you met Dad, and I have nothing but respect for you, but this is me we are talking about. All I ask is for a little leeway. You are free to disapprove, but it is my life. Give me a chance, yes?”

“Of course,” Gerta said. “Mrs. Severis and I we agreed it was both our faults that this happened. We settled things after you left. I’m sure the same conversation happened over there,” She sighed and held her daughter’s hand. “What happens now?”

“Everything carries on as normal,” Mira said. “You’re the best mother ever. Let’s just go on from here. I’m going to bed. I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Goodnight, Mira,” Gerta said. Mira walked up to her bedroom and closed the door. Gerta got up and looked out of the kitchen window and thought about what Mira said. She pokes her nose into the affairs of others. She believes in formality to conceal her poverty-stricken background, but that was over thirty years ago when she met Walter. Times have changed.

Gerta decided she would respect Mira’s wishes. Yet, as Mira said, everything would carry on as normal. She will continue to be nosey, be direct, and she will continue to be that socialite and community spirit. She often dreamed of having social status in life, a dream she always had during those years when the young Gerta shifted endless shovelfuls of muck on farmsteads in south Caldore. It would not be until she met Walter that her dream would come true. Like Leena, she had no right to complain—everything was turning out just fine.

~ # ~

Early morning. Larry and Mira bolted out onto the road, followed by their mothers. They waved to each other as they took off down the sidewalk, heading to the coach that waited for them on Main Street. They talked while they walked, they talked on the coach ride to the College, and they talked as they entered the Commons.

Terrence and Janessa sat on a bench while waiting for them to show up. The pair emerged from the throngs of students pushing their way through.

“There you are,” Terrence shouted, waving at them in a frantic panic. He held his black frame glasses to his face. “Lectures start in ten minutes! We are going to be late!”

“Yeah, yeah, I hear you,” Larry said. He swung his heavy leather book bag over his shoulder. “Well, we gotta go. Catch up later sometime, maybe?” he said to Mira.

“Sure,” she said. “See you later.”

Larry smiled. “See you,” He slapped Terrence on the back and they walked off into the lecture wing.

“So, are you two up to no good, or what?” Janessa asked her.

“It’s a long story,” Mira said, blowing out her cheeks. “Our parents seem to get along much better than before. Everything is fine.”

Janessa flicked back her large ponytail. “Doesn’t sound like you’re entirely happy.”

Mira sulked. “I felt better it the end, but I still feel awkward. The whole situation was awkward.”

“Need an ear to listen?” Janessa asked as if she had no choice, as if she was fed up.

Mira, however, knew better. “You know, that wouldn’t be a bad idea,” she said.

“I’m meeting up with Elcra at the Tea Room in the afternoon. Tarla may be there, too. If you’re not busy, be there. We’re all dying to hear about it.”

“I’m heading your way, so I’ll give you the scoop,” Mira said. Turns out Mira is as talkative as they are, and not once did they stop.

It may have started as a simple compliment, but thanks to the mailwoman Natafasma Po’nomer, and, indirectly, the east end community, Mira found herself in a tearoom later that day with three women she barely knows talking about her day out with Larrynton Severis. As a result, Gerta and Leena came to a better understanding of each other’s parenting skills, and perhaps a better understanding of one another. Finally, Mira and Larry have a better understanding of one another. A win for all.

We all need a friend at some point of our lives, whether we are five or fifty-five. Sometimes, when friends are not available when we need them most, we seek help from the most unexpected of people. It is amazing what the power of kindness can do, a power that can come in any shape or form, be it elf, dragon, human, even a cat. When we turn to the strangers or those we do not hold in high regard, our perceptions about them change. Perhaps it is temporary, a truce of peace between ones who quarrel; or, a strengthened bond between those who have grown older and wiser. In any circumstance, it is a quality that defines something in each of us, a quality that makes us who we are. We evoke acts of kindness and friendship to support one another, to allow others to survive. It is acts of kindness and friendship that make the world go around. In kindness and friendship, there is love; and where there is love, there is happiness.

~ END ~