"Ah- So bored." Sy cried up to the ceiling.
SY lay on the hallway floor. She had been there for the last 20 minutes. Mr. Toady sat next to her the entire time. The toad was seemingly asleep- except for waking up to Sy's shouts.
"Gahh," Sy groaned. She turned to lay on her side. Her face toward one of the candles.
Sy had lit a few of them in the hall to make a circle. Their light gave Sy a sense of protection. She lay right in the center of the ring.
"She's still not back…." Sy whispered to Mr. Toady.
It was late-really late. Her mom had never been this late before. Sy didn't know how to handle it. The separation was strange for her. She moved to hold herself.
I hope nothing happened. Sy thought to herself. If it were if something did happen, what could I do? Who would I go to? Do I even have anyone to go to?
Sy frowned. It didn't take long to find her answer. But the answer only made her feel worse.
Sy squeezed herself tighter around the stomach. She felt more alone than ever. It scared her.
"I don't like this," Sy confessed. Her eyes drifted to the candle. She watched it dance. The sight somewhat helped. But she felt helpless.
If only it weren't just the two of us. Sy thought. She felt her head heavy on the floor. It hurt, but she didn't move. Sy wasn't ready to leave the protection of her circle.
"This bites." Sy voiced and closed her eyes. She moved to bang her head on the floor. She quickly hissed. It hurt even worse. Sy sat up to rub her head and grumble.
"Mom, come home alre-" Sy spoke as the keys jingled at the door sounded.
"Mom!" Sy jumped up instantly.
Sy kicked over a candle to spill wax as she rushed to the door. Her little hands turned the knob before the other side had time to stop. Sy yanked open the door with the keys still on the knob.
"MOM!" Sy cried.
SY rushed with arms open to encircle the woman. Her little arms squeezed hard as she took in her mother's sage perfume. Sy heard a laugh before a hand was on her head. She peered up expectantly.
"You look like a mess." Was Mara's first words. Sy smiled. Sy rubbed herself as if to spread it onto Mara. Mara moved to set her broom aside from the door frame.
"You're late." Sy returned. Her mom frowned. She looked past Sy to see the candles in the hall. She stopped at the one tipped over, throwing wax on the floor.
A shadow seemed to pass over her features. Part anger, Sy could tell, but the other was different. A hand stopped on Sy's head.
"Forgive me." Mara apologized. She leaned down to kiss Sy's head.
Sy moved to nuzzle into her mom's legs. She gave a quick squeeze and let go. She could see some chicken feathers stuck to Mara's pants. Sy smiled mischievously.
We're even now. Sy thought. Her little hand found moms. Mara smiled and gently held it.
"Come on. I got a surprise for you." Sy voiced feeling triumphant. Her mom, in turn, lifted her eyebrows with surprise.
"Oh? A surprise?"
Sy smiled brightly. She still had no idea. Sy had been most sneaky indeed. Sy pulled on her mother's hand and led forward.
"I made it all by myself!" Sy announced. She was leading the way down toward the kitchen. Sy could hear a stifled laugh from behind her.
"I wonder whatever it could be." Mara voiced. Sy nodded. Her chest was swelling with pride.
They were coming up to the candles. Here Mara stopped. Sy, shocked, turned to look back at her.
"HEY! Don't stop. We're just at the-" Sy began, but Mara raised a finger. The child closed her mouth. Mara kept hold of Sy's hand but bent down. She moved to snuff the candle flames. Sy rolled her eyes at Mara. Mara, in turn, shot her a look. Sy quickly stopped. She knew what that look meant.
"This needs to be cleaned up." Mara voiced. Sy saw her point to the wax. That was her fault.
Sy begrudgingly nodded. Her eyes cast down. A frown formed on her lips.
"But later," Mara voiced. Sy looked up with surprise. Mara smiled softly. Her hand squeezed Sy's.
Sy smiled back widely. She waited for her mother to finish moving the candles to the side of the wall. Sy pulled on her hand when they were out of the way.
"Come on! It's in the kitchen." Sy pulled Mara to lurch forward a step. The woman laughed. She allowed the child to pull her along.
They stopped at the doorway. Sy turned to let go.
"Okay. Cover your eyes." Sy instructed. Mara raised a brow but then smiled. She did as told.
Her gloved hands moved to cover both eyes. Sy placed her hands on her hip.
"Don't look until I say so-" Sy ordered. She watched Mara nod, understanding.
Sy turned to run into the kitchen. She made it to the table and pulled out the third chair. On the seat lay the pink cake. Sy used both hands to lift it to the table. There, she rushed back to stand in front of it. She blocked the cake from Mara.
"You can look now,"
Mara lowered her hands. She scanned the room. After seeing nothing, Mara turned to Sy. Her face was quizzical.
Sy jerked her head forward to give the biggest grin. Then, she jumped to the side, revealing the cake. Her hands were up in the air.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM!"
"Oh, goddess! Did you make me a cake? I would never have guessed." Mara voiced. Sy beamed. She rushed forward to grab her hands. She was excited to have fooled her mom again this year.
"Wait." Mara, however, pulled her hands free. Sy, stunned, looked up at her. Mara leaned forward to cover Sy's eyes.
"Keep-'em close till the count of three." Mara voiced. Sy nodded. She felt the hand lift off.
Sy kept her eyelids sealed but opened her ears. Her mother counted slowly as something was pulled off. Then, the sound of rummaging. Things, heavy-sounding items, were pulled out of the bag and then placed on the floor. When it stopped, Sy felt something being pressed into her hands. It felt like leather.
"Three, open-'em," Mara voiced. Sy snapped open her eyes. She looked down to see a leather sack, a backpack.
No, a gobble bag! Sy blinked widely, confused. She looked up to her mother. Behind her were a crate of groceries and her purse.
Mara pressed a finger to her lips. Another pointed to look into the bag. Sy did so, reaching a hand inside.
"Happy birthday, Sy."
Mara leaned in to kiss Sy's forehead. She got up and walked into the kitchen. Sy screamed out with excitement as she felt something in the bag. She pulled it out. Her eyes bulged at the find.
"A WRENCH!" Sy exclaimed. Sy swirled her head over to see the woman. She was carrying plates to the table.
"That's not all that's in there." Mara teased. Sy about felt her heart burst out of her chest.
More? There was more? Sy set the wrench in her lap before diving both hands into the bag. She plunged deep to her elbows.
It was not long for Sy to find more. A hammer was pulled next. Then a screwdriver. A cog.
Sy kept pulling more and more tools from the back. Each made her kick her legs up and down with excitement. It was the best thing her mother had ever given her. Everything was just what she wanted- except the dresses.
Yuck, Sy quickly thought as she pulled it out. The brown and green dresses were tossed to the side and forgotten. Sy moved back to pull out more tools. As she dug deeper, a wet feeling on her knee stopped her. Sy looked down to see the toad. She reached to set him on her shoulder.
"Look here, Mr. Toady. I got a wrench! And a hammer! And-" Sy was rushing out breathless. The toad blinked at her. He was seemingly disinterested but not bored, per se. Sy smiled and kissed him out of bliss. She then balked at the taste.
"Ew," Sy commented. The toad croaked. It was somewhat appalled at the kiss, himself. Neither enjoyed the experience.
Behind her, the floor creaked. Sy looked over her shoulder. It was her mom. She was standing not far from the doorway. A warm smile was on her face.
"You can play with your new toys later. Cake, now." Mara voiced. Sy nodded.
Sy held the toad carefully with her hand so he wouldn't fall. Then, she stood up and made it over.
Taking her chair, Sy sat next to her mother. The cake plate was set before her with a spoon and glass of milk. Sy moved to accept the milk. Her stomach growled. She hadn't eaten all day.
But despite her hunger, Sy didn't move for the cake. Instead, she waited until her mom had the first bite. Mara, meanwhile, took up her spoon and cupped out a piece of frosting and cake. She lifted it to her lips, then opened her mouth. Sy watched her chew, take a sip of her milk, and swallow.
Finally, Mara placed down the spoon and turned. She paused to look at Sy. A smile that made her cheeks rosy stretched up.
"It's good." Mara voiced. Sy threw up her arms and fist pumped the air.
Yes! Her mother liked it. She saw Mara take up another spoon. This time much faster to swallow.
"Very good. Even better than last year's." Mara voiced. Sy took no time to shove a spoonful into her mouth. Her tastebuds instantly felt the assault of sweet sugar. Her stomach growled with impatience.
"N oo hag dis hime*" Sy talked with her mouth full. Little chunks of cake fell from her mouth onto her plate as she spoke. Mara watched each piece fall.
An uncomfortable expression on her face. But she remained calm. She was just pinching the bridge of her eyebrows.
Sy shoved another spoon into her mouth. Her lips smacked loudly with happiness. The cake was better. The best even.
She had outdone so this time. Sy smiled as she ate. Her eyes drifted over to look back at the hall's gobble bag.
Meanwhile, Mara seemed to pause, spoon in the air. Her mind looked to be elsewhere. Sy took up another spoonful. She noticed but was too busy eating to ask. The cake was swallowed down loudly. Sy took a loud slurp of her milk. The glass was now empty. Mara snapped back from her thoughts at the sound. She moved to slide her glass over to Sy.
"So, you like everything I got you?" Mara asked. Sy nodded. Then shook her head.
"Not the dresses." Sy burped as she drank halfway into Mara's glass. She moved to take up another spoon of cake. Her belly seemed endless.
"That one's more a necessity than a gift," Mara replied. Her eye quickly scanned over Sy. Sy shrugged. She still did not see the point.
Mara moved to take up a spoon of her cake. But again, she stopped. Sy watched her set down the scoop. Her mom, again, looked to be thinking of other things. It didn't last long, though. Mara turned to Sy with an easy smile.
"But aside from that, I think this is everything you ever wanted." Mara voiced. She leaned over to tussle Sy's hair. A laugh came from her lips.
"Happy birthday, Sy," Mara said again. Her smile was big and bright. Sy, though, felt something in her stomach turn. She suddenly no longer felt hungry. Her spoon lowered. She looked down at her plate. The cake suddenly lost its sweetness.
"Not…everything," Sy whispered. Her eyes looked up slowly at her mother. Mara was pressing in her eyebrows. Then raised one. A smile crossed her face. It was mischievous. She moved to prop her head on the one hand.
"I just spent more coin on you today than I've spent on myself in a year- but you're telling me that there is still something I didn't get?" Mara voiced, sounding playful. Sy nodded. She swallowed.
"It's something…I've always wanted." Sy spoke. Her voice was too soft. She felt herself want to cry but didn't. It might stop her from doing it.
It might be different this year. Sy thought with hope. She pulled her hands to her lap. They were shaking.
Her eyes shifted to the empty chair. How it still sat at the other side. It is still seemingly waiting.
I have to ask her.
"Then what is it?" Mara went on, still smiling.
"I might still just go out and get it for you. Heck, I've spent an absurd amount today. A few more coins won't do me worse." Mara laughed. She moved to rustle Sy's hair again. But the girl pulled away.
Instead, Sy looked to her friend. The toad blinked back supportively. She swallowed. She took a deep breath filling her lungs to hurt. She looked up to meet Mara.
Because today's our birthday…
"Where is my dad?" Sy asked.