Chapter 3: Ladybug
I took such a deep breath and slammed by back to the couch. Today was exhausting. I counted my fingers on both hands for my to-do list.
Flickering my fingers at the window and kitchen, my wind sent the shattered glass in the waste, forced the burnt curtain off the rack. I looked underneath the sink for our last, usable, clean sheet.
The day we got this I planned on getting a carpet to distinguish the room. All the kids stared blankly at this one when I was at checkout. I had to tell the keeper to hold off because all of them didn't follow me. And there it was. It was a thin silk piece. Half the piece was ripped.
It was a dull metallic gold with random scattered lights throughout the piece. The border was busy with intricate fire sparks and wind whirls. The two details flowed with one another. With it being ripped, there were two features on the piece that had been broken. The first was a continuous phase of the old language around the bottom edge and a darken broken symbol right in the middle.
"Guys it has a rip on it. We don't need this," I tried to explain rationally.
Beau elevated his voice, "mom, it feels soft. I want it."
He was right. This should be expensive, but it's ripped. It's unnecessary.
The shopkeeper walked up to me, "isn't it beautiful. The owner could not figure out a price. Would you like to buy it?"
Before I could even say no or haggle, my eldest of the triplets, Beau, screamed, "yes! we all want it!" All the others nodded in excitement.
I snickered, "well, how much is it?"
"Well, the owner is out of town, and he really doesn't care about this item. He only told me to sell what I can and to make sure to give a story. So how does a few silver pieces sound?"
Sharol nudged my side, "that's really cheap. Even if it's ripped, we can use it for tablecloth or for the windows. Might as well get it."
I smiled.
All the kids stayed, while I went back to the register following the keeper.
The keeper started her short blurb, "the owner just wanted me to make sure that I properly tell any possible buyers for the item. The owner was very serious about explaining where his mother found it.
I laughed. Of course, I know where loot is found. Actually, I know when loot is taken. It's taken after a battle.
The shopkeeper defended her store, "please do not doubt the integrity of the store. Most of our items were made by us. There're just a few items that were found."
"Of course. I understand."
She continued in a slightly lower volume, "Well the owner said that the item was found at the scenes of the last war. Well, the owner told me that his mother found it in the hands of an unconscious healer. She wasn't sure if they were dead or unconscious, but his mother was a scavenger. She was pretty old back then. When she came by the shop recently, her voice was shaking because she said that the silk wasn't how she remembered.
"What do you mean," I asked confused, squinting my eyes.
"I don't know. She just said she didn't remember that it looked like that with the elements. But she's a bratty-old-bat. She's losing her mind as time goes by. She's always telling stories about her village in Goddess Athena territory, but she still has a wild imagination."
Before I could tell the keeper that I don't believe in superstition, my kids ran up to me and pleaded that we get it. I smiled, made deals for them to clean, paid, and threw it in the cabinet. I didn't touch it these last few years. Although I am not superstitious, I am cautious.
I've been acting silly. I grabbed the item and removed all the dust. I kept rubbing what I thought was dust, but there were so many that wouldn't move. I shook the sheet and found something different. Brown fragments were clashing with the scattered light inside the border. I pursed my lips, grabbed the sheet tighter, and threw it back in the cabinet. I anxiously chuckled. I doubted that I could possibly see something new. I most likely didn't look at it in detail before.
My youngest triplet, Blair walked down the steps crying because she had a bad dream.
I could hear whining from the staircase. The soft whimpers were from the youngest.
I poked my head, "Blaire, please come on down. You don't need to sit there." I waved her down.
She quickly ran down, rubbing her eyes, "you're awake."
I moved a strand of her blonde hair behind her ear. "Blair, can you listen to me my ladybug? Even if I wasn't awake, you can wake me up." Remembering what's about to happen, I added, "Sharol too. I am going to be away for some time. I need you to be tough for everyone. But that can never make you forget who you truly are. I don't want you to hide behind anyone, even your brothers. You are so strong, just like me and everyone else in your family. Sharol will take care of you all for right now." I said everything carefully.
She cried out and put her hands on my cheeks, "No! Why! Do you not like us anymore?"
"Ladybug, that is not it at all. I love you all. I am going out to meet a few friends." I had to think of something. "You know, I guess I could promise you that I will get you something while I'm away." I pinched her nose.
Her face lit up and clapped her hands, "perfect mama. When are you going to be leaving?"
"Tomorrow morning, my ladybug," I answered warily of her reaction.
She pecked my cheek four times and whispered goodnight.
I yelled as she walked upstairs, "Sweet sweet dreams. I love you."