'If you had to go apocalypse survival mode what fiv thongs would you take with you?'
It was an interesting question, if not out of the blue-especially for a text message. Zenobia only wished Elias focused more on his spelling or used some sort of autocorrect. Some of his more random messages were harder to understand the later he sent them. Still interesting or not, there wasn't enough information for her to answer properly. A small hum left her before she started typing.
'Is this for just me? Or would I have to consider family?'
'Lol just you. Id have to bump up the amount of stuff for famimy.' It was probably for the best. Even though these were just silly questions made to keep the conversation going, she tended to overthink them. Usually, it took five minutes at least to come up with some sort of answer. This prompt, not so much.
'A knife, matches, a backpack, a blanket, and lastly, my grandfather's old pick up lantern would be my choices.'
'Very survivaly not good for the apocalypse though.'
'What would you choose then?' The first message she was able to answer in less than five minutes and this was how he treated it? So rude. Now she had to see what his response would entail. A minute went by before she saw him typing a response.
Only for her phone to fly out of her hands when the door smacked against the wall. The sound of her cell clattering somewhere was only faintly registered in Zenobia's mind while she leaped up from her bed. With her heart pounding heavily, she turned towards the source of her adrenaline spike.
"Zora!?" Her baby sister choked on her sobs, hysterical hiccuping that made it impossible to tell if she was getting enough air in. Puffed up, swollen red eyes and cheeks. Like when their dad gave Zenobia a hot pepper he bought on sale at the store when she was eight. Only this wasn't a little joke accidently taken too far.
What stood before her, simply put, was a royal temper tantrum. The five-year-old's tiny, slim body shook in place, on the verge of a full-blown meltdown. Zenobia winced as Zora slammed the door shut. Then she grabbed it by the knob, just to open and slam it again. And again.
"Zora, what's-" She threw all of her strength into it as she continued to abuse it. The older sister heard the old, rusted hinges squeaked from the strain; it was only a matter of time before they failed.
"Hey, hey, Zora! Stop!" Before Zenobia could say anything else, her little sister leaped onto her. The bed bounced slightly as the older girl lost her breath. At the very least Zora was considerate enough not to land on her leg. Just what happened?
"Mommy's being mean!"
Confusion lingered in those peering crimson orbs. For several minutes the five-year-old cried in her chest, gripping her already soaked shirt. The phone forgotten from wherever it landed on the bed stayed in place as Zenobia encircled her arms snuggly. For several minutes the two stayed there.
Soft words of comfort. The sounds of rubbed fabric. Among the hiccups and sniffles, the tension bled out from those tiny, trembling shoulders. Bit by bit, the two sisters relaxed against one another. Finally, when those sounds reduced to whimpers, Zenobia pulled back to look into yellow orbs.
"Have you calmed down now? Can you talk to me?"
"Yes…"
"Good. What's wrong, Zora?"
"Mommy's...Mommy's being super mean!"
"A step up from being just mean? What'd she do?"
"She said I can't have a mask like yours. She also said daddy's not going to make me one either!!"
Zenobia winced hearing that. Both were expected answers from the hag but man. She never thought their mother would crush Zora's hopes like that-at least not purposely. In fact, such responses moreso matched how she'd talk to her eldest.
Either their mother was in a really bad mood since neither of them were still on real speaking terms or she decided to give the kid a rough reality check. In any case...this wasn't ok. Though it sounded shocking-even to her, Zenobia didn't believe her mother deserved to be ill-spoken of. Not yet anyway.
"What do you mean by a mask like mine?"
"One that looks cool and is really special. Daddy made it magical because he loved you and put his feelings in it. I want a spirit animal too!"
Ignoring the warm fluttering feelings the teen had to stamp down...Spirit animal? It took a moment for the her to understand what her usually bubbly sister meant. Then it hit her. Without meaning to she snorted out a laugh and then laughed harder when the younger girl puffed out her cheeks in annoyance. Zora poked her side roughly with her pointer finger. The sudden pain was ignored as Zenobia just kept up those hearty chuckles.
"Stop laughing, I'm being serious!"
"Who told you that getting a mask gets you a spirit animal?"
"My librarian! Mr. Romaro said in the past a mask meant you could summon your partner spirit animal to help you in times of need." Boy, wouldn't that be terrifying? Zenobia cold only imagine the end of the world if people could do that. Her mother summoning an equally temperamental lioness certainly sounded like a nightmare.
How absurd. Zenobia never heard of a Mr. Romaro, so he had to be a new teacher. At the very least he had to have shown up after she advanced onto middle school. Either way, she couldn't believe a teacher would say such a wild thing to a child. She didn't even remember going over fairytales, let alone at that age.
"That may've been the case in the past, but not anymore."
"But-but you got yours! That fox helped you when you were little!"
"I didn't even have a mask yet, Zora. It was just a wild fox. It wasn't my friend or anything. I can't summon it with a snap or my fingers or order it to do my bidding."
"I still want one!" She was being stubborn. Though she was no longer a sobbing mess, those nibbled lips were still upside down. A heavy trembling frown that threatened to create another tantrum if Zenobia wasn't careful. She took a deep breath, playing with her tinier sibling's hair.
"You shouldn't want a mask like mine, Zora. You are your own person. So, you should have a special mask that reflects that." There had to be something out there for her. Something that showed her wonderful personality that she could take pride in. A bonus if it kept their mother from having a hissy fit.
"..." All she received was a small whine as they held onto each other. The sisters sat together for a long time. With the younger having fallen asleep after her crying fest. While the older was thinking.
"Hmm..." Her sister's coming of age mask often plagued her thoughts. Hours upon hours of research and it felt like Zenobia was missing the key to it. She thought up numerous patterns and designs. Drew up several prototypes just to throw them all into the reject pile.
That perfect mask was so close yet just out of reach. Now they were nearing that special date. Big birthday number six with nothing to show. They were running out of time.
In the end, tradition dictated the child decides the mask concept and chose to accept the custom design for the ritual. However, there was nothing stopping their mother from heavily influencing her decisions. There was no doubt that grumpy lioness already made plans to visit carver shops with Zora.
Just like there wasn't a doubt the trip was going to be a disaster. With their dad no longer in the picture to mediate between a strict realist and stubbornly creative birthday girl, she saw a future full of yelling and tears. Every single day she waited, hoping he'd waltz in, tell mom off and take Zora into the garage where he'd make the mask-but it wasn't happening. Zenobia also seriously doubted he would magically send a package with exactly what Zora wanted.
Maybe if he sent letters or gifts in the past, then she'd have more hope. Three years have gone by and they've gotten zilch. She couldn't rely on a fantasy of hers. So it was up to her.
Grabbing her phone, being very careful as to not jostle sleeping beauty, she opened her contacts. The bright screen blinded her just for a minute, before blinking. Six messages. Elias apparently bombarded with several messages in the time she was gone. She focused on the last few specifically.
'Hey you ok?'
'You haven't messaged me back.'
'Are you in trouble? Do i need to cLll? Crap did tour mom confkate??'
A snort escaped her. The only way her mother was taking her phone was over her dead body. It looked like he was still on, probably waiting for a reply. She started typing.
'Sorry for disappearing.'
'Holy crap you scared me!!! What hallened? Happened?'
'Sis was crying, I had to take care of it.'
'Oh no!! Whate wrong?'
Should she tell him? A sudden spell of indecisiveness hit her. She didn't want to trouble Elias with her family drama. The idea of dragging him in didn't really sit right, especially with the ideathat sprang on her just now. However…knowing what she did though, he wouldn't be bothered.
If anything she imagined him to be ecstatic. He did offer a partnership afterall. Her crimson gaze rested on tear stained cheeks. They narrowed in on those smaller hands desperately holding onto her.
What would her dad have done? No…that was a silly question. Of course she knew what to do; she was there when he had been in her position. Banishing her caution to the winds that roared outside, she typed. She would ask, then regardless, do some research tonight.
'Hey...how would you feel if I told you I got you your first client for a mask?'
'I feel like i would kiss you. I wont because you know boundries. But seriously excited. Literally bouncing in my seat right now!! Qho is it?'
'My sister. She's turning six.' She would ignore ninety percent of his messages for the next couple of hours. For her own sanity if nothing else. Tomorrow was a new day.