Come For Tea

James

Tick

Her brown eyes idly aimed my face, as so did mine on hers. I hated this, staring blankly at a pointless evening with my new neighbour. It was silent, all that was heard was the distinct chatter of whom had started all this, our mothers. The only uplifting thing about her was her tow-coloured locks which bounced up and down while she glanced at her mother yelling silently about her urge to leave. In spite of not having the capacity of reaching my mother’s eyes I had the same desire. Fortunately, separating Elizabeth and I was a small circular marble table which was shielded by mother’s favourite tablecloth that was engulfed with flowers.

“James, why don’t you offer Elizabeth a scone?” Mother suggested.

As I looked at her with an air of despise, I lifted the dry scone out of the saucer and held it to Elizabeth, patiently waiting for her approval which I knew would never reach her emotionless face. Nonetheless, her reaction did not surprise me, it was clear from the moment she entered my exquisite house that she was not as prosperous as me.

Tick

Despite the fact that Elizabeth was visually appealing, her manners said otherwise. I had way better things to do then sitting on a miniscule chair waiting for nothing to happen. Other than the fact that I was obliged by my mother to linger, the only other reason why I didn’t storm off was because I had my mother’s prestigious Victoria sponge that was only made on special occasions.

Tick

As time unexpectedly became an old snail, I stuffed my face with the scrumptious vanilla confection that divided me and that cold-blooded figure. No one wanted any of this. Why wouldn’t time fly by as it did when I played video games?

“Elizabeth, why don’t you tell James about how you’re feeling on moving?” her mother suggested with an off-pitch voice.

What form of question was that? Why would I ever want to hear about such an uninteresting topic? Luckily it was evident that Elizabeth felt the same way, finally something that both of us agreed on and no talking necessary.

Elizabeth

His nut-brown eyes glared upon my luscious locks. I didn’t know what I was doing here, nor did I want to be here. I tried to inform my mother that this wasn’t adequate, and in no way shape or form would I talk to him. So, I glared at her, yelling silently about my urge to leave.

His house was a gold mine, I darted my eyes around, all I could see was an intense light that made you uncomfortable. Despite their diamond filled house, from the moment I stepped on their polish floors, I knew that they weren’t as well placed as I was. Silence was all that struck my ears as I welcomed it, there was nothing I wanted more than this encounter to be over with no communication needed.

“James, why don’t you offer Elizabeth a scone?” His mother interrupted our silent contest.

I was outraged, all I needed was his filthy hands infecting my meals plus, if I wanted a scone, I was perfectly able to get one myself. Without saying a word, I simultaneously glanced at James and at the scone, figuring that my emotionless glance would answer him. As soon as that was over, I laid eyes on my mom who gave a disapproving sigh.

Looking back to see what had an appealing look at the flower coated table, something struck my eye. Right next to this table was a beige leather sofa that was cluttered with velvet pillows. Yet, there was one pillow, that had a dull scarlet tint which caught my attention. Inside this old cushion was a peculiar object that deformed its perfect shape. The more I glanced at it the more confused I became, what was it doing there? Instantaneously, a bolt flashed through my body to the top of my scalp, I darted my eyes sideways only to find James’ mother, Catherine squishing me with her angry eyes.

James

Tick

“James, I think Elizabeth would enjoy exploring the neighbourhood, why don’t you show her around?” Mother proposed.

Again, these idiotic ideas, I would answer no in a heartbeat. However, I knew that this wasn’t a question, but a command. Elizabeth immediately faced her mother as her curious eyebrows instantly became angry. Nevertheless, her mother reflected Elizabeth’s expression towards her, so she directly stood up.

Tick

n.

As I mentally prepared myself for this unwanted expedition, she went to fetch her forest green coat and I went to fetch mine. We simultaneously arrived at the large black door where she stood with a look of expectation. Soon, I understood that she was waiting for me to open the door for her which I firmly denied. As my hand twists and pulls the frigid metal door handle towards me, I stepped outside, where I immediately let go of the handle. As the door was closing, I noticed Elizabeth’s shocked expression invade her face. She rapidly caught the fleeing handle and flung the door open, immediately walking forward and stepping over my poor feet. I felt anger rush through my veins, but I decided to remain quiet, she wasn’t worth my time.

Tick, tick

Walking in synch, we headed straight to the garden square in the centre of my block. Everything was silent, and the only thing brightening our way was a dim streetlight which hung over the steel bench. I noticed her standing still in the middle of the garden square observing each vine that infested the lonely pine tree. I saw Mr. Brown, my senior neighbour, walking through the garden having Wilbert, his trusty fluffy companion, guide him through this uncomplicated maze.

Tick, tick, Tick

Boom, my heart escaped my chest and headed up right toward my throat. My vision was shortened as my eyelids started to open and close uncontrollably. Nothing was making sense, as I looked around all I could make out were smudges of inexplicit green and a friendless figure walking toward me. Thud. It all stopped, even the ticks that haunted me every second of the day.

“She is not my mother.” I whispered.

It just slipped from my purple lips, and it all made sense. I didn’t know what I was feeling, but I haven’t felt this in a long time. I felt… Free.

Elizabeth

As I looked right, I noticed someone and even though it looked like James, I knew that inside it wasn’t him. His eyes were nictating 10 times per second, and he was falling backwards, luckily his feet reacted in time to catch his lifeless body. I decided to walk towards him, and even though I didn’t want to have anything to do with him, I wasn’t a monster. I stretched my index finger about to touch his shoulder, to ask him if he was okay.

“She is not my mother.” He let out.

I was as stiff as a rock. My frigid breath left my trachea and escaped my body. I was in shock. The most shock I have ever felt in my entire life. I didn’t know what to do, so I decided to do the unthinkable.

“What do you mean?” I asked.

That was the first time we talked since I saw him.

James

“What do you mean?” she asked.

Her voice was trembling from the sound of the unheard truth. I didn’t know what to answer, I didn’t know what to do. I was lost in this pile of information, and I didn’t know how to find my way out. Nevertheless, even if we only exchanged two sentences I felt like I could continue talking to her forever, as if she was the reason why the truth decided to break out of my body.

“Catherine, she is not my mother.” I responded.

“Are you ok?” she continued, in denial, as if she thought I was sick, hopelessly waiting for me to tell her this is all a prank.

“Are you sure?”

Her tone was immediately altered. I could see in her tearful eyes that she believed me, as a single tear stroked down her pale face. I wasn’t sure what to do, all I knew was that she wasn’t someone that would escape my life so easily. I looked at her, feeling a river of water flood my dry brown eyes, preparing myself to go back to the house. We both looked at one another, our pale faces reflected each other, and so she asked the final question, one that would write out our entire future.

“So, what should we do now?”