Stories We Share
“So he’s rounding the corner, drifts into a long slide across the wooden floor, yelling at the top of his lungs ‘I’m outta control!’. And he crashes right into the Christmas tree, knocking things everywhere.”
Laughter burst out around the table while I covered my face with my hands. My uncle had effectively put me into a hole six feet deep, then left me there, desperately trying to bury myself with my own hands. My family typically used me an entertaining scapegoat, due to my constant antics and natural tendency to get into troublesome situations. I had always been the odd one in the family, always marching to the beat of my own drummer.
“rMmmmmm,” I groaned, peeking through my fingers at the bemused expressions splashed across their faces, like haphazardly thrown paint across canvas.
“There are times when having you around is a good thing,” Lynn sneered quietly.
Shooting her glare, I mouthed, “Shut it or else…”
“Come on…why don’t you tell some stories about Lynn? It’s not exactly fair you know. She’s awkward and not that bright…she has some funny stories too.” I knew that I was whining a bit, but I was going to shift the focus off me however I could.
I could feel the scowl and her evil eyes boring into my skull, but I fended them off with a snicker and a grin that only caused my cousin’s scowl to deepen.
“You know, I hear that you get wrinkles if you scowl too much,” I said teasingly, looking in Lynn’s direction. “Isn’t that true?” I asked, my wide-eyed gaze sweeping from my cousin to my aunt, sitting just to her right.
“Oh well…I don’t have problems with wrinkles. But I’m going to go wash my hands before dessert. I’ll be right back.” Hopping up and excusing myself from the table, I started away before anyone could respond.
“Alright. Well, when Lynn was about 5…” I heard my aunt’s voice say, as it slowly mixed into the ambient noise and faded into the background. Finally, I was free.
Strolling out of the restroom, I checked my hands to see if they were totally dry, and ran into Steph as she was coming out of the women’s restroom.
“Oh hey! Didn’t see you there.”
“Hellos. I had to go to the restroom too.” she replied.
“Are my aunt and uncle still telling stories?” I queried.
“Actually, my parents started sharing stories about my brother, so I thought I should go before they started with me,” she said, while laughing to herself.
Her laughter was like the tinkling of silver bells, pure notes of innocent clarity. They floated and danced through the slightly humid air, finding a perch among the rafters. I couldn’t help but smile seeing her laughter light up her face.
“Let’s go somewhere else.”
“But isn’t everyone waiting for us at the table?”
“No, I told our families that we were going to go outside after I found you.”
“Oh…?”
“Come on,” she coaxed, and grabbed my hand with both of hers.
“But where are we…” I questioned her haltingly.
Without saying a word, she smiled, tugged at my hand, and off we ran through the lobby doors and into the darkening night sky.
