The Park, Monday Sundown

[solarhippie]

Just like a portal had appeared in the park on Saturday morning, one now appeared late on Monday again. But whereas the first portal had sent children of various ages and parentages tumbling onto the island, this one sent out a call that all said children had to heed.

It was time to say goodbye and go home.

Comments

Re: Delay the inevitable!

[pasunereveuse.livejournal.com]

"I'm sure your other Mama and Daddy miss you," Celia was hedging as she led Margaret by the hand to the portal. "The Mama with the darker hair, right?"

Re: Delay the inevitable!

[bornachallenger.livejournal.com]

"Yes," Margaret said solemnly, clinging to her mother's hand. "Mama with black hair, and Daddy. How come Daddy wasn't here?"

Re: Delay the inevitable!

[pasunereveuse.livejournal.com]

"I wish I knew, sweetheart," Celia said, a little sadly. She knelt before the child, smoothing her curls and her crinoline. "You're sure you can't tell me Daddy's grown-up name before you go?"

Re: Delay the inevitable!

[bornachallenger.livejournal.com]

Margaret shook her head. "I don't know it. And it'll mess things up if you know!"

Re: Delay the inevitable!

[pasunereveuse.livejournal.com]

"Mess what things up?" That was more than she'd gotten all weekend, and Celia latched onto that shred of information with all her being.

Re: Delay the inevitable!

[bornachallenger.livejournal.com]

Margaret reached for her mother's left hand, turning it over curiously. "Black-haired Mama doesn't have this," she said, tapping her finger on Celia's scar. She turned her eyes up towards Celia's, looking sad. "I'm gonna miss you, Mama."

Re: Delay the inevitable!

[pasunereveuse.livejournal.com]

Well. That was cryptic.

Celia set it aside for the moment, though, and let herself feel what she'd been denying herself all weekend. She'd resisted the idea that this was her child, her daughter, who loved her and needed a teacher, not practice. She'd resisted the idea that Margaret might need her -- if not her black-haired mother of the future, then her fifteen year-old self. She'd balked at the idea of motherhood, without remembering how much she had ached for a mother, at this age.

And that was what drove her forward to wrap her arms around the mysterious little girl, who she no longer could deny was hers. "I'll miss you too, Margaret."

Re: Delay the inevitable!

[bornachallenger.livejournal.com]

Margaret clung tightly, burying her face in Celia's shoulder. "Come with me."

Re: Delay the inevitable!

[pasunereveuse.livejournal.com]

"You know I can't," Celia said, hugging her tightly before letting her go. And maybe her vision was a touch blurry, now. "I'll see you when you get there, all right? Tell your black-haired mother I said hello."