His Puppets.....

*One*

 It was the 3rd day, after her 17th birthday, “ugh!” she shrugged, “Not school again, how boring”.

 “Glee..?...“called Grace, “hope you’ve cleared yourself off the bed, you don’t want to be carried alongside your bed into the moving van”, she said in a sing-along- kind of manner.

Grace a very fine woman.  A definition of beauty personified.  She was the type of woman, you just couldn’t  just get enough of, no matter how long you looked, charming,  able to hold a conversation, understanding, shy, funny, a good mother, great cook, great  listener, open minded all in one.

  The type of woman she always prayed to kiss her goodnight, whenever she was tucked into bed.  This few days, were really full of bliss and she was loved it.

Maybe….maybe that’s why he loved her or should I say he was obsessed….of course that was it, who wouldn’t……Glee thought…..

“I’m on my way to the bathroom ma, would be done in a moment, the fastest moment of bathing ever, to join you and dad at the table! “ She teased.

 “You better be quick, or else the table would be in the van, before you get here and you’d have to eat, without it” she said, reminding Glee that the moving van would be there in any moment. 

   The moving van was bound to come in any minute and Grace wanted her family to have this one last breakfast in their soon to be vacated home, where they had created and shared tons of memories, to a place where they would share even more beautiful memories or so, she thought….

Yes, today was the day, they were moving to a bigger and more comfy place, where they would now call home.  She was sure going to miss the old house, but at the same time she was excited about the move

 Ben landed some cool deal, and thought it was time to move to somewhere else that was more comfy,  they could afford it , without much stress and the time was now, so why not.  Anyways it was due time, due time to start another chapter with their much, much, growing daughter, Glee, their bundle of joy, that became a part of their home and life 17years ago.

“Ma” she called out, as she forced the pair of unyielding pants, up her legs. “ I hope you made Scrambled eggs!, I’d love to have them especially”…. well she thought to herself, I could make some changes to Glee, it would seem something ordinary, that just has to do with growing up.

“Huh?”, Grace , exclaimed an ounce of  surprise in her voice.” you’d never have them baby, why the sudden change of heart after almost 15 years of me trying to make you eat them, I know you’re joking , come on now, it’s too early stop kidding around. She laughed..

“But I am really serious mom.”  “Oh!” Grace exclaimed, “My bad, I’d do well to make you some when we settle at our new place, I honestly thought you were joking”

“Oh my world!” …... Grace exclaimed, taking a good look at Glee, walking towards her, she gave her a long stare, examining her closely she suddenly exclaimed, holding back  the hearty laughter  that built up within her and was about to burst her lungs.

“ Hey you”, she mimed pointing  towards the stairs,” “bring my Glee  back immediately, I know she wanted to keep this back pack forever untouched as of three years ago, what a miracle! “  Ben her dad, added “Yeah, vividly remember she said she was going to keep it unused for a very long time. 

On hearing that she ran upstairs, removed her school materials from the bag, hung it on the wall then, left the room she wanted to respect her wishes and didn’t want to tamper with anything.

  Three years ago, Uncle Sam gifted her, a back pack he got on his trip to Finland. Glee, for once never wanted to use it, instead it hung in a safe place , still packed in the transparent bag uncle Sam had brought it  in,  untouched till date,  but today, a miracle happened one that required , Tens of Angels Apparently. 

Returning to the table, without the bag, Grace asked her why and she said” nothing, it’s nothing to worry about mom” “Oh baby girl we didn’t mean for you to remove it you know”… “No mom, I don’t think it’s time to use it yet just wasn’t time. “Ok” Grace agreed

Now eat up, you’re running late and the food is getting cold, dig in please she encouraged 

  “Now quick, we’ve had a good amount of breakfast-bonding, now it’s time to finish up and get going”.           “Ma?”, Glee inquired, making a teary face. ”no scrambled eggs”  Grace looked up to her, she thought to herself, her daughter was really evolving,

“You’ll have some later baby, I’m quite excited you want some, but I hope you aren’t pulling my legs  ok, no worries, I’d make it up to you  at the new place, that would really make   a good start.  She said patting her hair.

   There were quite a number of things Glee didn’t like, for example having scrambled eggs. Though at her request, this morning, Grace was both surprised and as well elated that Glee at age 17, she was going to have scrambled eggs, though she was never going to force her, but she wished, she would love to eat them someday, just like her and that was finally going to happen after 17years.

Ben also didn’t like scrambled eggs and was happy Glee didn’t want anything to do with them too, but seems like that’s all about to change…. He frowned in a funny way at knowing that, he gave out a warm laughter.  “It seems I don’t have a partner in crime anymore”….

   Glee, as baby brought smiles to the faces of everyone she came in contact with. She was the beauty of everything her parents ever wanted. She was selective, with people though, but her charming personality, drew them even closer

 “Baby you forgot to kiss ma goodbye”. On hearing that, Glee turned around, and shyly walked up to her and kissed her on the cheeks. ” And how about me?” her dad asked, beaming with smile, the warmest smile she had ever known, she hugged him shyly and ran off to catch the bus.

  Last night, she had discussed how she had wanted to join the school bus and would love to do that today. Grace and Ben were always give Glee some leisure, but also knew how to shut out excess. They knew what was important for her development and what wasn’t.

 Lucky stars, they got a child who understands and respected them. Grace and Ben watched as the result of their ever blossoming love, hopped into the bus, they had for the first time allowed her go to school via the bus.

   Grace wanted to say something but, wasn’t sure, Ben knew what it was and helped her say it.   It has   always been some kind of inner connection they’ve had.   He said the words. ” Honey, our baby is evolving, she grown on a different kind of level”. “Yes, she is” Grace added “and even for the better”.

They both stood there watching, for a moment, as her bus drove away, heading for school, they watched and waved back heartily as she waved good-bye to them.

    A long van drove in, it was the movers. They had finally arrived, ready to start moving their belonging.

  Ben held her hand and drew her close to his side. ” Are you ready for a new start my love?”  He asked. “Absolutely” she replied “Woke up ready, ready for it all”.     

In her own little world, sitting in the bus, she thought….  “What would it be like at the new place”. Delighted it was going to be all new, much easy to grasp.  “Lucky I learn fast, so lucky I do.”

  As she alighted from the bus, a group of girls ran up to her.  “Hello Glee…eeee….” she responded with a wave.  ”I enjoyed, you’re birthday party”, one said.   Another chipped in.  “Mom says she would throw something similar on my own birthday, I loved the whole setting, so I begged her to do the same for me”.

 As always the Mathews, that was their surname. Knew how to be at the top of everything without moving much of a muscle, whatever they did , however little , was highly valued, talked about , recreated, name it.  They were what you’d call the “Pacesetters”. But they still led, a much simple life, one moment they were the talk of the town, because of their influence and the next quite, reserved.

“A day in school, we can pull this off.” She assured herself. “I even I can do this, I AM GLEE”…..with that she, walked into the hall, head high as she was taught, to do.…..