Someplace Else

Chapter One

I nervously stepped onto the escalator and clutched my sister close. Her smile showed a thousand emotions, most of which were made up of joy and excitement. All around us people chattered on phones and fumbled with their tickets. Our eyes opened wide once the long ride up the escalator was over. Voices surrounded us along with the sound of planes roaring ahead. A tall man approached us. "Hello my name is Frank and I will be assisting you today. Welcome to the Philberry Airport. Now have you ever been here?" His voice had an annoying edge and he was too enthusiastic about everything. "Um no we haven't" I replied. 'Frank' took us to a big desk and introduced us to the pretty girls working up front. I didn't like this airport. Everyone and everything was too perfect. Feeling uncomfortable I went to grab my sister's hand but all I felt was air. I quickly looked down but nothing was there. I whirled around in circles, searching in vain for Molly. My eyes rushed through the environment looking for a small seven year old dressed in a frilly turquoise skirt and a pink shirt. I thought for a minute about where a young girl would want to go in the airport. Immediately my thoughts settled on ponies, sparkles and cupcakes. I remembered upon walking to the front desk a Yum Yum Bakery. I apologized to the ladies looking at me and ran off to the Cavity Central. I spotted the strawberry blond hair squished against a display window. I darted over and picked Molly up. "Why did you run away like that!" I question, relieved that I had found her. " Because Faithy" Molly said " Mommy always loved buttercream icing cupcakes." At that I froze. "Oh" I said. "Yes mommy did didn't she." When Molly was just born my father left my mother and said that he didn't love her. He used to long  long ago when I was six but long lost arguments arose from the deepest parts of their souls and so he left. My poor mother was a teacher so she could not easily support us. She was diagnosed with cancer last year and we found the location of my father so that we could have a backup home in case she didn't make it. And last week, she didn't make it. I gripped Molly as memories came flooding back to me. One summer day it was super hot and papa was out working on the farm. Mom was at school teaching the not so smart kids and I was bored. I asked papa if I could go on a little adventure. "don't go too far. I would miss you if I lost you." that was his response everyday. I headed toward the woods to the little shortcut only me and mom knew about. When I reached the school, mom had just finished her lesson on adding fractions and all of the girls looked at me as if I was a baby bunny. They were in fifth grade and I was in kindergarten.  Mom looked at me and without saying a word. She knew why I was there. She dismissed class early and all the kids went home. We skipped all the way home together. I ran out into the field and picked some lemons. Together we made lemonade and papa, mom and I went out onto the fence overlooking our property sipping quietly. Finally mom broke the science. "Your going to have a little sister" she said casually. I looked straight into her dark blue eyes. "Really?" I asked. Before I got an answer papa and I smothered her in hugs. That was of of the best days of my life. "Faithy? Faithy!" I snapped out of my trance and looked down at my sister. "Can I get one?" Molly looked at me and then the cupcake. Me and then the cupcake.