Sunday
"Wake up, baby. It's almost 11 o'clock." Spoke Sisika's soft voice.
Aiyana moaned as her aunt threw open the curtains allowing the sun to shine through.
Donning a long floral pattern sundress and a tribal necklace, Sisika stood at 5'8", with a slender build, and long braided hair that fell to the mid of her back. With the sun behind her, one could barely notice the the freckles, or the soft wrinkles starting to form on the corners of her lips. Nontheless she was a native woman with a fair complexion, and looked so much younger for someone in her late 40's.
"It's kinda stuffy in here." Sisika said as she decided to open the bedroom window.
She watched Aiyana escape from the sunlight underneath her leopard print fleece blanket. Sisika smirked, and shook her head in amusement. She then walked toward the stereo that was located on Aiyana's dresser. She pulled out a paper sleeve containing a Compact Disk from the pocket of her sweater. She then removed the CD from the sleeve, and placed it into the stereo system.
This caught Aiyana's attention.
"What- what are doing?" She groaned groggily.
"You got home kinda late, aye, kiddo?" Sisika said as she skipped through a few tracks on the CD player.
"Mmm. Did I?"
" Yes, you did, little lady. And as your punishment for waking every damn mutt in the neighborhood; You will be taking care of the chores for the next several days for each dog that was barking lastnight."
"Ugh..."
"But, that's not all."
Aiyana lifted her head.
"If you do not get your hungover ass up right now, and go down stairs to eat breakfast, I will be singing a certain song with a certain 4 non blondes." Sisika threatened.
Aiyana's eyes widened. She knew instantly what Sisika was talking about the moment her mouth mentioned the name of that band.
Click
An acoustic guitar played through the speakers with that far too familiar composition.
Aiyana flipped her blanket, rolled off the bed, kicked into her slippers, grabbed her zipped hoodie from the floor, and jammed her favorite red toque onto her head.
By that time, the rest of the band had joined in with the acoustic guitar.
She just had enough time to stumble out the door before the first verse began.
Sisika laughed maniacally and raised the volume after Aiyana slammed the door behind her.
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Muffled behind the door, Aiyana could hear her aunt singing along with Linda Perry.
It would roughly take 5 minutes, she thought, rubbing her eyes. She then continued lazily to the second floor bathroom.
With her eyes closed, Aiyana would sit on the commode before actually peeing. Cradling her head, elbows to knees, and mentally nursing a headache. Then she would wash her hands, chug down a couple cups of water, comb her hair, quickly apply deodorant, zip up her hoodie and specifically tilt her red toque lower to the left, covering half her eyebrow.
When Aiyana finished adjusting everything, that's when she notced a sharp ache in her shoulder.
She popped a couple asperin and drowned it down with more water.
Aiyana looked into the mirror and saw a hungover, but, new 21 year old version of herself. Black wavy hair, olive skin, slender face, above average looks (so she would like to think), and a couple deep brown eyes.
She thought back to the night before. She remembered that she had a few drinks at Whiskey Jack's with her friends last night to celebrate her birthday. And that they were dancing next to the juke box while throwing darts at some of the local boys. But, after that, nothing. She didn't remember coming home...
Or how she got that hickey she just discovered on her collarbone.
"Shit, aye." Aiyana thought as she giggled.
"You ain't doing that again." She said pointing to her reflection.
By the time she'd exit the room, she would be greeted with the scent of bacon mixed with strong coffee in the air. Aiyana took a deep breath through her nostrils and sighed happily.
Uncle Jacy.
Aiyana noted the silence. Her door was now wide open.
Oh. Good. The 5th non blonde is gone.
As she walked by, Aiyana glanced inside her room just to be sure.
Sisika was no longer in there, and her bed was made.
Aiyana smiled and shook her head.
Moms.
She then continued her way downstairs.
Aiyana looked left into a cluttered living room, and turned right to see her older cousin, Rozene.
She was sitting, cradling a cup of coffee on the dining room table. Her dark hair was disheveled, and she was looking out through the window, opposite direction of where Aiyana was standing. Rozene was roughly the same height as her cousin, but an inch shorter. It looked as though she had just gotten up as well, wearing pink flannel pj's and a black Betty Page t-shirt.
Aiyana stretched her arms above her head and walked into the room.
"Good morning, Rozy."
Rozene turned her head revealing a tired smile, freckled face and bright brown eyes.
"Good morning to you, as well, Ms. Aiya." Rozene nodded and lifted her mug in greeting. "So, how is the birthday girl feeling? Did you have fun last night? Oh, and you're welcome by the way." Rozene sipped her coffee.
"For what?" Aiyana wondered as she took a seat next to Rozene.
Rozene broke out in laughter.
"What...? Come on. Tell me." Aiyana nudged her cousin.
"Well, I'm guessing that in your drunken stupor, you wouldn't remember slamming into the front door. THAT woke me and the mutts up. For a second there, I honestly thought you were a bear with how the dogs were barking and howling." Rozene paused, took another sip and grinned. "And here's the funny part, when I came downstairs to see what caused the noise, I discovered you trying to pry this open here." She nodded toward the dining room window. " I must of watched you for a good minute before you gave up. And what do you do next? You start howling along with the mutts." Rozene mimicked Aiyana's intoxicated howling then laughed.
"Oh, god..."
"Yep. I was trying to get you to shut up. But, by that time, it was waaay too late. You had awoken the folks. I honestly don't know how they slept through the crash and the dogs. But, I had to open the door for you and get dad to carry you upstairs. Oh, and mom was pretty pissed with you, as well. You should have seen the way she was glaring at you. She did her "Ice Queen" stare. The one where she does a half squint, subtle shaking of the head and pouting of her lips." Rozene finished, doing her best interpretation of her mother's look of disapproval.
"Shit. That bad, aye?" Aiyana slouched over the table.
"Mm-hm" Rozene nodded.
"Well, that speaks for the pain in my arm. But, it doesn't explain this." Aiyana lowered her hoodie revealing the bruise.
Rozene squealed and laughed almost falling off her chair.
Aiyana just had to join in with Rozene in her laughter. Considering what she just found out, the situation was pretty funny. Even though Rozene was 2 years older then her and technically her cousin, Aiyana viewed her as a sister of same age. They both grew up in the same house. Shared the same clothes. And even a bed at a certain period in their childhood. Aiyana cared for Rozene a whole lot more then just as a cousin.
"So, do we know the boy that defiled your chest?" A deep voice interrupted, startling the girls.
They both turned simultaneously to be greeted by a large, smiling man with a mug and plate of food.
Jacy was a tall, dark, and aged adonis with long hair that fell over broad shoulders. He was dressed in a plain black t-shirt and wrangler jeans that were held up by a leather belt. His teeth were white, cheekbones high, and his jawline straight. Despite the wrinkles in the corners of his almond shaped eyes, and graying strands of hair, he could probably pass for a model.
"Assuming it was a boy." He said with a wink.
"I-uh... wouldn't know." Aiyana blushed.
The aroma of bacon, eggs, toast, hash browns, coffee, and body wash slapped Aiyana's nose as Jacy sat down left of her. He placed the mug and plate down in front of Aiyana and gave her a pat on the back.
"Crazy kid." Jacy said with a smile. "Happy birthday."
"Thanks, Uncle." Aiyana threw one arm over Jacy and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.
"Mmmm. 'Dack Janiels.'" Jacy noted. "The good stuff. You might want to shower later on. For all our sakes." With his hand he motioned all three of them. "You know how Sisika feels about liquor. Even the smell of it bugs her."
"Speaking of, where is mom?" inquired Rozene.
"I'm not supposed to say. But, it has to do with Aiyana's birthday present." Jacy said as he stood up and walked through the door he came from.
"OH MY GOD!" Rozene's eyes widened and her eyebrows shot up. She grabbed Aiyana's right arm and started jumping in her seat.
"Ow... your nails are digging in."
"I'm sorry. But-OH MY GOD!" Rozene screamed louder.
Aiyana pulled away.
"My ear... Are you twelve?" She rubbed her arm. "You're acting like those crazy people on 'The Price is Right'."
"I know, I know, but it isn't every day that mom would disappear from the house just to get a gift!" Rozene said with a smile.
Aiyana thought about the point Rozene made. Sisika was not the type of person to drive out into the mainland this early in on a Sunday. Not unless it was an emergency, or very important personal business. In this case, her adopted daughter's birthday?
Is it really that important? Aiyana thought.
Jacy returned to the dining room with his own and Rozene's plate of food. They sat together as a family, minus one, talking and laughing about the night before.
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Sisika had finished her song, made Aiyana's bed and knocked on Rozene's bedroom door. The room was vacant. She then continued downstairs to the kitchen where her husband was flipping bacon strips and her daughter sleepily poured coffee. She smiled at the sight of her family.
"Good morning, baby." Sisika sneaked a kiss Rozene's head as she passed by.
"Aye!" Rozene exclaimed. "Mom. It's been 6 years! Six!" Rozene raised her hand indicating the number 5, then raising her index, which added up to 6."6 years since you made that promise not to do that any more." She wiped her head. "Why did you choose now to break it?"
"Oh, shut up and drink your coffee. You're being overly dramatic. Also grumpy because you don't have caffeine in your system." Teased Sisika avoiding the question.
(To be continued and edited...)