Basket of Cupcakes

Now, if there is anything at all Kiki had mastered as Ben’s only child, it was the art of procrastination and manipulation. So the moment Ben disappeared behind their front doors, Kiki chucked her bag aside and decided she’ll enjoy the afternoon breeze instead and daydream. So she kicked her shoes off and settled back and stared up thru the leaves at the afternoon sky and rays of the sun that seemed to shoot through the leaves like lasers.

Soon enough she dozed off into a deep slumber. After some time she was awoken by a strangely familiar voice. She was sure she heard her mum’s voice whispering in her ear to wake up. When she awoke, she noticed she was now covered with her blanket even though it was still bright out. She couldn’t have been asleep for too long as the sun seemed to be in the same position. Her dad probably discovered her asleep and threw over a blanket even though it was a summer afternoon. It did feel a bit chilly now with a light wind rising in the air.

It seemed to Kiki that she was likely to be out of the house for a while and she didn’t mind at all. The sandman’s bags were still sitting on her eyelids so she tucked herself back in and dozed off. Another whisper woke her, this time she was up and alert. Am I hearing ghosts? She thought, frozen with fear to move, leave alone scream. She slowly moved her wide eyes from side to side but saw nothing.

A leaf fell on her back and she jumped in fright as she turned around. She let go of the breath she was holding in when she realized what it was.

Maybe it was all in my mind.

She thought as she peered over the back of the couch to make sure. When she discovered there was nothing but their overgrown grass, she let out a sigh of relief and lay back. When she opened her eyes though, she realized very quickly, that the one direction she did not investigate, was up. There, floating above her was what looked like her mum but in a transparent ghostly way.

“Look at you darling, what a beautiful young munchkin you are!” Said the apparition as it floated closer to Kiki, becoming clearer and clearer until she looked like a solid person that you could touch and feel. The thing is, when she caressed Kiki’s face, Kiki felt her touch and there was no denying her mother’s touch and smell. Kiki swung her arms around her neck and cried in her shoulders. “Mum, you’ve come back. I missed you, is our home ready now? Can we stay with you now?”

Kiki’s mum, Ella, or Ella’s ghost, for now, looked a bit confused. Home? She thought, Oooooh, Ben’s story I imagine, to make my disappearance a bit easier.

Bless his heart. “How is dada doing? I miss him so much.”

“He will be so excited to see you, Mama.” And at that, she shouted for her dad.

“No honey, he can’t hear you, I have a protective layer around us, look,” and Ella motioned around them with her palm still keeping her eyes on Kiki admiringly as Kiki looked around and realized it looked like they were sitting in a bubble. She was dazzled by the colours as the sun highlighted the orb in swirls of colour that seemed to move around them as if by magic. Ella could have stared at her awestruck daughter forever but she had to bring her attention back.

”We don’t have much time before the barrier disappears chicken, so listen carefully. I am not dead dear, but at the same time, I am not part of this earth anymore. There is a book hidden here, in this oak, but it only reveals a signal of its location on a full moon, it changes the signals it reveals, so I can’t tell you what it may be, or where the book will be but trust yourself Kiki, find the book, it is the only chance I have of returning.”

“But dad will never let me out at night”. Said Kiki sounding hopeless.

“If there’s anything your dad loves, it’s a barbeque, tell him you want one tonight with your buddies and he will not refuse. That way you can be out when the moon rises.”

Ella’s last words faded into the winds and as she disappeared, so did the barrier.

Ben came out a few minutes later.

“I see sleeping beauty is awake!

Just in time, we can move the couches back in and go back to normal living. Grab you bag peanut and hold on tight, you’re going for a ride.” One of the men that were working on the inside grabbed the one end while Ben grabbed the other and up Kiki went, giggling as she flew thru the air as though she were riding a magic couch. Once everything was set and she was done with her homework and evening bath, Ben asked what she would like for dinner. “A barbeque!” Yelled Kiki, without a second thought.

“Oh that sounds like a plan Kiks, but I am too tired today to fire up any barbeque. We can definitely have a barbeque tomorrow, but today I was thinking more along the lines of take-out, maybe some cheeseburgers, I know that’s your favourite?”

“NO! I want barbeque!” Cried Kiki rather deafeningly. She didn’t want to disappoint her mum or wait for the next full moon to rescue her.

“Kiki! What’s got into you suddenly? I said we will have a barbeque tomorrow, didn’t I? Today I am just very tired.”

She knew there was no way Ben would change his mind. Kiki started to panic. How was she going to get all the way to the oak tree now? What could she possibly do? Aha, an idea struck.

“Fine, then can we eat outside!”

Yelled Kiki.

“That I can do, smiled Ben, it is a cool summer night to be out and from what I can see, it promises to be a bright night, let me call for our take out, I don’t even want to drive right now.

“Kiki’s smile returned and she hugged Ben. “I’ll take the camp chairs out, dad.”

Everything was back on track.

She really hoped she would be able to see the moons signal. She often stared up at the moon and thought of her mum, so she hoped tonight the moon remembered her and was kind enough to help her find the book.