Friday Five and Blue Eyes
Five Things for a Fall Friday:
1) My sister’s birthday
2) Nutter Butters
3) Family Dinners
4) Bowling!
5) Writing conference!
For the previous edition of Blue Eyes, go here!
Thirteen years earlier
Her father crept down the hall, pressing his ear to Layla’s door. Muffled giggles made his eyes crinkle, his lips turning up in a rare grin. ”Layla?” He turned the doorknob, cracking open the door. ”Layla, what are you doing honey?”
“Having a tea party.” Layla gestured around a pink wooden table, mismatched cups and saucers holding fruit punch and shortbread cookies. A teddy bear with one eye pleaded with him, a porcelain doll holding up her hand in invitation. He began to squat towards the empty chair, but Layla waved her arms. ”No! That’s Henry’s spot!”
“Is it?” Her father played along. ”Why Henry, I’m afraid I didn’t see you old chap! A bit short, aren’t you?”
“Henry’s taller than me, Daddy.” His daughter handed him a cookie and a chipped tea cup. ”You can sit on the bed.”
Sinking on the pink comforter, he took a bite. ”So how did you meet Henry?”
“He lives in the closet.” Layla passed out cookies to the other places. ”He said this was his room but I said I wasn’t sharing a room with a boy and he could live in the closet.”
“Good for you.” Her father reached for the package of cookies. ”What does Henry look like?”
“Red hair, freckles.” Layla took the package from her father. ”Dad! You have to save some for the other guests.”
“Right, right.” Her father swiped the teddy bear’s plate. ”Does Henry go to school?”
“No, Henry can’t go to school.” Layla poured the punch.
“And why’s that?”
Her blue eyes bore into her father’s terrified ones. ”Because his teacher is dead.”
“It’s just as well, Biscuit,” Layla muttered, climbing on the bus. ”Aunt Cornelia would have freaked if she saw him, anyway.” Threading down the aisle, she tumbled into an empty seat as the bus lurched forward.
“Saw who?”
Layla sighed as lavender whispered past, the leather seat creaking beside her. ”Hey Margaret.”
“Hey yourself. What’d you see this time?”
“Some guy. In the kitchen.” Layla rubbed Biscuit’s head as he whined, pressing closer against her. ”I hadn’t seen this one before.”
“Did Aunt Corney see him?”
“Nah. She never sees them.” Layla snorted. ”Which is my only saving grace. If she knew how many uninvited guests she had…”
Margaret snorted, her long blond ponytail sweeping across the back of the leather seat. ”I would pay to see her face.”
“It wouldn’t be pretty.” Layla nudged her. ”How’s the leg?”
Margaret winced, rubbing a swollen thigh. ”It always hurts when rains coming.”
“Good.” Layla laughed at her expression. ”Aunt C wants to go camping for the twins’ birthday. Rain means I’m not the terrible orphan they took in who doesn’t care about their precious real offspring.”
“They do sound atrocious.” Margaret grimaced. ”Any word yet?”
“Not yet.” Layla pressed her nose to the window, glaring at the school in the distance. ”I’ll find her though. I’m sure of it. It’s not her fault Aunt Cornelia keeps me locked up like a recluse.”
“And how many Elizabeth Peters can there be in Colorado?” Margaret’s green eyes twinkled. ”That’s where she moved after Arizona, right?”
“That’s what my aunt said. But I’m still sending letters to Arizona, just in case. To her old address.” Layla frowned. ”If they’d let me get an after school job, I could make enough to hire an investigator.”
“What would you do?” Margaret asked as the bus slowed to a stop.
Layla shrugged. ”I’d think of something.” The bus doors hissed, creaking open. Kids streamed out, leaping into the river of chaos feeding into the school. ”See you tomorrow?”
“Like always.” Margaret waved.
Whimpering, Biscuit scuttled out in the aisle, leading Layla down the stairs. The doors slapped shut behind her, the bus lurching forward with a groan. She turned and waved as the bus pulled away.
“Who are you waving at?” the boy behind her asked. ”There’s no one on the bus.” He snorted. ”Are you blind?”
She didn’t even bother to respond. Her eyes said it all.
Stay tuned, Invisible Friends! We have a week of whimsy coming up!
October 7th, 2011 at 2:59 am
Happy Birthday, Sis! (She looks like you.)
And I loved your pumpkin bread!
October 7th, 2011 at 2:59 am
This story is getting more and more intriguing. I’m not sure if Layla can see or if she can see too much. This is a great, interesting suspenseful story.
October 7th, 2011 at 3:00 am
Your sister has your smile. Tell her that I’m wishing her a happy happy birthday.
October 7th, 2011 at 3:45 am
Yes, PW is on the list…she’s the 4th one.
October 7th, 2011 at 4:10 am
Nutter butters, I’m fairly certain, make life better.
October 7th, 2011 at 5:32 am
Happy, Happy Birthday to your sister!
October 7th, 2011 at 5:46 am
NUTTER BUTTERS.
Mr. A loves Nutter Butters more than any human being probably should.
http://www.glamkittenslitterbox.com/
Twitter: @GlamKitten88
October 7th, 2011 at 5:52 am
Nutter butters are the bomb! And yay for birthdays! Happy birthday!
October 7th, 2011 at 6:02 am
Happy b’day to your sissy!
Bowling would be something fun to go do…haven’t been in a while.
October 7th, 2011 at 6:30 am
have such a great weekend!
October 7th, 2011 at 7:34 am
Happy Birthday to your sister.
Have a great weekend.
October 7th, 2011 at 7:36 am
Happy birthday to your sister and happy weekend to you!
October 7th, 2011 at 7:36 am
How funny! I used to have imaginary friends, too. My grandma always likes to tell me about how I yelled at one once when I was four, “Damnit, Lachel! Get in the car!” Happy Happy Birthday to your sis!
October 7th, 2011 at 7:44 am
Fun post, darling!
Happy bday to your sis!
xoxox,
CC
October 7th, 2011 at 8:28 am
Hope your sister has a wonderful birthday.
Another great installment to the story – I am really loving this tale!
October 7th, 2011 at 12:38 pm
This one is really, REALLY good. I can’t wait to see where this story goes.
October 7th, 2011 at 12:49 pm
Love fridays too, I love cooking on Friday. maybe look some cookbooks or read others and got to bed early LOL!! is more relax, dear have a nice weekend and happy birthday to your sis… gloria
October 7th, 2011 at 1:06 pm
NUTTER BUTTERS!!!!!! I need them.
Have a wonderful weekend daaaahling!
*kisses* HH
October 7th, 2011 at 2:50 pm
The Nutter Butters get me every time! Happy Birthday to your sister. We have a family birthday this week as well!
October 7th, 2011 at 3:08 pm
Happy birthday to your sister! I want the pumpkin bread from your last post!
October 7th, 2011 at 4:06 pm
Happy birthday to your sister! Oh, I am *so afraid* to go to writing conferences. I need to get over my shyness one of these years.
October 7th, 2011 at 4:39 pm
Happy Birthday, Duckie’s Sister!
I’m enjoying this story!
October 7th, 2011 at 5:25 pm
Happy birthday to your sister. Great story! I will love to read more.
October 7th, 2011 at 5:53 pm
mmm nutter butter. yum!
happy bday to your sis
October 7th, 2011 at 7:11 pm
Awww. You have a great talent for writing!
Mmmm. Nutter Butters.
October 7th, 2011 at 7:31 pm
It looks like a whole lot of happiness going on.
October 8th, 2011 at 1:52 am
Aww you two look so similar!
October 8th, 2011 at 9:54 am
Happy Birthday to your sister!
Have a nice Sunday!
Ah, bowling is so funny
October 8th, 2011 at 4:44 pm
Love your five things for a fall Friday – so cute! Happy birthday to your sister.
October 8th, 2011 at 8:10 pm
I just realized. I can’t think of the last time I had a nutter butter. I need to re-visit deliciousness. Also the pumpkin bread looks amazing. I love the mold you use.
October 9th, 2011 at 1:34 am
Happy birthday to your sister and hope the writing conference is fun!
xoxo,
Chic ‘n Cheap Living
October 9th, 2011 at 11:59 am
Remembering invisible friends…takes me back!
October 9th, 2011 at 10:05 pm
Seems very SIxth Sense so far… enjoying it! Hope the writing conference was fabulous.
October 9th, 2011 at 10:36 pm
Aw, happy birthday to your sister! And seriously, that Nutter Butter froyo… Mmmmmmm.
xo Josie
http://www.winksmilestyle.com
October 10th, 2011 at 5:19 am
Very suspenseful story! And great writing as always.
Happy birthday to your sister and I LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE nutter butters
October 12th, 2011 at 6:06 pm
Happy late birthday to your sister!!