Free In Memory by CJ Lyons

grade.”
    “Would you mind if I came along? I’d like to meet her.”
    “…Is this another thing that friends do together?”
    “I guess you could say that.”
    “I could say that?” He looked genuinely confused.
    “It’s an expression…?”
    “…I don’t understand it.”
    “Oh well, it’s not important. Shall we?”
    When we got to the Elementary School, there were young kids in school uniforms runni ng around, sitting, and waiting . L ooked around for May, despite not k nowing what she looked like. F igured she must look something like Noa h.
    A girl with brown hair in pigtails watched us closely, she was sitting on the stairs with a book open in her lap. A brown stuffed cat sat beside her. The cat was wearing a pair of glasses.
    She stood up, and stowed her book in her bright red backpack, and picked up her stuffed cat with considerable care. She hurried over to us, beaming.
    “Hi big brother! How are you today?” She was so cheerful. S omehow pictured her being as dark and serious as him. She was like day to his night.
    Noah took her hand, and we began to walk back the way we had just come.
    “We learned how to work with fractions today. I can cut pie into equal portions now. It’s a useful skill for the future, isn’t it, big brother?”
    Okay, they are similar. I have never once in my life heard a seven year old say ‘it’s a useful skill for the future’. They are a peculiar family indeed.
    May turned her big blue eyes to me. “Do you have a friend, big brother? What is his name?”
    “This is Aerie.”
    “Aerian Guildenstern, at you service, milady.” I bowed to her midstep , making her smile brightly.
    “I like him, he has a kind heart. He’s a good friend, brother.”
    These siblings do not talk like normal people.
    “What’s your friend’s name?” I asked, indicating her stuffed cat.
    “This is Car- michael . He is an angel of the lord. He’s just taking a vacation right now. So I’m taking care of him until he’s well-rested.”
    L ooked from her to Noah, who didn’t look at all surprised or confused by this statement. “Well, I’m sure you’ll do a fine job. You look very capable.”
    “I am capable. I can even make pasta myself.”
    I laughed a little at this, she’s just so cute.
    We walked a few blocks, with May occasionally telling us about her day, like how Awful Susan in her class broke all the yellow crayons, and how this was a great injustice to the colour.
    “Yellow is a colour that should be respected.” She finished with one hand on her hip and the other pointing at me. “Because it’s a mystical experience shared by everybody.”
    “Uh, um, I hold it in the highest regard.”
    “As you should.”
    Noah turned abruptly, oh, we’re at their house.
    It loomed up before us, all towering trees and iron gates . A place that brings to mind words like estate and manor.
    “Thank you for walking with us.” Noah said, bowing a little.
    “Yes, thank you.” May echoed, bowing the same as him.
    “Yeah, you’re welcome. I’ll see you tomorrow, yeah?”
    Noah nodded, beginning his trek up the driveway, holding May’s hand again.
    She let go of his hand when they had been walking a little while, running back to me.
    “Aerian Guildenstern!” She ran up to my side, holding Carmichael close to herself. “Even if brother does not come to school tomorrow, would you walk me home from school?”
    I smiled, “Sure!”
    “Thank you!” She grinned toothily at me, and then ran to catch up with Noah.
    Work today was mostly uneventful , I mostly chopped carrots . I don’t want to see carrots for a least a week now . Blah. Oh well.
    As an afterthought, I think May might have foreshadowed something by asking me to walk her home.
     
    150 Days, 30 September, Tuesday
    Interestingly enough, as I expected, Noah was not at school today. This was troubling for me in three ways:
    1.                He wasn’t there to explain Shakespeare to me
    2.