The Beginning of of KP's First Adventure

KP couldn’t believe the adventure she was about to go on. She practically skipped the entire way home. A real life adventure! The world seemed to practically sparkle. Was this really happening? The only hurdle was convincing Lydia Ann.

 KP tried to focus on the path ahead, and ignore the feeling of needing to glance back. To confirm that she hadn’t imagined Shane, that the butterfly woman hadn’t disappeared. That her dream hadn’t fluttered away from reality on yellow wings. 

The sudden thought filled KP with such fear that she forced herself to keep pace with Shane’s unhurried walk. Able to see her out of the corner of her eye. 

Shane kept a steady slow pace. As if she had no fear in the world, even though she had no idea what they were about to face. As if going to the Dreamworld and facing sea witch mothers’ was just a normal Saturday. Adventures such these probably were her everyday normal. KP felt a deep longing for the day magical adventures were her everyday norm. 

Her sense of sparkle dampened as they turned the corner. 

2410 Highlands Drive-a silver car parked in the driveway. 

Time to face her mother. 

~~*~~

After 48 minutes of begging, pleading, and presenting her case to Lydia Ann it had gone exactly as KP had expected. 

Not well. 

Lydia Ann had been reading on the front porch when KP approached the house, unaware of her daughters existence until KP had cleared her throat for attention. 

Shane hidden from Lydia Anns view due to the tall willow tree in the front yard and thick porch columns, rested calmly on the side of Lydia Ann’s car. 

KP had stopped when Shane had first leaned against the car, waiting for her to take the lead. However Shane had just nodded her forward, “This first part has got to be all you kid.”

The timer had started when KP with one long breath began her story.

“Mom, I met a butterfly in the park today. It turned into a human and told me about a land called the Dreamworld. Your home. She said she knew of a magical necklace hidden in the world with healing properties that would cleanse people of darkness. And…and.. I know your the adopted daughter of sea gods and that when you left the Dreamworld the powers turned dark and how you can’t control them anymore and Shane said she would help find the necklace for you if I helped get her into the Dreamworld, but the necklace won’t work in the real world, and so you have to come to Dreamworld. And I really wanna do this so your eyes don’t turn green anymore and I really need you to come with us and….and…yeah that’s all.” 

KP’s ability to tell a long story without taking a breath should have been considered a magical power. The girl hadn’t taken a single breath during her monologue. 

Unfortunately, after she caught her breath a few seconds later she had no use for it. 

She hadn’t been unable to get more than 5 words out at a time since her mother had started talking at her.

For the last 48 minutes.

“KP you’re crazy, I am not the daughter of some sea witch.” A snort with a mocking tone, “ Pssh, met a yellow butterfly that turned into a woman. Really? You expect me to believe that? I know you like to read, and you’ve always had a problem with lying, but this is far fetched even for you. I am going to have to ground you from reading if you keep making things up. “

“But Mom I’m not…”

“Don’t you Mom me. I can’t stand it when you lie to me.” Her tone became angry, and her eyes began to swirl green. KP took a step back. “How come you lie to just me and no one else? No one ever believes me when I talk about the stories you make up. Then I look like the bad guy, and you look like the perfect kid to everyone else. I know different though. I remember when you lied about your stomach hurting so you would’t have to go to that movie with me and you could hang out with your Grandmother. I came home to you to chatting it up in her backyard and planting blackberries. You are a liar who wants attention. One day making up stories will catch up with you and no one will believe you and everyone will know I was really telling the truth. How about you try showing your mother a little bit of respect?”

“Please believe me, I’m not….”

“Oh for the love of God, can we please stop talking about this. I’m trying to read. I’ve had the worst day already, can’t you understand that I need a little quiet time.” Lydia Ann waved her book in the air. “Your sister threw a fit this morning when her overalls were dirty and couldn’t wear them to practice. It was hell trying to drop her off at gymnastics this morning. Your father left his dirty work clothes in the bedroom hamper, covering my work clothes, getting them smelly and dirty. Does he care? NO! I had to run to the store to get more degreaser so I can wash my clothes tonight and not go to work in morning with stains everywhere. So I know I’m the worst mother in the world,” making quotation marks with her hand, “for not playing make believe with you.” More quotation marks. “But please just understand that I need a minute of peace and quiet.”

“It’s really important that we…”

“Am I ever going to get any god forsaken peace again? A minute to myself to just breathe. What did I do wrong to get such a daughter? Such a selfish daughter who hears about how awful her mother’s day is and still keeps talking. I don’t know what else I can do differently, how I can get you to listen to me. I just want a moment of peace and quiet.”

“But Mom I’m not…”

“KP! Shut up, or I…”

Now it was Lydia Ann’s turn to get less than five words out. 

Frozen mid sentence, face switching from anger to shock as a shadow spilled out in front of KP. 

Shane had stepped forward from behind the tree and placed herself at KP’s back. 

“Well, well, well, Lydia Ann. You are exactly as I remember.”