• Smiling upon heaven.

    Chapter 1.

    “Dad I’m going to mom’s house for the school year ok?” I said with disbelief in my voice, my eyes never meting his anymore. “Sure Henry, for half the year like last time?” he said with a smile I supposed. “No, for the full year, and if I like it maybe for another year or two…” I said still not looking at his face. I could feel his expression change when I finished and he got back to watching the road “Is it something that involves me…” he started to say but, I interrupted him before he could finish. “No, it’s just me and Alison just broke up, and I don’t want to make it weird.” I said, I knew he wasn’t buying it; I break up with girls all the time. “And that, I haven’t seen mom in a while” I finally said to break the silence. He nodded agreeing with what I said, and pulled in the drive. “Well, I better head off to work, call your mother and tell her I said hi, and don’t trash the house, bye Henry” he said and pulled out faster than he came in, I waved good bye and went inside. The house was just as it always is, soft brown walls, leather sofas, flat screen TV, all the same. When I passed the kitchen I saw the mirror that was oddly placed before the phone.

    I looked at myself looking at the colors I hold and the religions I believe. I’m only 5’8’’, spiked black hair, tanned with Indian blood running through my veins, and barely muscular. I looked over at what seemed to me a horrible body and looked at my list of calls. I looked at each picture and name, and finally noticed I was missing one. Alison’s. I sighed in grief then looked at my next ‘date’ “Karen? No, she isn’t cute enough. Rose? Nah too blonde. Amanda…. Too Goth.” I keep looking until I found my moms number and gave up having a final date before I leave. When my mother picked up the phone she said in a hectic voice “hello? Toni Labratto speaking” I wondered if she was speaking then I finally got the courage to speak up “hey mom, can I come to your place this school year? Life is tough here. I broke up with my 17 girlfriend today.” I said mocking myself a little, “sure, when do you want me to send the tickets?” She said in her sweet honey voice. I paused for a second to find the right words then said, “I already got them, I’m coming tonight. Don’t tell dad, ill leave a message.”

    I said quickly so she wouldn’t try to interrupt me. There was a moment of silence and then she broke the sounds and said “ok. Ill pick you up at 8pm tonight? At j.f.k Kennedy airport then ill bring you down from there. You will love my new place, it’s just like the one in those pictures you always loved when you were a baby.” She said, I remembered when I use to pull out her housing department books, and look for an old fashioned house in the middle of nowhere. Then say, “we move here!” and both of my parents laughed and I joined in too, not knowing they were growing apart. I was only 9 when my parents split up, and I lived with my father ever since. Now I’m 17 and tried of the Florida life, so I thought living with my mom would help me hate were I was really going to. Virginia. And not the beach babe filled Florida I grew up in.

    my mother interrupted my thoughts right then “you there? Or are you still thinking if you should come?” she said, her voice full of worry. “I’m gonna come. Sorry, I blanked out there a second. Ill see you in a few hours. Bye mom I love you.” I hung up and got my suitcase I hid in my room, and it was already packed. I grabbed some lunch and sat on the couch calling the Daytona Beach airport for there times. In 30mins, I can eat and get there in time. So I finished eating my lobster and drank some milk to follow it. I grabbed my keys and ran out the door. I clicked the door button and the door swung upwards so I could get in. I usually took my Mercedes but today felt Porsche wise. So I turned on the radio and headed out. As I drove down A1A I looked at the other cars and snickered. The cars looked like what my grandmother wouldn’t even own, and she has horrible taste. Well then again, most families don’t own 72 stocks and 49 businesses. So I flashed a smile at a passing jeep filled with girls and she rolled their eyes and sped up.

    I totally needed new girls to date. I am known everywhere here, especially in girl wise. So I barley touched the gas pedal and spend far in front of them. I laughed at their faces when I came zooming past. Finally I reached the airport, after missing it 5 times, and told the voucher to send it to my address. He was staring at my new gold finish and nodded robotically. I chuckled under my breath and paid him 500 dollars. “Don’t but a scratch on her.” I said in an evil way and went inside. I could hear him revving the engine and speeding out the drive to the carrier. I looked at the big board above my head and it said: Flight to New York city- boarding now.
    I hurried and got my suitcase and went into the plane. I flashed my 1st class ticket and he led me into the front of the plane, which was surprisingly small. And sat me in the middle, with a good view. I opened my laptop and waited for the hot towel cart to come by. I opened my files and began on my essay I have to spend to my English teacher Friday. It was already 30 pages longer than it should be; I have a lot of time on my hands. So I opened my emails and sure enough my mother sent me one-

    Dear Henry,
    I am going to be late so ill send a cab for you. I have over shift at the hospital and tell him the address to my house. Here it is- 1437 florist avenue. If he isn’t there by the time you arrive don’t worry. He will come.

    -Sincerely your mother.

    I moaned for a moment then, lay back to fall asleep so the time would pass faster. When I woke up the plane was landing and I was extremely hungry. As the final cart came by I sneaked off a couple of bags of caviar and headed out with the crowd. I picked up my luggage and noticed that my mother was standing in front of the plane, looking for me. I sighed in relief as she came up running to hug me. “My son! I missed you so!” she said tears in her eyes. Her English was good for the most part, but you could tell she was from Mexico still. Even thou I never learned Spanish I always could understand it. Like it was in my blood, and I could figure out every letter that every word had in it.

    So I did unusually well in my Spanish classes, even thou I never learned it as a child. I laughed as she released me and apologized if she hurt me. I barely noticed she was off, how strong she thinks she is, is nowhere near how strong she really is. As she drove me home her face glowing with excitement, I could see the girls staring at my car (well my mothers) and laughing at my face. Even with an average doctor in a small country town, she makes a lot of money. You would never guess how many hoof-to-chest accidents she treats. I really didn’t pay attention so I nodded occasionally and “oh” at the right times. So I didn’t notice when she stopped then her face was blank. She shook my arm for a second then finally said when I didn’t respond, “Are you dead? Or is you coming down not about…what’s her name” I looked around and my cover was blown. “No not really. Just that I need a change of scenery, that’s all.” I reassured her, even thou it was a total lie.

    So I finally took a deep breath and thought of what has happened to me for the last 2 weeks. A random girl, not like others I seen came to school and always stayed away from every boy and girl in the whole town. Thou her looks were stupendous her personality was strange. With the pale skin-worse than albino- the honey eyes I saw when she caught my gaze, and her long ivory hair flowing down her back. I could tell it was dyed but it seemed like it was her natural hair color. When she spoke in my classes her voice was like a heavenly sound that no angel could make. Like her voice was impossible to the human mind, to the human body. I finally noticed we were outside of an old 20th century house and it looked brand new. My mother smiled and this must have been what her “big project” was. She seemed happy so I acted like I was amazed to live in it. As soon as my mother –as happy as she can be- walked inside I went back to remembering the girl that I misunderstood. The thing that made me come to my mothers, basically pushed me there was how much attracted I was to her.

    Yet, she showed no emotion towards others, and she always smiled at me then grimaced when others caught her gaze. I misunderstood her more so; maybe I could get her out my head. But, that wasn’t the case. I turned around and I swore I saw her down the street and go into a house. My mom came up behind me and said “what you looking at? You want to come home already?” she said after she saw the look on my face. “No, mama who owns that house?” I pointed to the house the girl walked into. “Oh, that is the Luribugs. They moved in this week. Unpacked quickly, and they seem to like it there. The oldest child is 18, and the youngest is the same age as you.” she said with a smile on her face.

    I grimaced as I saw two other girls come in then an older male. He looked in his 40’s maybe and had a beautiful face like the rest of them. I saw the girl come out again and she caught my gaze and ran inside. Her face full of shock, I shrugged off my suspicions. I went inside and actually liked the décor. It had a city feel yet, little town colors. I glanced around and saw a staircase and went up, and amazingly it was like I was home again. My father always said that he decorates himself, but this looked too much the same. My mother understood my confusion and said, “Your father likes to copy people a lot. Its apart of his nature” she said putting her hand on my shoulders.

    I walked ahead and I saw a room with my name on it, I walked though and I saw my dream room. Flat screen on my wall, giant golden king size bed, the red wallpaper wit Indian murals, and of course the many pictures of night clubs, movies, ECT. So I was surprised and grateful that my mother spent all her money on me, and not herself like my father. I could name all the bad and good things of each of my parents but that would waste my time. I cared for them equally, so I could never favor them. Besides, only my father would care so what was the point? If I did favor him, my mother wouldn’t care so why should I? I lost my train of thought when I saw the massive stereo system next to my bed. “OMG!” I said and look at the CD rack. It had all my favorites. “Surprise!” she said excitedly, and wrapped me in a massive hug.

    I hugged her back then heard a loud bang outside. I ran out and saw a glass looking lamp smashed out on the street. And the trails lead to the house down the block. I saw the girl bend over and start picking up the glass, surprisingly not cutting her. I ran over and carefully helped her not cutting myself. I handed her the glass and she looked down at the floor continuously. “I should be more careful. I’m sorry if you got cut.” She said finally looking at my face. I examined my hands then smiled “no, just sore fingers. I’m allergic to glass.” I said wiping my hands off. She examined my hands then smiled “I can help. Come on in.” she said smiling then turning to her house. I followed her and her house was like a 19th centaury zone. Going through decade after decade. Like she lived through it all. She led me to her kitchen and got out some medicine. “Are you allergic to glfomue?” she said before handing the bottle. “No…” I said wondering what it is.

    She handed me the bottle and a second, not even a second after I drank it I felt better. “Thanks, I better go now. Bye, umm I didn’t catch your name” I said heading for the door. She giggled at my anticipation. “Lynse, and your. Henry right?” she said I nodded and headed out, “well bye” I said running towards my house. Her angel voice ringing in my head, I tripped on a branch then looked back to see if she saw me. I could feel my face going red, and she wasn’t there thankfully. I walked inside and my mother was glowing. “I saw the whole thing. Tell me what happened!” I laughed at her excitement then spent the next hour talking about every second of my 10-minute talk with her. I finally yawned enough to go to bed and I let the new country sunset drift me away.