...on Eggshells

His eyes opened wide. He kicked the covers from his body and sprinted to the door. He peeked outside for about five seconds then closed the door, very silently. 'Mother; where are you?' he spoke into the phone as he scurried back towards the bed. His voice was hushed. 'Everyone is looking for you. And by everyone I mean the police.'

'How have you been, son?' she asked him. She sounded like she was in high spirits.

He could feel her smile. Its warmth was radiating through the phone. He smiled too. 'I'm fine, mother. Everything is fine this side but you…where are you? Tell me where you are and I'll come get you.'

'Do not worry about me, my boy. I'm fine, I'm seriously fine,' she laughed as if in emphasis to her claim.

'Maybe now but definitely not for long,' said Sineas. 'The police are looking for you. You were on the news…'

'The news?' She laughed again. 'They didn't photoshop my face, I hope?'

He sighed, and then he laughed too. 'No. you looked great. No photoshop needed. But you know they could be tracking your phone, right?'

'I'm using a payphone, son. I can't afford to slip up and let the boys in blue have a field day on me. Sin, my son, I called because I need a favour.'

'Sure, mom, anything.'

'I need to see you for one last time.'

He felt his eyes turn foggy. 'Why one last time? What are you talking about?'

'There is no time to explain. Right now I'm getting shady looks from passers by and I think one or two people might have recognized me.'

'Just tell me the place and I'll be there.'

'Okay, son. Listen carefully…'

Just a minute after the call, Sineas took a quick shower, threw on a green bomber jacket on top of his white t-shirt, blue denims and his Chuck Taylors. He jogged downstairs and found Aunt Janice standing in front of the TV with her arms folded. She looked hypnotized by whatever she was watching.

Anchorman: ...And still, the deaths of eighteen year old Justin Foyer and twenty-eight year old Brittany Bale continue to shock the entire nation and as you heard from some of the residents of Malrich and WindleDrive earlier; "no one is safe anymore". Some of the parents of the students at Malrich have issued threats to the principal, saying that they would transfer their children from the school even if their tuitions are not fully paid if the murderer is not caught within two weeks. A memorial for the two victims, called the Foyer and Bale memorial will be held tomorrow morning at the school. The police officers in charge of the case, Inspector Charles and his deputy, James were not available for comment but have solemnly vowed to bring the killer to justice and have urged the people of Malrich and WindleDrive to remain calm…

Aunt Janice lowered the volume.

'Morning, Aunt Janice,' he said from a few feet behind her.

She turned her head on her stiff throat. 'Morning,' she replied in a very low voice. She walked off towards the kitchen. 'Breakfast is ready,' she said as she walked through the entrance.

When he walked in, there were two bowls of Rotto Pop cereal on the table and a bottle of milk between them. He walked in slowly and sat across her.

'Sleep well?' she asked him while she poured milk into his bowl. She kept her face downwards.

He nodded, picking up his spoon at the same time. He did it very cautiously, as though expecting a spoon fight at any moment. A couple of minutes later, they began to eat, silently.

'Who were you talking to on the phone?' she asked him after at least five minutes of silent eating.

'It was Clarissa,' he answered instantly, his eyes darting.

More silence.

'What did she want?'

'She just called to see how I was doing.'

Aunt Janice stopped eating immediately. She directed her sharp gaze at him.

He didn't think that she believed him. He added, 'She also wanted to ask if I would be there at the memorial tomorrow.'

She continued with her sharp gaze for a longer and more awkward moment. She continued eating.

Sineas began to suspect that she could read his mind. What if she knew everything that was going on with him? Did she already know that he had talked to his mother on the phone? His mother had firmly warned him not to tell his Aunt Janice about their conversation. Nonetheless, Sineas maintained a straight face and continued with his breakfast. This was his favourite cereal after all. The least he could do was smile while having it. He tried but produced disastrous results. He gave up and reassumed his poker face as they continued to eat in austere silence.

After another five minutes had elapsed, Aunt Janice gently placed her spoon on the table. 'Sin.'

He paused and looked up. She was smiling. A faultless smile too.

She said, 'If your mother calls, remember to tell me, okay?'

He wavered at first but then decided to give her a nod.

'That's good, my boy,' she said then she stood up. 'More?' She shook the box of cereal temptingly beside her face, grinning.

He successfully created a smile. He was sure it almost matched hers. He held out his empty bowl towards her. 'Yes, please.'

An hour-and-a-half later, Sineas found himself in the park, wandering around aimlessly with his shivering hands buried deep inside his jacket pockets. The clouds were thick and grey, bullying the sun into concealing its light. Fifteen degrees Celsius, the forecast had predicted. It felt colder though. Not many cars were on the roads and there were very few people in the park. Because of the weather conditions, Sineas had expected to at least find no one there but there was a handful. He looked up ahead and saw two joggers in their tracksuits emerging from a concealed track.

The cold was pulling down his eyelids. He moved further into the park, humming a tune, hoping this would bring a little warmth into his body. After two minutes, he stepped on to another path, slow-paced for about six minutes, looking over his shoulder occasionally. He finally saw a figure sitting on the bench to his far right. He looked over his shoulder again. He began to walk towards the stranger.

The stranger was dressed in a black bomber jacket, black jeans, white sneakers and a black flat cap to complete the outfit.

Sineas stopped right in front of the stranger. 'Is this seat taken?'

The stranger said, 'Depends…you got a lighter?'

He fumbled in his pockets and soon, handed the stranger the lighter.

The stranger nodded and Sineas sat down.

Sineas said, 'So…how's the weather?'

The stranger laughed, 'Its okay, Sin, you can drop the act.'

Sineas laughed too as he hugged the stranger. 'I missed you, mama,' he said whilst embracing her tightly.

'I missed you too, my boy.'