Katrina
Katrina sighed as she placed the last of the laundry in her closet and closed the doors. One task done, she thought to herself. “A million to go.” she said out loud to herself. She placed the empty white basket in the corner of the room and walked over to her bed and sat down.
She laid back on her soft purple comforter and looked over as her phone began to play the ringtone she set for her best friend Trish. She smiled as she pressed the green button and put the phone to her ear.
“Hey Trish, what’s up?” she said, curious to find out what had her calling in the middle of the day when she was supposed to be at work.
“Your upcoming birthday is what is up girl. We need to make plans. You only turn 21 once, unless you’re my aunt who has been 21 for the last 10 years.” Trish said without skipping a beat.
“I know my birthday is coming up, I just don’t know if I’m going to be able to do anything. You know dad’s been really sick lately and Eliza has her hands full at work, leaving me with most of the house work alone. Which is fine. Her job is important, not like mine down at the Discount Bin. I’m not even sure Rob is paying me at this point.” Katrina said with a deep sigh.
“I told you to quit that stupid job. Rob is a jerk. Plus you are wasting talent there. You know I’m right.” Trish said with confidence.
“Wasting my time or not, I am needed here so I can’t leave and go to Paris to start a fashion career like I had dreamed of when I was a kid. I will have to make due with sewing my own outfits for the time being.” Katrina said as she sat up and headed out of her room towards the kitchen.
“Either way, that doesn’t mean you can’t spend one night out living it up. It’s YOU’RE BIRTHDAY! We have to go out. We should go to Eclipse!” Trish said excitement evident in her voice.
“Eclipse? You mean that club for Magics in the industrial district?” Katrina asked not sure why Trish would want to take her there.
“It’s not just for Magics. It’s for anyone who enjoys being different, and wanting to have fun. Last I checked we are different from most in this town. And we are definitely wanting to have fun. I’ve been there a few times and it’s pretty cool there.” Trish said.
“Trish you do know what my sister does for a living right? If she catches me there during one of their raids she will KILL me.” Katrina said in a harsh whisper.
“Oh Geez, calm down. They don’t do those every night, and haven’t in months. They only do it when some loser calls when a group gets too rowdy. It will be fine. One night Kat. All I’m asking. I won’t ask you to go again if you don’t like it. I will even let you dress me for the night.” Trish said, hoping to entice her friend with the chance to give her a make over.
“Ok. Friday night, meet me here and we will go to Eclipse.” Kat said as she placed the roasting pan she had prepped for dinner into the oven and turned it on.
“You won’t regret this. Remember, we have to look HOT!” Trish said. Kat could tell she was jumping up and down.
“I know, I know. Always dress in case of a chance meeting with Mr. Right.” She said, rolling her eyes and typing her head back and forth with each word to the slogan her friend would always recite when they went out.
“I will see you Friday. I can’t wait!” Trish said before disconnecting the call.
Kat went down the hall to check on her dad smiling. Her friend was a bright light in her life, if not for her she would have been lost when her mother passed.
“Hi Daddy. How are you feeling today?” she asked as she entered the room he and her mother had shared since she was born.
“Better than yesterday sweetheart,” he said quietly. “ I thought I heard you talking to someone. Is there someone here?” he asked as he pushed himself up in bed to rest against the pillows she positioned behind him.
“No, I was on the phone with Trish. She called wanting to know if I wanted to go out and do something for my birthday this weekend.” she said with a smile.
“Oh yes. Your birthday is coming up. 21 is a big one.” he said with a weak smile.
“I don’t have to go, I can stay here and we can watch movies.” she said, gently setting down beside him on the bed.
“No you should go. You are young, and it should not be your job to take care of me.” she said, patting her hand. She looked down at his once large and powerful hand, now thin and frail. It made her heart break.
The same man that once could lift her and her sister in each arm and run across the yard without effort, could now barely stand on his own.
“But you cared for me and Eliza all our lives, it is our turn to show you the same love.” she said, placing her small hand over his and gently squeezing.
“It’s one night Kat. Go have fun. I will be fine. Just leave me my big mug of water and the remote and I will make a night of it. I will watch those old westerns you don’t like.” she said with a grin on his face. Kat giggled.
“Ok. I will be home before too late to tuck you in.” she said, bending to kiss his forehead before she left the room.
She went to her room to plan outfits for herself and Trish. If she was going out, she needed to make the most of it. She wasn’t as optimistic as her friend was about meeting Mr.Right at the club but she wanted to at least maybe get a date out of it.
By the time Eliza was home from work and dinner was done, she had both outfits planned out and started. She smiled, they were going to definitely turn heads.
At 6:30 Kat set the table and helped her father to his chair, before taking her own beside him.
“I made your favorite. Pot roast.” she said, filling his plate and passing it to him.
“It smells delicious Kat. Thank you.” he said looking down at the plate in front of him.
“Yes, homemaker Kat saves the day.” Eliza said sarcastically as she took a drink.
“Eliza Beth. Your sister takes care of things around here so you can do the job you dreamed of. She deserves your respect.” their father said as sternly as he could muster.
Eliza just glared at her sister and muttered sorry under her breath.
“You don’t think your sister has dreams too? She does. She chose to stay here and take care of us after mom died. You should be more appreciative.” he said, picking up his fork.
“It’s OK, Daddy.” Kat began trying to defuse the situation. Clayton Hale held up his hand to silence her.
“Well she wouldn’t have to be here if it wasn’t for a low life Magic deciding to wreak havoc on the city and Mom getting caught in the destruction. If I have my way they will all be exterminated or sent back where they came from.” her sister said with anger on her face and hate in her voice.
Eliza had taken their mother’s death hard. In the 10 years the anger had only gotten stronger. She turned that anger towards the “Magics”, as everyone called them. Kat hated that society chose to label a people, as if their abilities defined them.
Kat shared her father’s view, they were just like everyone else, just more special than some. They had a neighbor a few years ago that had abilities and she was the sweetest person. She moved a month ago due to losing her job. Kat and her father were saddened to see her go. They knew it was the pressure from the Magic Task Force set up by the police department, they made rules and regulations for everyone including businesses. Rules hard enough that several employers wouldn’t hire anyone with abilities, just so they didn’t have to deal with the task force.
“Eliza, you know that not all people with abilities are like the one that caused the explosion your mother was caught in. That man didn’t know what he was doing. He had newly acquired his powers and it was an accident. Your mother wouldn’t want you to blame him.” Their father said cutting a piece of meat, and lifting the fork to his mouth.
“I see the world differently than the three of you, I see them for what they truly are. Abominations and a threat to everyone here.” she said pushing her chair back and stomping to the front door.
“Eliza!” Kat yelled as she stood up. Their father held up his hand.
“Let her go. You know she won’t listen to you when she is like this. Something must have happened at work to make her dredge up all those memories again.” Clayton said, looking over at his daughter.
“I don’t want her to be so angry all the time.” she said quietly staring at the front door that her sister just slammed closed as she slowly sank back down in her seat.
“I know sweetheart. You and your sister are opposite sides of the coin. Just like the Sun and the Moon. You can guess which one you are.” he said with a chuckle and a wink.
Katrina giggled. “You are right though, Momma wouldn’t want us to judge those with abilities. But I do miss her.” she said, picking up her fork.
“So do I. I take comfort knowing we will all see her again someday.” he said, reaching over and patting her hand before starting to eat again.
After dinner was cleared, Kat helped her father back to bed and watched a couple movies with him, before she returned to her room to work on her and Trish’s outfits for Friday night.
She sewed until well after midnight, nearly completing them. She needed to add a few final touches, but was very pleased with how they turned out.
She chose pink for her best friend. The color made her skin glow and with her curly blonde hair it made her look even more girly. If that was possible.
For herself she chose Deep green, it was always the color to make her fiery red hair stand out, which she thought was her best feature.
She picked up her phone and tapped out a message to Trish, telling her how excited she was for her night out.
