A Summer’s Tragedy

The town wasn’t that crowded before. Most people, especially the elderly, believed in entities such as elves, nymphs, giants, witches, ghosts, goblins, lycanthropes, and probably goddesses.

People believed in incantations, especially when a member of their family had a stomachache. They wouldn’t hesitate to visit a witch doctor who would whisper something in the wind, then the patient would be alright later.

Other people laugh and think that they are idiots without knowing that believing in those entities teaches them a lesson on how to be good citizens.

“Oh! I had forgotten that we have a lot of things to do,” Callisto interrupted. “Let me check on Stalin first. She might be awake.”

Ruth jumped out of the chair and followed her brother going towards their room. There are a lot of things playing in her mind, and she wants someone to listen to her stories.

“Stalin?” Callisto opened the door and was surprised by what he saw. “Where did she go? Why is she not here anymore?”

Callisto began to panic, calling his girlfriend’s name. Ruth told him to be calm; she might be just around the house. He had already checked below the bed, and he saw no one. He firmly pulled his hair and squeezed his nose.

It was because of his sister. She told him amazing stories which made him forget about his girlfriend, but he couldn’t blame everything on her, because it was he who listened.

He immediately checked around the house, but Stalin wasn’t there. Callisto’s feet won’t stop bringing him anywhere to find the amnesia girl. Until he remembered the place where she always went.

“Said it! You’re just here.” Callisto ran towards Stalin and cuddled her tightly. His heart throbs fast, and she can feel it too. “Please don’t do this again. You made me so nervous.”

“Why are you here?” Stalin removed herself from his arms and yelled and jumped. “I’m home now, now, now. Yehey!”

“Are you crazy? This isn’t your home. Come, let’s go home.” Callisto holds her hand and pulls her to follow, but she’s not moving.

“No, no no! Don’t take me away!” Stalin shouted, but Callisto carried her. “Put me down! Put me down! You meddling!”

“Aaaaahhh!” Callisto screamed. “Why did you bite my shoulder?” He accidentally released Stalin, who hurriedly ran back towards the bench.

Callisto pulled the shirt from his shoulder and saw the bruised tooth-like shape. What the hell, he thought, but he couldn’t stop himself from whimpering. He remembered his father’s words, so he took a deep breath and got close to his girlfriend.

“Please, Stalin, we need to go home. It’s cold here,” Callisto begged.

“Bring me somewhere if you want a kick!” She exclaimed. “I’m not Stalin, so don’t call me that ugly name!”

“Then tell me who you are.” Callisto sat down beside her.

“I’m… I’m… I’m Milo!” She shouted, but appeared unconvinced.

“You have a lovely name. But it’s not your home. Our home is there.” Callisto pointed to their house, which can be seen from a distance.

“Um… I’m not living in that tower. I’m not Rafunsel!”

How can it happen that a beautiful girl is crazier than the one whom he met first? Callisto asked himself, but he knew that everyone has their own mind, even if one person has many minds too.

“Okay, if you don’t want to go home, I’ll stay here with you.”

Stalin felt very uncomfortable that the boy, whom she doesn’t even know, wouldn’t leave her alone. She can’t explain what she felt, perhaps anger, uncomfortability, or inexplicability.

“Callisto?” Someone asked. “I thought you had already left.”

Callisto stood up and turned back. His eyes widened when he saw a beautiful and familiar face. Linley, along with her friends, was strolling around when she saw him sitting on the bench.

“I’m, we didn’t continue leaving,” Callisto replied.

“Why? Is there something wrong that happened?” Linley queried. “How about Stalin? Why does she seem not to notice me?”

“That’s probably the reason. She was accidentally struck by a car when we were leaving, and now she’s having amnesia.”

“Oh? I’m sorry to hear that. Who’s with you anyway?”

“Dad and Ruth, we’re still living there. My father doesn’t really want to live here again, but he was forced because of me.”

“Who are you? Why are you talking with my boyfriend?” Stalin asked.

“She’s your friend, Linley. Maybe you also remember her as you remember that I’m your boyfriend,” Callisto explained.

“Ah, I have a friend too? But where’s my family?”

“I’m going now, Callisto; perhaps you need to talk with your girlfriend.” Linley turned back and went away.

Callisto did nothing but sighed. He knew no one could help them in their situation right now but themselves. He must not expect that those people he met earlier care about them.

“I’m your family, dad and Ruth. We are your family,” Callisto replied. He knew he must not make his girlfriend wish that she still had a family, because that’s not real. “So, we need to go home now.”

“Okay. I’m thankful to have a boyfriend, a friend, and a family.” Stalin cautiously followed Callisto back to their house.

“Where did you two go again?” Sebastian asked.

“Nothing, she just wants to stroll around with me,” Callisto panted and sat down on the stool. “How about you, dad? Did you find a job?”

“Yup. My old friend offered me a job. I’m also thankful that some of my old friends are still here and they still know me.”

“Well, that’s great. I want to work too.”

“Nope. I think you should enroll in school this semester. Let me work for us. I know it’s difficult to be in that situation of yours.”

“Thanks dad. But I also want to help you, even just with a part-time job.”

Sebastian reminded him, “Search for work that suits your time, but no one is coercing you.” He entered the house and continued to the living room, and so did Callisto and Stalin.

Callisto felt ashamed that he couldn’t help his father work. He doesn’t want them to think that he’s so indolent that he only relies on his father. Therefore, one night, when everyone was asleep, he jumped out through the window of his bedroom.

Working while studying, Callisto thought it would not be as difficult as that. As he walked on, he saw four familiar faces. He remembered. They were those boys who made black eyes on his face.

“Hey! Look who’s here!” Samson exclaimed.

“Psssst!” the other hissed. “Where are you going, huh?”

“Sorry dudes, but I’m not looking for a fight right now, especially if you won’t challenge me one-on-one,” Callisto replied.

“Well, he’s right. It’s so unfair if we’ll kick him here again. Anyway, we’re also not looking for a fight. We’re not that foolish anymore.” He patted Callisto’s shoulder and perched his arm on it.

“You might have a job to offer?” Callisto removed his arm.

“A job, yep, we need a new member, haha, right?” Samson asked and smirked as if he were thinking for an absurdity. “But we don’t accept someone who looks weak.”

“Do you want a kick? If you don’t, then I need to go.”

Callisto didn’t mind those addicted boys who could do nothing in their lives, and most of all, those people who had no sense to talk with. He continued to the next group of huge houses, but realized that he had just wasted his time.

“You’re not in a city, son, so it’s difficult to find a job, especially since you’re a minor. People in town are poorer than us,” Sebastian remarked.

“Dad? But how did you find a job as easily as you did?” Callisto inquired.

“I told you!” Sebastian shouted. “Don’t bother yourself helping me, because I can raise our family without anyone’s help!”

“But dad, I just want to know.” Callisto insisted though his father’s blood was boiling for the reason he didn’t know.

“No more buts, that’s not important anymore. Stay here with your girlfriend. Look at her, she doesn’t even care about anything, but she’s still alive!” Sebastian added.

Callisto sighed. He continued inside his bedroom. It’s so difficult to have an argument with someone who has bigger muscles than him. He might get hit by something and punch his face, so he continued inside.

“I saw you last night jumping down the window,” Stalin insinuated.

“People don’t understand me.” Callisto laid down on the bed. “Dad doesn’t want me to work, though I love working more than going to school.”

“The problem isn’t with you, but with them. You must not bother yourself; just be who you are, do what you love, and everyone will love you as I do.” Stalin touched his face while staring at his bronze eyes.Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.