"You were wrongly accused of stealing and you didn't tell me?" Corral Marble handed Sardius some cookies in his separate bowl. Chrysolite looked at Sardius in shock then back at her young Granny. She had often wondered why her grandma was way too young. Corral Marble had been forced to say a lie.
"I had your mother when I was probably sixteen or so, your grandfather then was in the army. He was eleven years older than me. I never saw him again after I heard that he had been killed in service. I took care of your mother myself." She lied.
"But why should you be pregnant for him? Leaving you to cater for Mum all by yourself?" Chrysolite didn't like this story.
"I was in love Chrys. It was all rosy for me until after his death. What did I know then?"
"You shouldn't have had a baby." Chrysolite was disappointed.
"And you wouldn't be existing right at this moment." Corral Marble said to her grandchild.
"If my friends were to see you, they would think you and mum are sisters. Do you ever age? There are no wrinkles on your face?" She reached forward to touch her Granny's face.
"Well, don't you like it?"
"I don't want to be explaining in detail what you just explained to me." Chrysolite had scoffed irritatedly.
"I think that won't do, I will have to come to your school." Her grandma said to her.
"Why will you come to my school?" It is called Chrysolite.
"Why didn't you tell me anything then?"
"I didn't want to talk about it, Grandma." Chrysolite wishes her granny would stop talking about the incident which had happened in school.
"Holy me, why dear?"
Chrysolite stared at her mother in disbelief. Her mother was saying something rather strange, it sounded more like self-praise. Sardius too was surprised and wondered why she had said that.
"Why Chrys, tell me." Corral Marble asked again.
She didn't even notice what she had said earlier on; Sardius thought to himself.
"Ma, Corral Marble, what's "holy me"?" Chrysolite had to ask.
"What?"
"You said "holy me", what's its meaning?"
Only then did it occur to her what she had said when she saw four pairs of eyes staring right back at her. "Oh, did I say something like that?" She felt uncomfortable being under such a glaring gaze. "Do you both want some cookies?" She tried to change the subject.
"Granny, we're fine with this." Chrysolite waved her hand, turning away.
"I think I need to come to your school and lay my complaints as your grandmother. That your class teacher didn't dish out justice outrightly."
"Granny no. What's done is done." Chrysolite didn't want to prolong the matter.
"Well, it isn't for me. How can you be framed for a crime like that? Sardius even told me you were even bullied to top it all."
Chrysolite shot him a dirty look. Hasn't he done enough already?
******
Coral Marble later informed Onyx about her daughter. Onyx was exhausted from the day's work. She felt bad about Chrysolite but she didn't feel the need to go to the school.
"Are you even listening to yourself right now?" Corral Marble asked.
"Yes, the case has been settled. So, there's no need to go to see the class teacher to avoid further misconceptions."
"Onyx? Your daughter was accused of a crime she never committed and this is all you can say."
"We're all busy, ma. I went with a truck of flowers out of town today and I'm so tired right now." Onyx yawned.
"Then, I think you need to stop the job and concentrate on your daughter." Corral Marble's eyes shot out angrily.
"Ma, this shouldn't be making you so pissed right now. Chrysolite can take good care of herself. She didn't tell you in the first place cause she got this. She can handle it all by herself."
Corral Marble was speechless. She stared at Onyx like she never knew her.
"Sardius is spending the night with us. His parents are out of town." Onyx said as she stared down at her iPhone. Corral Marble was already out of the kitchen without wasting a second. Her daughter's judgment of things made her furious that she could smash an object breakable within reach.
Marcus walked in an hour later and slumped into the couch. He dropped by his feet, his work bag. Where was everyone? The house seems to be quiet. He could bet that Onyx was probably with her mother, probably in the kitchen or somewhere close by. Where was Chrysolite? Maybe up in her room. He stood up and went straight to the kitchen. He heard a voice, then another.
"Place that well," Sardius said to Chrysolite.
"Don't tell me what to do." She sprinkled soapy suds on his face. Sardius did the same, she tickled him and poured on his face a handful of suds, and they went on repeating the same process.
Marcus watched them closely, they were washing dishes in the wash basin and they didn't even notice him. When he coughed, they startled and stopped what they were doing.
"Dad?" Chrysolite called in surprise. She wasn't expecting him to be home until his vacation time. "When did you come in Dad?" She asked.
"Some minutes ago." He looked up at Sardius with the suds-covered face. "How are you doing Sardius?"
"I'm doing ok, sir." He replied.
"How was school today?" He asked them.
They hesitated for a second and Marcus had to ask the question again.
"Well, Dad. School's always fun. It always had been." Chrysolite smiled at her dad but Marcus didn't believe such a story so he had to ask again from Sardius. This time, he had to be alone with Sardius.
****
"I told you not to tell him, Sardius," Chrysolite said immediately after Sardius stepped into her room. He had changed into some extra clothes which was given to him by Marcus. They usually have some pajamas which might suit him whenever he is around to pass the night.
"No, you didn't."
"Of course, I did. With my body language, you idiot!"
"I didn't see that." He tried to tell her.
"You're always so dumb Sardius. I don't like that about you!" She frowned.
"Why do you take delight in insulting me?" He had to ask. He was pained by her insults. "I do not like it?"
"You don't like it? Then, get out of my room!" She dabbed at his chest so rudely that he staggered.
Sardius grabbed both of her hands and he tried to struggle with her. "I'm not going to sleep in your room after all. Just let me stay for a while."
"I don't want you to stay. Just get out!" She shouted as she pushed him towards the door.
"Chrysolite, stop this please." He begged.
She gave him one last push, and he fell backward out of her room. She shot him a gnarl before she said. "I hate you Sardius, grow up." With that, she slammed the door.