26 An awkward performance (2/2)

An imaginative creaking escaped the court gate as Sophie opened it. Inspired by the contrasting well-kept plot and facade of Felix's home, to the curtains that covered all windows, which instilled an instinctual flight response.

Maybe she felt herself reminded of a horror house all the more with the surface level impression, or because his father spent in her memories more of his time in the garden than the house. Rearranging the layout every year with other seasonal plants that would give way during winter, but provide a surprising amount of vegetables.

Food he had no trouble sharing with visitors, which only made the contrast to the unwelcoming inside of their house more irritating.

Sophie brushed her shoes on the front door off while waiting for the buzzer to answer, unsure if it would not be more pleasant to wait outside between the plants.

A thought she put aside when the intercom cracked, and Felix's mother answered. Her strained voice accompanied by piano music in the background.

"Yes? Who's there?"

"Can I come in?"

The door unlocked, as Sophie bit her lip, contemplating on how to save that abysmal greeting. Her hand jolted forward to open it as she noticed, knowing full well the short time frame that the thing provided.

What bright colors the building had all fell victim to the dim lighting inside the house, and a shiver ran down Sophie's spine in the twilight corridor.

She flipped the light switch, banishing with it all the demons her mind projected into the shadows, before closing the front door behind her, and the thick but vibrant curtains that blocked the sun came into view.

Sophie breathed through her mouth while she changed her shoes for the guest slippers, to avoid smelling the stale and smoky air.

A scent that just increased the claustrophobic atmosphere as she followed the distant tune to the living room.

Illuminated only by the flickering television, she could still see the vague outlining of the inhabitant, sitting in the armchair, with the back to herself. Her eyes fell on the piano that stood in the corner, covered by a thick blanket, before the woman raised her voice.

"Ah, Sophie. Still haven't learned to say hello when entering a house?"

"How would you then know it's me?"

A rough chuckle left the chair after her retort, followed by a coughing fit. The painful gasps for air let Sophie clutch to the straps of her backpack until the woman caught herself.

"Pretty sure my ears still work fine."

Sophie swallowed as she heard the amused answer, unsure how to react. With the few lights from the hallway and television in front, the bandaged hand that waved for Sophie to come closer was barely visible, yet she still scratched her own in response.

Her eyes darted to the light switch for a moment before she entered the dark room.

"Felix isn't with you?"

Mrs Ibrahim's head turned slightly as she closed in on the chair. Luckily, the headscarf blocked the sight of her milky eyes.

"No. He said he'd be right behind me."

Still, Sophie rather turned to look at the television than to refresh her unpleasant memories. The old device showed a familiar recording, repeated multiple times during her previous visits.

A short push with the walking cane shoved her towards the couch and out of her trance.

"Then sit down and lend me your company. I rarely get the chance to talk with you alone."

Sophie put her backpack aside to rest on the comfortable furniture, while Felix's mother turned the volume of the recording to a mere whisper.

"Say, how was school today?"

Caught between the unsettling condition of her opposite, and the frustrated answer on her tongue, Sophie tried her best to hide the latter.

"Boring."

An effort that the woman seemed to unmask with ease.

"Ha! A snarky teenager, how original! Can you also play another tune?"

"I ugh…"

That apt assessment appeared only more unsettling, coming from the almost blind woman.

'Well, acting is certainly not your best skill…'

She would've rolled her eyes at the self-mockery, if not for the giggling of Felix's mother, afraid it might cause her another fit.

"Forgive my humor. You just reminded me of someone."

Grinding her own teeth at the apology, Sophie recalled the someone she came here for, and wondered if he was the one she meant. A thought that the next question pushed aside.

"Come now, there's surely something about school that you like, and if it's just your friends."

"What do you mean? The subjects?"

"As an example, yes. But maybe the things you like aren't really a part of school, is that it?"

Sophie hesitated for a moment, unsure where that direction might lead to.

"I mean… sure, I do like some subjects. Math, physics, biology, all the science stuff."

This time, the mockery came from outside of her thoughts, accompanied by a mixture of chuckle and cough.

"Oh, I didn't take you as a nerd. Is that really Sophie who's sitting there? My eyes aren't the best anymore, after all."

Sophie's eyes closed halfway as she glared at the wallpaper. She should have waited in the garden…

"Ha ha… hilarious."

"Quit the pouting, young lady. I'm sure you like to pull a leg or two as well."

The sudden change of attitude caught her off guard, and the words hit her in just the right place, as did the cane when she poked her.

"Fair enough…"

For spending all day inside was the woman surprisingly sharp, as was her precision with that wooden stick, despite her eyesight. Similarly, her company was much less scary than Sophie's memories alluded.

She straightened up, her attention caught by the veiled woman and the following question.

"Now then, what do you think about music?"

That sudden topic change made her blink, confused about the thought process behind the shadows that the headscarf cast.

"Nice to hear, but… I've got no rhythm."

A sudden stomp with the cane shook Sophie as Felix's mother showed the fierce character that she had expected.

"Nonsense! Everyone has! Your voice alone would make an excellent instrument."

First, further disoriented by the passionate uproar, Sophie swiftly moved out of swing distance, once she gathered herself, just in case.

'Wouldn't be the first time, either…'

The irritable streak of Felix's mother had certainly not left her mind, even if she could this time piece together what she did wrong.

Jumping on the couch, right beside the dusty piano, was in retrospective certainly not a smart move.

Sophie tried to swallow, regretful of her dismissive remark, only for her dry tongue to struggle, restricted by the stale air.

Now it was on her to cough.

"Excuse the question… but may I open a window?"

The fire, present just a moment ago, faded to give way to a woman who only seemed to need some company.

"I'd appreciate if you wouldn't. My wounds, they… don't like the fresh air… especially in the last time."

"I'm sorry, I didn't…"

Sophie cut the rest of the sentence by biting her tongue.

'Like really? How could you forget that…'

Felix's mother tapped against the table, turning her attention to a thermos she had previously failed to notice in the dark.

"Why be sorry? You can have some of my tea. I well know how the air here strikes on the throat."

"Ugh… thanks, but no thanks."

Tea was definitely not her cup of… oh well…

An amused snort escaped her opposite, who had surely expected that answer.

"There's also lemonade in the refrigerator, if you'd rather want that. The other two sugar addicts may both pretend otherwise, but I know they bunker it."

"Thank you."

Eager to escape the awkward moment, Sophie rushed to the kitchen, careful not to throw anything over in the twilight.

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Bright as it was, lightened the fridge most of the kitchen with ease, as Sophie got herself the much-needed drink, and a break from the intrusive adult. Her throat treated, she filled herself a second glass, unsure how much longer her visit might take.

'Felix could come at any moment now, or not at all, considering his recent track record…'

With that thought darted her eyes to the living room, as she carefully closed the fridge, wondering how long she could stay in the kitchen before it might seem rude.

Aware that she couldn't simply wait forever, Sophie returned to the sofa, the glass of lemonade already half empty.

Her own steps muffled on the carpet, she could hear the clumsy tapping of Mrs Ibrahim's scarred fingers on her cane as she went past her, only stopping as she rested back on the sofa.

Somewhat hoping it might cause the silence to last, Sophie slurped demonstratively at her lemonade. A tactic that worked just as expected.

"Now, what's with you and your friends?"

A part of her gulp went down the wrong direction, and tears came to her eyes as she tried to keep the coughing stimulus in check.

"What do you mean?"

"You've dropped the point earlier."

The conversation went revue before Sophie's inner eye, but the only real slip up in that regard, had been her mishap right now.

"A little farfetched for a conclusion, don't you think?"

"Felix and you are friends since elementary and now he doesn't continue going to school with you. That doesn't bother you?"

Her eyebrows raised with recognition before furrowing all the more.

"Of course it does. Just like with the others, but I… why do you bring that up?"

"You caught me there."

Another laugh escaped the woman, less amused than the others.

"Don't think my son put any funny ideas in my head. I'm just… well, concerned."

"Why that?"

Sophie felt her tone grow bitter in response, while her eyes tried to pierce through the intentions of her opposite.

"I was young too, believe me or not, and there comes the time friendships break apart. We can't always stay in contact with all of those close to us. One may go along in your direction… the other their own…"

"I don't know what you want. My 'friends' have already all decided that whatever they want to do is more important to them than our friendship. Even Felix."

"Maybe, but you still have to make your own."

An itch moved through Sophie's fingers as she drove them into the seat cushion.

"And what's the wisdom you want to bestow upon me?"

"Just don't stick to them, only because you're afraid to lose them."

She slid forward to the edge of the seat at that remark and rested her elbow on her knee.

"Oh sure, and what am I supposed to do, then? Not go to high-school? As if my father ever even gave me a choice…"

The last part snarled through her clenched teeth as she rested her head on her hand.

"Getting sassy again, I see."

Tugged by the push of her feet moved the carpet and with it the table as Sophie threw herself back against the couch with grit teeth.

"You know. I'd really like to hear you sing one day. That'd be a much better use for your mouth than this sulking."