Melody's face lit up, and she immediately agreed. Zoe, a whirlwind of energy, was automatically in on it. They quickly decided on their roles, Alyson taking the lead as the wise and powerful hero, and Zoe and Melody as her trusty sidekicks. The three of them raced across the lawn, their laughter echoing through the quiet neighborhood. The girls' laughter filled the yard as they ran, their boundless energy a whirlwind of motion. Finally, catching their breath, they collapsed onto the cool, green grass, the wind a calm and soothing presence against their flushed faces. As Alyson lay there, she caught a glimpse of a familiar car pulling into the driveway from the corner of her eye. It was Trinity's boyfriend, arriving home after work.
"Well Ello, mate," Trinity's boyfriend, Isaiah, said in a fake, broken British accent as he approached.
"You suck at that," Zoe called out with a giggle, instantly catching both Trinity and Isaiah's attention.
"Why, you!" Isaiah said playfully, taking off after Zoe. She squealed with laughter, jumping up and running full-speed around the house.
"Hey, Trinity, this is Melody," Alyson said, gesturing to her friend. "She lives right down the road. It's fine she's over here, right?"
"Yeah, it's fine," Trinity said with a smile. "As long as I don't have to drive her home." She turned to Melody. "It's nice to meet you. I'm Alyson and Zoe's older sister, Trinity."
"Melody," she answered awkwardly, her eyes following the playful chase between Zoe and Isaiah.
"They've been crazy about each other for a while," Alyson explained, a small, fond smile on her face. "Literally ever since they met. Probably always will."
"I can confirm that," Trinity said, turning to her sister. She smiled warmly before turning back and running toward Isaiah. She pulled him inside, leaving the girls to play outside.
After Trinity and Isaiah went inside, the girls continued their game, their laughter echoing in the quiet neighborhood. As the sun began to set, the sky turned a brilliant orange and purple. Zoe ran towards the two girls, a big grin on her face.
"I'm hungry! Let's go get some snacks!" she exclaimed.
Alyson and Melody agreed, and they all went inside. The house was filled with the smell of freshly cooked food, and Mammy's voice could be heard humming from the kitchen. Trinity and Isaiah were laughing on the couch, and the TV was on, a familiar noise in the background.
Zoe ran to the kitchen, and Alyson and Melody followed close behind. Mammy was at the stove, stirring a pot of something delicious. She smiled at the girls, and her eyes crinkled at the corners.
"Anak, go get some plates from the cabinet," she said to Alyson. "And don't forget to wash your hands."
Alyson nodded and went to the cabinet, pulling out three plates. Zoe and Melody went to the sink to wash their hands, and soon, the three girls were sitting at the table, eating a delicious meal that Mammy had made for them. The house was filled with the sounds of laughter and chatter, and for a little while, everything felt normal.
"Hey, maybe you could spend the night this weekend?" Alyson suggested to Melody, wanting to have her first sleepover at her house.
"That would be so cool!" Zoe piped up excitedly from the table. "Would that be fine?"
"It's fine as long as it's fine with Trinity," Mammy said.
"It's fine, I guess," Trinity replied, putting down her fork for a second and eating her food.
Alyson looked at her older sister, who was more likely to hear from their mom. "Have you heard from Mom at all?"
"Not totally," Trinity answered.
"She was supposed to take me to see our brother, Jake, not this weekend but the following weekend," Alyson said quietly, mentioning her older brother by one year and her only full-blooded brother.
"I haven't tried to call her today," Trinity answered, not looking up from her plate.
Alyson picked up her fork and quietly dug into her food, the clatter of the silverware against the ceramic the only sound in the sudden silence. The conversation was over, but the quiet tension remained, a familiar presence at their family table.
A familiar wave of disappointment washed over Alyson. She wanted to tell them how much she missed him, but she knew it was difficult. Jake wasn't an unsaid thing, but the topic was still a sore spot, a reminder that he never came to their house because he was homesick for his grandparents. He was just another one of those family members who was supposed to be there but wasn't.
She pushed her food around her plate, the delicious dinner now tasting like ash in her mouth. She could feel Zoe's tiny hand on her arm, a silent plea for her sister's attention. Alyson gently patted her hand, a silent apology for her distance.
"Go on, get ready for bed," Trinity said, her eyes already back on the TV. "Mammy's about to go to work." She didn't offer a bedtime story or a gentle word, just a simple command.
Zoe's face fell, but she quickly recovered. "Okay, let's go, Alyson." She tugged on her arm, pulling her towards the room.
Alyson followed, her heart heavy with the unspoken words. She knew Trinity was just trying to keep the peace, but it only made her feel more alone. As she walked down the hall, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was carrying the weight of her family's secrets all by herself.
As the afternoon sun began to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows across the neighborhood, the girls' laughter slowly faded into comfortable quiet. Zoe, Alyson, and Melody were sprawled on the grass, a silent testament to the effortless bond they'd formed.
"Time for me to go home," Melody said, pushing herself up with a sigh. "My mom wants us back before it gets too dark."
"Aww," Zoe whined, her little body rolling onto her back in protest. "But it's still light out!"
Melody chuckled, a warm sound that resonated with the evening. "I'll be back tomorrow. And this time, I'll stay for a sleepover!" she said, giving Zoe a playful wink.
Melody and her brother walked down the street, their figures growing smaller with each step, leaving Alyson and Zoe alone on the quiet street.
The weekend finally arrived, and with it, the promise of their first sleepover. Melody, a duffel bag slung over her shoulder, walked up to the small three-bedroom house with her brother, Trent. He gave a quick wave before heading back down the street, leaving her on the front lawn.
Zoe and Alyson rushed out to meet her, their faces alight with excitement. "You're here!" Zoe shrieked, bouncing on her toes.
"I told you I'd be back," Melody said, her calm smile a stark contrast to Zoe's boundless energy.
They led her inside and straight to Alyson's room, which was exactly as Melody remembered it: a comfortable chaos of clothes piled on the bed, a TV humming with a muted show, and trinkets scattered across every surface. They spent the next few hours in a haze of giggles and whispered secrets. They ate too much popcorn, built a fort out of blankets, and braided each other's hair until their fingers ached.
As the night wore on and the moon rose high in the sky, they settled down. They lay in the dark, bathed in the soft glow of the TV screen, the distant sounds of Mammy's stories in the living room a comforting hum. It was a perfect, ordinary night, a moment of peace and happiness that felt a world away from the complexities of their lives.
Midnight crept in, cloaking the small house in shadow. The three girls, huddled together in Alyson's room, felt a silent, unspoken energy hanging in the air. This night was about more than just a sleepover; it was a quiet rebellion, a moment of their own.
Without a word, they grabbed a blanket and crept out the back door. The cool night air hit them, a welcome shock after the stuffy warmth of the bedroom. The moon was a sliver in the sky, casting a soft, silvery glow over the yard. They didn't have to sneak out—Trinity wasn't home again—but the act of it made the moment feel special, a secret just for them. They spread the blanket on the damp grass, their small rebellion against the world's rules, and the unspoken words hanging in the silence.
"You wanna play truth or dare?" Alyson suggested, her voice a low murmur against the chirping of crickets.