Chapter 92 - Feathery Voices Life is a gift.
And so are brownies.
If there's one lesson I've learned from my parents--amongst many others--it's that you should appreciate all the time you have. Just look at them! Daddy's pushing 96, but he and Mama don't spend their time weeping and putting the final touches on his tombstone. Instead, they kiss and hold hands and go on dates and watch the stars and are generally adorable.
Even when Mama's at work, Daddy texts her every hour and they go out for lunch during her break, even though Mama
loves work. I guess she loves Daddy more! Even if she does think he needs to lose some weight, for semi-obvious reasons.
We all know that her making him work out every morning is just her way of saying that she cares, and she's worried, but she's not going to act like it because she wants him to be happy. But she's really not sad, and neither is he, because they're both just enjoying their last days together.
That's why I'm not sad about how Jerry won't live forever, and I will. If I won't have him in a hundred years, then the hundred years we
do have together must be extra-super-special!
Oh, and here's a rare picture of all of our cars together! It's Great-Great-Great-Grandma Serena's van, Great-Great-Grandpa Nickerdoodle's Extravagator, Great-Grandma Bree's sports car, Grandma Kara's motorcycle, Mama's little VFN Kompensator, and my alien spaceship that got passed down from Grandma Bianca. Daddy has a Vasteur, and I'm planning on buying Jerry a cool Sylvan Motor Carriage for his birthday. Can you tell I have a hidden Vehicle Enthusiast trait?
Before Mama will let me poke around in the alien spaceship, I have to finish all the super easy upgrades! Smooth Running, Boost Channels, Improve Graphics--things I could do in my sleep! At least I hacked into the radio waves so one station plays only Lumineers, all the time. Technology, yo!
I did sneak up the elevator once while Mama was at work and started fiddling around inside the spaceship. I bet that, after a few years of figuring things out, I'll be able to travel all the way to the alien army and defeat them, for once and for all! Mwahahahahaha . . .
Oh, and Grandpa Nick broke up with Bebe via text. They've been dating forever, but he said he didn't want to keep her from being with Miles, in the end. Who the peanut butter is Miles?
Poor Grandpa. He's the nicest one, and lets me get away with anything, but Cleo is getting older and older. She's already outlived the average oldest age for dogs, and I know Grandpa is scared for her every day. I hope so much that she lives forever, so that Grandpa will have his best friend while he waits for Lolita. The grandmas say that making her live forever will break the rules. I hope she lives a very, very, very long time. Just as long as Daddy. Because Daddy will live forever, too!
Daddy's already maxed five hundred skills, but he's also getting really into science while Mama is at work. Mama is
sooo jealous, since she isn't allowed to max science until she and Daddy move to Lunar Lakes! I don't know where Jerry and I will move. Maybe there's a secret world, second star on the right and straight on 'til morning? Grandma Serena joked that if I want a real secret magical world, I should just visit Italy. Too bad aliens have closed down all travel outside of Sunset Valley.
I always give Jerry a kiss for good luck, before he goes to a show. One time I was late at work and we didn't kiss, and it was his only failed show! Since then, we're extra careful.
I just love watching his shows, especially the end. He stands and holds up his arms, with the light illuminating his perfectness and fireworks going off, and around me the entire crowd goes insane cheering and throwing flowers. I threw a cowplant one time, but it hit an adorable crotchety little man instead. I stick to roses, now.
At this particular show, Daddy and a fairy townie (hey, it's the adorable crotchety little man!) were especially vocal in expressing their excitement. I think it's super sweet.
I ran right up onto the stage the moment he took his final bow.
It just seemed like the absolutely perfect time. There were a hundred thousand feathery little voices cheering inside my head, like tiny colorful butterflies flying around in my brain.
And at least two of the voices were my daddy and the adorable crotchety little man whooping at the table near the stage, as I dropped down on one knee, took the box out, and opened it to reveal a ring that sparkled with brilliant, rainbow light.
I was perfect.
He was perfect.
We were perfect.
They were perfect.
The world is perfect.
The universe is beautiful.
And it's all wound together by the brilliant rainbow light coming from the ring, from Jerry when I look at him, from me when he looks at me, from Grandpa when he looks toward the beach where he met Lolita, and Mama and Daddy when they're together or even thinking about each other, and . . . the other Immortals--the ones who are actually immortal.
Grandma Serena, when she smiles at the wedding pictures. Grandma Bree, when she laughs at a line in Grandpa Brandon's goofy children's books. Grandma Kara gazing at a photograph of Grandma Bianca. It's all just so . . . pretty. And it's all connected by the rainbow light.
Rainbow light, and butterflies.
Mama, Daddy, Jerry and I all went out that night. We took photos in the photobooths. Some were fit for public viewing.
Others . . .
Not so much.
Grandpa Brandon just watched, and smiled.
