City of Angels

A simple, busy, mundane afternoon in the suburbs of Greater Los Angeles

The static sound of the television buzzed through many houses. Their contents varied but subdued by the monotonous subtle noise of television sets.

Some houses were completely silent with only the spinning of fans to ward of the warmth of spring breeze.

Despite the lush flora and fauna and the soft wind, an inviting and welcoming scenery, the dull atmosphere in the neighborhood was only broken by a pair of thudding footsteps that hit the soft earth at regular intervals.

In a corner of the suburbs, stood a pale yellow small house that was almost like a small cottage. The front was large or at least is appeared so as there was nor fences or anything to outline its boundary. Nevertheless, the grey stained pressured treated wood porch was framed by young sapling tree some of which had bloomed or given fruit. On one side of the porch was a young avocado tree and a lemon tree while the other side had climbing maroon roses grafted into a tree and hybrid tea roses of which one one a blush rose pink and the other white with maroon brush strokes on its edges. The porch itself was lined with hanging tassel ferns whose ferns were so lustrous they arch backward in a beautiful arc drooping coquettishly. These ferns were accompanied by drooping medinillas with soft pastel blossoms. These plants brought life to the otherwise worn yellow paint of the house with red tiles. Aside from the crowded and lively porch the rest of yard only consisted of a sturdy maple tree and its tire swing hanging from it robust branches that were lush with greenery of spring.

Two children, one in shorts and t shirt and the other in a pale green spaghetti strap summer dress, ran around this tree.

After three laps around it, the children decided to take their game to the back yard. High pitched laughter and giggles trailing behind them.

The backyard was narrow in appearance and instead of having thin grass, there were red tiled paths snaking around the patches of gardens. Some patches had tomato bushes along with other bush grown fruits or vegetables while another patch was made up of herbs like cumin and coriander. All in all the back yard was lush and filled with crops. Only at the center was there a small rusty pavilion with two wooden stools and folding table.

The children rounded this pavilion. The smaller child entered and almost knocked down the table. The older one behind her quickly reached out and steadied the table on her way to catch the younger one. The older child yelled out threateningly, "I'm gonna get you!" toying with the younger child.

Their laughter occasionally seeped in through the open door kitchen accompanying the chopping of vegetables on a wooden cutting board and the muffled voice of an anchor on television.

The middle age woman with strands of white hair on her forehead, cutting the vegetables was standing behind island of the kitchen which contained the sink which she was next to while her back was to the backdoor leading to the back yard.

She had a perfect view of the television in the living room and the front yard, but her focus was on dicing and chopping ingredients occasionally using the back of her hand to wipe the light bead of sweat seeping from her forehead.

Accompanying her was the celebratory shouts and activities on television showcasing a grand parade. The news anchor on T.V. blared out, "today, folks, marks the first century of the glorious founding of our holy leaders!"

Behind her, the parade was coming to its climax as a read carpet followed the march of a hundred men in formal black uniform with decorative swords at waists. Their march was thunderous without any external help. Each step in sync and filled with momentum. Their bodies taut as if ready for battle.

The news anchor blushed as if injected with chicken blood even more so as a float behind them came into view.

The float was elegant and only had a red carpeted floor. On it were delicately carved chair gilded with special materials.

Three chairs fit for kings. Two at the front not obstructing the grander chair at the back. On them sat, beautiful surreal men

The anchor faithfully reported their appearance, "-Oh! Here they come folks!"

With fervent eyes, she gazed in the float's direction. She praised with reverence, "Look at their grandeur! The blessing of living under this era under their rule!.." The T.V. droned on and on.

Outside, the young girl teasingly questioned to her surroundings, "where are you~"

Behind some tomato bushes planted by their mother, little feet scurry in another direction. Those little feet fleeing matched the mock fright, "kyaah~" followed by both little girls' laughter.

They changed the location of their game and returned to the front yard.

The younger child had rounded the corner quickly and hid behind some potted trees ducking her head as far as it could go.

When the older child finally round the front yard, she paused and swept her gaze over the yard.

As she swept her gaze, she stopped and her eyes widened as she looked at the side walk where a little boy stood stoically staring at them with deep concentration. He wore formal attire with beautiful linings and accessories that contrasted his black hair and eyes and emphasized his paleness.

The older girl was caught in surprise for only a moment as curiosity took over, so she approached the little boy.

Unsure of how to start, she asked, "are you lost?"

The little boy cocked his head and blinked unable to answer.

The little girl continued, "do you live around here?"

The little boy tentatively nodded.

The little girl behind some potted plants poked her head out. Seeing her big sister chatting with someone instead of playing, she ran out with a pout on her face and she accused, "Jenny! Why aren't you playing!"

The older girl turned to her younger sister with a questioning look and patiently answered, "I saw him and thought he was lost! He says he loves around here"

The little sister grumbled, "so what? lets just play" pulling her sisters arm and trying to go back to play.

The older sister was pulled a step and she turned to the little boy asking, "if you don't have to be home soon, do you want to play?"

The little boy's eyes widened with shock. For a moment, his mouth opened without saying anything until he simply shyly nodded.

The older girl was momentarily stumped by his timid nature and simply patted him and pulled him into the yard.

When she pulled him, the boy stumbled very close to her, so she finally noticed that he was the almost the same height as her.

She turned to her sister and said sternly, "be nice"

The little sister pouted and grumbled, "why do we have to play with him?!"

The older sister patted her little sister and answered, "more people, more fun"

The little sister's eyes widen and her eyes gleamed with calculation, "ok! but he's it!"

The older sister thought about it and turned to the little boy, "have you played snake and catch?"

The little boy shook his head.

The older sister continued, "mm? how about cops and robbers?"

The little boy shook his head.

She turned to her sister and said coaxingly, "I'll be it again to show him how to play first. ok?"

The little girl pouted but still nodded.

The older sister turned to the little boy, "I will count to 10 and you have to run as far from me after. If you go to the back yard, don't step on the plants. The porch is safe zone only for one turn of 20 seconds. When I catch you, you lose and you be it. ok?"

The little boy nodded as if understanding. The little girls in an attempt to scare him out said, "if she catches you, she will bite you!"

The little boy simply nodded which made the little girl annoyed.

They began their game as the older sister closed her eyes and counted. Once the count down was over, she saw the shadow of her sister rounding the corner to the back yard but did not see the little boy. She paused in thought and said teasingly, "I'm coming to get you~" in a gruff voice in an attempt to sound like a monster.

Even though she had seen her sister, she decided to first check the front yard for the little boy.

She swept through the front yard meticulously, even looking up at the lush tree to see if somehow he had climbed up there.

Seeing that no one was in the front yard, she headed to the back yard but not before checking the other side to the backyard.

Once she went to the back yard, she stealthily tiptoe trying to soften her footsteps.

She saw a shadow sweep by. She rubbed her eyes in doubt.

She walked around the small path and looked inside and behind a tool shed at the corner of the back yard.

Under a carp inside the tool shed, she saw a small bulge. She slowly reached out her hand and quickly pulled off the carp.

A small scream sounded and her little sister tried to run away.

Seeing her sister almost get her, she pushed some paints to the floor. This almost tripped her sister.

Since they did not have any shoes on, the paint cans sadly fell on her foot. She crouched down in pain and messaged her foot. She quickly stood up and angrily chased her sister yelling, "vas a ver, Vivi! [you'll see, Vivi!]"

A shadow quickly blocked her way. She stopped abruptly and lightly bumped into the little boy.

The little boy looked at her worriedly and reached out his hands to steady her. He asked in a soft voice, "are you ok?"

The older sister heard his voice and was mesmerized for a moment to the point she blurted out, "beautiful voice"

The boy's eyes widened in surprise and he hurriedly let her go and shyly looked down while holding the hem of his small suit tightly.

The older sister coughed lightly and then held his wrist. The little boy stiffened and then froze as the older sister teased, "I caught you~"

The older sister brought his wrist to her mouth and said, "Imma bite you now"

The little boy was a bit surprised and closed his eyes. The older sisters snickered and smacked his wrist finishing with a "there! I bit you"

The little boy was stupefied. A small blush crept into his cheeks and ears.

The older sister seeing this laughed boisterously.

She held her tummy as she laughed. After finishing, she held his shoulders and said serious "now you understand how to play?"

The little boy nodded.

Seeing him, the older sister could not help but laugh again. The little sister left behind found this scene and was about to scold when he sister interrupted her, "Its his turn next"

The little sister laughed mockingly. She said proudly, "I won!"

The older sister took the boy's hand and led him to the small pavilion. She positioned him there and then due to the urging of her little sister, made him turn around seven times. She placed his hands on his eyes and sternly reminded him not to look.

After covering his eyes, the older sister gave him the signal to start counting. He began counting and little footsteps scurried away. When he finished, he uncovered his eyes and leisurely went in a certain direction.

The girls footsteps padded the earth but the boy's footsteps left no prints nor made no sound.

He walked a certain bend where a trashcan and a recycling bin were placed. He peeked in between one and said "I caught you!" as he swiftly tried to grab the wrist of the little girl.

The little girl screamed as she pushed the bin in surprise. The little boy was caught of guard as he caught the bin.

The little girl scurried away.

He placed the bin in position and ran to the little girl quickly catching her. The girl struggled and shouted, "Jenny! Help me!"

The older sister came from her hiding position and pulled her sister's other hand. She pulled and pulled but was unable to move her an inch.

She quickly let go and tackled the little boy, but instead bumped into him and she staggered back. She instead embraced him from behind and tickled him.

These series of action made the little boy stunned and freeze. He loosened his group on the little sister whose wrist sported deep purple imprints of fingers.

The little sister scampered away.

Seeing this, the older sister quickly let go and tried to flee. She ran to the back yard as the little boy was still in shock.

Quickly coming back from the shock and warm body he felt, he gave chase.

When he got to the back yard, he yelled, "That wasn't part of the rules!" frustratingly and with a bit of coyness.

The older sister yelled as she scampered through the garden trying to go back to the front yard, "the catch can help each other escape the snake!"

The little boy furrowed his brows and took his time to catch the older sister. Just as she was bout to step on the porch, she was caught and pulled back. The older sister struggled from his grip and was shocked to realize she could not.

The girl was a little out of breath from the shock as the little boy calmly said "I caught you"

The older sister laughed which prompted the little boy to smile and chuckle.

He held her wrist and gingerly brought her wrist to his lips exposing two pointed teeth as his lips parted. The older sister didn't pay much attention thinking he would smack her wrist.

As her laughter rose, a scream came from the house. The door war slammed ajar. A stern voice laced with tension and worry came out, "Children! Come inside!"

At the end of that stern scolding is a desperate cry.