If you didn’t know it was here, you’d miss it: there are few clues on the outside of this house as to what lies beyond the threshold. I open the gate and walk up the path, pausing to sniff the purple roses. Maybe you would notice the delicate shade of blue the house is. Maybe you would wonder at the planet motif on the house number plaque. I put my key in the lock and turn it, grinning slightly at the fleur-de-lis shaped knocker.
I enter, pausing on the threshold. From beneath my feet I feel reverberating base, around the house I hear screams of laughter and play, the various melodies of many instruments being practiced, and I feel the thoughtful silence of the attic way above. I breath in deeply and smell the warm scent of fresh baked goodies, new mown grass, many perfumes and incenses, warm bodies, and the tang of ammonium nitrate and Kerosene.
This is my house, these are my people. This is my Spacefemily.
Dropping my coat and kicking off my shoes in the hallway rack, I stick my head round the door of the lounge.
“Hey kids!”
“Momma!” Jevva squeals, dropping her video game controller and leaping up from the TV to hug me until I cry out, whist Jen wins the game, then she heads over to hug me as well.
“How are you Momma? Have you been having fun?” Jen asks me.
“Did you bring us anything?” Jevva chimes in. Silver and Yaad’s ears prick up from where they have been gossiping in a corner and they drift over.
“I have something for everyone.” I say grinning, and moving on the kitchen.
“MommaDru!” Wiccy smiles at me as I enter. She has a tray of little green cakes in her hands. I look from them to her.
“I’m almost afraid to ask.” I grin at her.
“Green tea fairy cakes. And no, you mayn’t have one until they are cooler.” She says, proceeding to tip them on a cooling rack. I move over and put a variety of bags on the kitchen table then grimace at a whiff of ammonium nitrate. “Wiccy, has Pyro been making bombs again?” Wiccy shuffled her feet.
“She said she needed to cook something.” I sigh
“Fine. I’m sure the smell will go away on its own.” I start pulling things from bags and the others crowd around me.
“My corset!” squeals Wiccy, racing off to try it on, “Thanks Momma!” over her shoulder.
“Tehe! It makes such a funny noise! This is so cool!” – Jevva playing with the Jibber Jabber
“Ooh thanks Momma! Its so pretty.” Thats Jen with a new note book/ journal.
A new necklace for Yaad and some sweets for Silver, and more hugs for me. Makes me feel loved for a while as they run off to play again. I put the kettle on for a cup of tea and move through the house leaving gifts on beds; a tube of scale moisturiser for Draak, books for many, new clothes for some, Jasc Animation for Dolphy and finally, “Lady S are you in?” I call thought the door of her attic apartment.
“Ess, mumbin” I open the door to see The Queen of Everything trying to chew quickly through something. I hold up a sack as she swallows.
“Bird seed.” I tell her and she grins as she takes it from me.
“Thanks Dru, you’re a star.” I grin back, and then head back down the house, to MFS’ basement to give him his slide.
It’s cool down here, and for once relativity quiet; Everyone must be outside in the sun. I gaze at the collection of instruments here, from MFS’ guitars to Osin’s Sax, as I wander over to a chest of draws and leave the slide.
I decide to test my theory and out of the back door into a garden, and I was right: Cries of ‘Momma!’ and ‘Dru!’ ring out as lots of hugs and licked foreheads come my way. Looking around I can see so many familiar faces; DWH, Zecorder, Zorpy, SaberSlash, Ama, RD, Tweek, Kissthefluffycloudbunny, MFS, Amore to name but a very few. Someone has put trestle tables up, bulging with food of all kinds and to the taste of even the most picky among us. Music and chatter issue from all around, and laughter from where Squeaky and Z are fooling around. I gather up some food and wander to have a natter with Draak, now in her dragon form for the garden is big enough.
The whole day is wonderful, the sun shines, and when it does shower, no one goes inside. I sniff the air, fragrant with summer and flowers, before being pulled away into a game with SBC and PnkPanther.
As the sun dips below the horizon and the stars come out, we light a fire and those who can play and sing until the wee ones drop off and are carried to bed. Then slowly, one by one, we retire until I am left in the solitude of the night with Darkliquid in my arms.
“Today was nice.” I tell him.
“Yes.” He agrees, then kisses me softly before we leave and head up the house to bed ourselves.
☮&♥
