Prompt 218: That's what SHE said!: "Unraveling Family Ties"
Title: Unraveling Family Ties
Author: Catw00man
Series: PRE Brotherhood/Manga
Word Count: 3,067
Rating: PG-13
Characters: Roy Mustang, Chris Mustang
Summary: Roy only thought he knew all there was to know about his family history.
Author’s Note: He just didn’t want to stop. :-) I didn’t go with the usual interpretation of the prompt but I think it works.
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Roy follows the train man down the narrow corridor and just barely keeps from stomping his feet. He does fist his hands at his sides and narrow his eyes though. He doesn’t want to be on this train, but like Mama used to tell him when he didn’t want to help with the dishes, sometimes you have to do things you don’t like to do. The man with a flat hat stops in front of an open door then looks right over his head like he’s not even there.
“This is your compartment, Madame.” Roy glances behind him to see his Auntie nodding at the man. “If you need anything please don’t hesitate to call for an attendant, but one will be by shortly after we depart to offer you refreshment.” Roy looks back at the man and since neither of them seem to be paying him any mind he edges around him and makes his way into the “compartment.”
He stops right inside the door and glances around. When he rode the train with the man in blue they didn’t travel in a little room like this. They sat out in the rows of hard wooden benches the train man just led them past. He didn’t even know there were little rooms like this. Roy stares at the padded seats that look much more comfortable than the wood benches and tosses his suitcase on the one to the left. Then he shuffles over to the window and sits on the well cushioned bench to the right.
There’s not much to see outside the window, considering they’re still in the station, but Roy leans his forehead against it anyway. The glass is cool where it touches his skin and he stares through it to another train only a short distance away. It’s a car like the one he and the solider traveled in and he sees row after row of benches he knows will make your rear end hurt after only half a day. He’s never liked sitting for long periods of time, unless it was on Ruby, and he wonders how long the trip will be this time. His Auntie only told him the trip would take a few days, but she didn’t say how long he’d have to sit here. At least these benches seem a little more comfortable.
Movement on the other train draws his attention and he sees a girl about his age moving down one of the benches to sit by the window across from him. Her long, blond braids sway as she bounces in her seat and looks back to her parents sliding in beside her. They’re smiling just as much as she is and Roy realizes none of them seem to care about the hard, wooden bench. They look like they’re on vacation, just like he and his parents would’ve been in the fall and Roy jerks his head away. He knows he wouldn’t have cared about the bench either if he had-
“Hey! That’s mine!” Roy jumps out of his seat when the train man picks up his suitcase. He tries to reach for it but the man’s already lifting it over his head and putting it into an open cabinet above the opposite bench that Roy didn’t see before. “What are you doing? Stop!”
The man’s eyes widen in surprise when Roy tugs at his arm and he turns toward him, finally looking at him for the first time. “I’m sorry, sir. I was just assisting in storing your bag. However if you’d like to leave it down for the duration of the trip I could-”
“That won’t be necessary, Robert.” Roy’s head jerks toward the doorway to find his Auntie shooting a disapproving look his direction. He barely has a chance to scowl back before her expression lightens as she turns her attention back to the train man. “We appreciate your assistance. Thank you for your attentiveness.”
The man smiles back at his aunt then reaches up to pull down and close the strange cabinet door, locking away Roy’s things out of his reach. He turns away, apparently forgetting about Roy completely, and thanks his aunt as she hands him something in a way that seems very sneaky. She made it look like she was just shaking his hand, but he’s certain he saw the man put something in his pocket as he was leaving. The door slides shut behind him and Roy turns his eyes upward. Maybe he could reach the cabinet if he climbed up on the-
“That was very rude of you, Roy.”
His head snaps around again to find his Auntie giving him the same disapproving look from before. He stares back at her as she moves to stand in front of the door again and he actually wonders if she’s afraid he might try to leave. He’d like to, but then he wouldn’t get to find out more about Papa and the city with the castle. He narrows his eyes and shrugs as he turns back toward the window and drops back down on the bench. “It was rude of him to take my things. Mama always said it’s not right to touch other people’s things without their permission.”
Roy hears what sounds like a sigh behind him, but he doesn’t bother looking because he didn’t do anything wrong. People are supposed to ask before messing with your stuff. It’s good manners. Mama always told him he needed to have good manners. He frowns at her remembered words because Mama probably wouldn’t like that he’s arguing with his Auntie either, but it’s not his fault! She should’ve just let him stay in Teysas.
“I see we’re going to have a lot of work to do on your manners before we turn you into a gentleman.” Roy’s eyes widen and turns his head to see his Auntie has sat on the bench across from him by the door. She’s rummaging through her large bag and he just hopes it’s not for one of her smoking sticks.
“I have manners,” he snaps back and crosses his arms. His mouth forms a stubborn pout and he stares at her directly as she unwraps something that looks like a hard candy and pops it in her mouth. “Mama always said so. I don’t need to be a ‘gentleman.’ I’m a horse rancher.”
“Not anymore you’re not.” Her words sting, more than he expects and he bites his lower lip. He won’t cry. Not anymore and especially not now. His nails cut at his palms as he fists his hands and fights to keep himself together under her intense stare. “Now you’re under my care and one way or another I’m going to see to it that you become a proper gentleman.”
“I don’t wanna!” He doesn’t plan the outburst and he instantly regrets it when he hears how unsteady his voice is. It reminds him of a little kid he saw at the General Store arguing with his mother over a piece of candy. Mama pointed it out and told him he should never act like that. But Mama couldn’t have known something like this would happen. He’s not a brat. He just wants to go home!
“I realize that, Roy-boy.” His aunt looks down at her bag again. She rummages around as if she’s looking for something but then puts it off to the side without taking anything out. “But sometimes things happen in life that we don’t expect and we have to do things we don’t want to do.”
Roy closes his eyes and pretends he doesn’t feel the pair of tears slide down his face. Those words are so much like Mama’s. Does his Auntie know that? Roy swallows around the hard lump in his throat then nods once, very slowly. He doesn’t want to take this trip, but it doesn’t have to be forever. One day he’ll go back home, but for now he needs to make the best of it, just like Mama would at the end of winter when all the dried meat and sweet preserves were gone. She’d always find a way to make something yummy, no matter what. She’d “make the best of what they had because there was always better to come,” and that’s what he needs to do now.
Roy’s stomach suddenly lurches and he reaches down to grab the seat. The train’s moving and just like the first time he can already feel his insides twisting into knots. He takes a slow, deep breath then finally opens his eyes to look out the window. The other train is gone now and in only a few moments the train station is gone as well. Roy watches as they pass a few buildings, then some houses and finally broad open pastures. The sight makes him homesick and he drops his gaze. He agreed to this trip for answers. It’s time he gets them.
It takes him another few minutes to get used to the rocking of the train before he’s ready to talk. He still feels queasy, but apparently there’s nothing he can do about it, at least, that’s what the man in blue said. He told him to just close his eyes and maybe it would go away. But it didn’t, and now it’s back again. Roy sighs softly but then jumps when he feels a hand touch his arm.
“Roy, are you alright?” He opens his eyes to find his Auntie leaning forward with a concerned look on her face. Can she tell he feels bad? The soldier didn’t seem very concerned. He tries to shrugs it off, but she doesn’t pull back. “Talk to me, Roy-boy. Tell me what’s wrong.”
Roy shrugs and tries to fight off the uneasy feeling inside. “My tummy’s upset.” He looks down, ashamed at his own weakness on top of everything else. “The soldier man said it happens. I’m fine.”
“And he didn’t do anything about it, did he?” His aunt pulls back and Roy curls in on himself a little more. He can hear the annoyance and anger in her tone. He didn’t mean to be sick. He wraps his arms around himself and leans against wall until the sound of a bell ringing grabs his attention. He looks over at his aunt at the same time someone opens the compartment door.
“Yes, ma’am. May I help you?” The person is a lady with short brown hair and she’s wearing clothes similar to what the train man was wearing. She even has the same black, flat hat. Roy watches through barely slitted eyes as his aunt talks to her.
“Yes, you can.” His Auntie glances briefly his direction then turn to the young lady again. “My traveling companion isn’t feeling well. Could you please bring some ginger tea with honey and some plain crackers?” The train lady nods and tries to shut the door but his Auntie stops it. “And please be quick about it.”
“Yes, ma’am. Right away.” She nods quickly and Auntie Chris takes her hand away from the door. It slides shut and Roy bites his lip again. He didn’t mean to be this much of a bother.
“I’m sorry,” he says softly and lowers his eyes. He’s not used to having anyone besides his Mama look after him and he doesn’t like feeling like a burden.
“What?” Her voice is still annoyed sounding and Roy tries in vain to make himself even smaller. But then there’s a soft pat on his shoulder and he frowns in confusion. His aunt has moved closer again and he’s not sure what the look on her face means. She doesn’t look mad, exactly, but she doesn’t look happy either. “You have nothing to be sorry for, Roy-boy. The soldier should have told me you get train sick. If I’d known I could have been better prepared. I’m sorry. Hopefully the tea will help.”
Roy blinks his eyes open wider and nods slowly. So she’s mad about the soldier? She’s upset for him? He sits up a little straighter and gives her a weak smile. Papa would get like that. His tummy is still upset but knowing that she cares enough to get upset makes him feel a little better. Papa always made him feel safe like he would always protect him. Now that he’s gone…it’s nice to know he really isn’t all alone.
“Auntie Chris, do you think you could tell me that story about Papa and the Castle City now?” He feels the soft pat on his shoulder again and it’s only then he realizes she’s moved to sit beside him. She nods in answer to his question and he pulls away from the wall to lean against her. She stiffens at first and he’s about to pull away when a heavy hand settles on his shoulder. It’s the safest he’s felt in days and he closes his eyes as he rests his head against her soft thigh.
“I was a couple years younger than you are when I first saw Central City.” Roy feels a soft brush against his shoulder then the comforting hand rests on him once more. “Your father was even younger. I’m surprised he remembered enough to tell you stories.”
“Why were you there?” His voice is a little muffled by the fabric of her dress. It’s softer than anything he ever remembers Mama wearing and he lightly brushes his cheek against it.
“We were coming from the East. That’s where we were born.”
Roy frowns at the words because that’s not right. Grandpop said their home was always Teysas. How could his Papa have been born somewhere else? It doesn’t make sense. He shakes his head against the silky, smooth fabric but relaxes slightly when a surprisingly soft hand brushes over his hair. “But, that’s not right Auntie Chris. Grandpop said we were all from Teysas. Maybe you made a mistake?”
A low raspy chuckle that doesn’t sound very happy is her first response. Roy remains still and wonders why she would laugh if she’s not happy. Her hand smooths over his hair again and he rests quietly as he waits for her to say more. “Your grandfather liked to have things his way. It’s why he dragged Momma all the way across the country and away from everything-” She cuts her words off with a sigh and her hand curls slightly on his shoulder. He feels the tension in her leg where his head is resting and he he’s not sure why. She sounds upset again. Didn’t he hear her like this when she talked to Papa all that time ago?
“Did you not like Grandpop?” His Auntie flinches and he sits up slowly. His tummy is still rumbly but laying down did seem to help. He blinks up at her and tilts his head. He’s not sure why he thinks this and he tries to remember everything about when she came to visit that one time. Didn’t he hear Papa say something to Mama? “Is that why you didn’t come back when he died?”
Auntie Chris’ eyes widen at his words and he shifts on the bench. Was it bad that he asked that? He’s been trying so hard to remember when she was there before and he’s certain it was after Nana died. He was too young to go to the funeral so he doesn’t know if she was there, but he knows she wasn’t at Grandpop’s. He was there. He needs to ask her about when Mama and Papa’s will-
“It’s complicated, Roy.”
He doesn’t know what that means, but she doesn’t look happy. He doesn’t want her to be unhappy. He chews on his lower lip and thinks about the rest of what she said. Didn’t she say something about taking Nana away from things? Why would Grandpop do that? Roy reaches up to brush his hair out of his eyes and tries to ask a better question. “Where was Nana before he took her away? Why were you not born in Teysas?”
Auntie Chris stares at him for a moment then gives him a soft smile. She reaches out to push back the hair he tried to get out of his face and shakes her head slowly. “Has anyone ever told you that you look a lot like your grandmother?”
He doesn’t know why she changed the subject, but he nods. “Mama used to say that.” Auntie Chris nods and smiles at him again, but he can’t help thinking that her smile is a little sad.
“Your eyes are as dark as hers were.” Roy nods but he hardly remembers much about his Nana. He remembers how nice she was and how she looked and talked a little differently than everyone else, but he never thought much about it. That’s just how his Nana was. Was there a reason she was different? Does it have something to do with where she was from?
“Nana wasn’t from Teysas, was she?” Auntie Chris nods and he’s starting to realize there really is a lot he doesn’t know. He thinks back and wasn’t there a time he used to ask about other places?
His eyes widen slightly because he’d forgotten. He was really little and it was after Auntie Chris came to the house. He tried to ask Grandpop about it and he got really mad. Mama told him he shouldn’t upset him so he stopped asking about his Auntie. After that Papa would just tell him stories about things and Grandpop didn’t seem to get upset. Is that why Papa told him stories the way he did? If he’d asked Mama and Papa after Grandpop died would they have told him then?
“No, she wasn’t, Roy. Your Nana was from a place very far away.” Auntie Chris gets a sad look in her eyes but smiles at the same time. This time though her smile doesn’t look quite so sad. “She was from a place called Xing.”
Roy nods slowly then leans down to rest his head in his Auntie’s lap again. His stomach is still rumbly but he wants to hear more. He gets settled on the bench again and smiles when Auntie Chris rests her hand on his shoulder again. “Will you tell me more about her? And about Xing?”
Author: Catw00man
Series: PRE Brotherhood/Manga
Word Count: 3,067
Rating: PG-13
Characters: Roy Mustang, Chris Mustang
Summary: Roy only thought he knew all there was to know about his family history.
Author’s Note: He just didn’t want to stop. :-) I didn’t go with the usual interpretation of the prompt but I think it works.
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Roy follows the train man down the narrow corridor and just barely keeps from stomping his feet. He does fist his hands at his sides and narrow his eyes though. He doesn’t want to be on this train, but like Mama used to tell him when he didn’t want to help with the dishes, sometimes you have to do things you don’t like to do. The man with a flat hat stops in front of an open door then looks right over his head like he’s not even there.
“This is your compartment, Madame.” Roy glances behind him to see his Auntie nodding at the man. “If you need anything please don’t hesitate to call for an attendant, but one will be by shortly after we depart to offer you refreshment.” Roy looks back at the man and since neither of them seem to be paying him any mind he edges around him and makes his way into the “compartment.”
He stops right inside the door and glances around. When he rode the train with the man in blue they didn’t travel in a little room like this. They sat out in the rows of hard wooden benches the train man just led them past. He didn’t even know there were little rooms like this. Roy stares at the padded seats that look much more comfortable than the wood benches and tosses his suitcase on the one to the left. Then he shuffles over to the window and sits on the well cushioned bench to the right.
There’s not much to see outside the window, considering they’re still in the station, but Roy leans his forehead against it anyway. The glass is cool where it touches his skin and he stares through it to another train only a short distance away. It’s a car like the one he and the solider traveled in and he sees row after row of benches he knows will make your rear end hurt after only half a day. He’s never liked sitting for long periods of time, unless it was on Ruby, and he wonders how long the trip will be this time. His Auntie only told him the trip would take a few days, but she didn’t say how long he’d have to sit here. At least these benches seem a little more comfortable.
Movement on the other train draws his attention and he sees a girl about his age moving down one of the benches to sit by the window across from him. Her long, blond braids sway as she bounces in her seat and looks back to her parents sliding in beside her. They’re smiling just as much as she is and Roy realizes none of them seem to care about the hard, wooden bench. They look like they’re on vacation, just like he and his parents would’ve been in the fall and Roy jerks his head away. He knows he wouldn’t have cared about the bench either if he had-
“Hey! That’s mine!” Roy jumps out of his seat when the train man picks up his suitcase. He tries to reach for it but the man’s already lifting it over his head and putting it into an open cabinet above the opposite bench that Roy didn’t see before. “What are you doing? Stop!”
The man’s eyes widen in surprise when Roy tugs at his arm and he turns toward him, finally looking at him for the first time. “I’m sorry, sir. I was just assisting in storing your bag. However if you’d like to leave it down for the duration of the trip I could-”
“That won’t be necessary, Robert.” Roy’s head jerks toward the doorway to find his Auntie shooting a disapproving look his direction. He barely has a chance to scowl back before her expression lightens as she turns her attention back to the train man. “We appreciate your assistance. Thank you for your attentiveness.”
The man smiles back at his aunt then reaches up to pull down and close the strange cabinet door, locking away Roy’s things out of his reach. He turns away, apparently forgetting about Roy completely, and thanks his aunt as she hands him something in a way that seems very sneaky. She made it look like she was just shaking his hand, but he’s certain he saw the man put something in his pocket as he was leaving. The door slides shut behind him and Roy turns his eyes upward. Maybe he could reach the cabinet if he climbed up on the-
“That was very rude of you, Roy.”
His head snaps around again to find his Auntie giving him the same disapproving look from before. He stares back at her as she moves to stand in front of the door again and he actually wonders if she’s afraid he might try to leave. He’d like to, but then he wouldn’t get to find out more about Papa and the city with the castle. He narrows his eyes and shrugs as he turns back toward the window and drops back down on the bench. “It was rude of him to take my things. Mama always said it’s not right to touch other people’s things without their permission.”
Roy hears what sounds like a sigh behind him, but he doesn’t bother looking because he didn’t do anything wrong. People are supposed to ask before messing with your stuff. It’s good manners. Mama always told him he needed to have good manners. He frowns at her remembered words because Mama probably wouldn’t like that he’s arguing with his Auntie either, but it’s not his fault! She should’ve just let him stay in Teysas.
“I see we’re going to have a lot of work to do on your manners before we turn you into a gentleman.” Roy’s eyes widen and turns his head to see his Auntie has sat on the bench across from him by the door. She’s rummaging through her large bag and he just hopes it’s not for one of her smoking sticks.
“I have manners,” he snaps back and crosses his arms. His mouth forms a stubborn pout and he stares at her directly as she unwraps something that looks like a hard candy and pops it in her mouth. “Mama always said so. I don’t need to be a ‘gentleman.’ I’m a horse rancher.”
“Not anymore you’re not.” Her words sting, more than he expects and he bites his lower lip. He won’t cry. Not anymore and especially not now. His nails cut at his palms as he fists his hands and fights to keep himself together under her intense stare. “Now you’re under my care and one way or another I’m going to see to it that you become a proper gentleman.”
“I don’t wanna!” He doesn’t plan the outburst and he instantly regrets it when he hears how unsteady his voice is. It reminds him of a little kid he saw at the General Store arguing with his mother over a piece of candy. Mama pointed it out and told him he should never act like that. But Mama couldn’t have known something like this would happen. He’s not a brat. He just wants to go home!
“I realize that, Roy-boy.” His aunt looks down at her bag again. She rummages around as if she’s looking for something but then puts it off to the side without taking anything out. “But sometimes things happen in life that we don’t expect and we have to do things we don’t want to do.”
Roy closes his eyes and pretends he doesn’t feel the pair of tears slide down his face. Those words are so much like Mama’s. Does his Auntie know that? Roy swallows around the hard lump in his throat then nods once, very slowly. He doesn’t want to take this trip, but it doesn’t have to be forever. One day he’ll go back home, but for now he needs to make the best of it, just like Mama would at the end of winter when all the dried meat and sweet preserves were gone. She’d always find a way to make something yummy, no matter what. She’d “make the best of what they had because there was always better to come,” and that’s what he needs to do now.
Roy’s stomach suddenly lurches and he reaches down to grab the seat. The train’s moving and just like the first time he can already feel his insides twisting into knots. He takes a slow, deep breath then finally opens his eyes to look out the window. The other train is gone now and in only a few moments the train station is gone as well. Roy watches as they pass a few buildings, then some houses and finally broad open pastures. The sight makes him homesick and he drops his gaze. He agreed to this trip for answers. It’s time he gets them.
It takes him another few minutes to get used to the rocking of the train before he’s ready to talk. He still feels queasy, but apparently there’s nothing he can do about it, at least, that’s what the man in blue said. He told him to just close his eyes and maybe it would go away. But it didn’t, and now it’s back again. Roy sighs softly but then jumps when he feels a hand touch his arm.
“Roy, are you alright?” He opens his eyes to find his Auntie leaning forward with a concerned look on her face. Can she tell he feels bad? The soldier didn’t seem very concerned. He tries to shrugs it off, but she doesn’t pull back. “Talk to me, Roy-boy. Tell me what’s wrong.”
Roy shrugs and tries to fight off the uneasy feeling inside. “My tummy’s upset.” He looks down, ashamed at his own weakness on top of everything else. “The soldier man said it happens. I’m fine.”
“And he didn’t do anything about it, did he?” His aunt pulls back and Roy curls in on himself a little more. He can hear the annoyance and anger in her tone. He didn’t mean to be sick. He wraps his arms around himself and leans against wall until the sound of a bell ringing grabs his attention. He looks over at his aunt at the same time someone opens the compartment door.
“Yes, ma’am. May I help you?” The person is a lady with short brown hair and she’s wearing clothes similar to what the train man was wearing. She even has the same black, flat hat. Roy watches through barely slitted eyes as his aunt talks to her.
“Yes, you can.” His Auntie glances briefly his direction then turn to the young lady again. “My traveling companion isn’t feeling well. Could you please bring some ginger tea with honey and some plain crackers?” The train lady nods and tries to shut the door but his Auntie stops it. “And please be quick about it.”
“Yes, ma’am. Right away.” She nods quickly and Auntie Chris takes her hand away from the door. It slides shut and Roy bites his lip again. He didn’t mean to be this much of a bother.
“I’m sorry,” he says softly and lowers his eyes. He’s not used to having anyone besides his Mama look after him and he doesn’t like feeling like a burden.
“What?” Her voice is still annoyed sounding and Roy tries in vain to make himself even smaller. But then there’s a soft pat on his shoulder and he frowns in confusion. His aunt has moved closer again and he’s not sure what the look on her face means. She doesn’t look mad, exactly, but she doesn’t look happy either. “You have nothing to be sorry for, Roy-boy. The soldier should have told me you get train sick. If I’d known I could have been better prepared. I’m sorry. Hopefully the tea will help.”
Roy blinks his eyes open wider and nods slowly. So she’s mad about the soldier? She’s upset for him? He sits up a little straighter and gives her a weak smile. Papa would get like that. His tummy is still upset but knowing that she cares enough to get upset makes him feel a little better. Papa always made him feel safe like he would always protect him. Now that he’s gone…it’s nice to know he really isn’t all alone.
“Auntie Chris, do you think you could tell me that story about Papa and the Castle City now?” He feels the soft pat on his shoulder again and it’s only then he realizes she’s moved to sit beside him. She nods in answer to his question and he pulls away from the wall to lean against her. She stiffens at first and he’s about to pull away when a heavy hand settles on his shoulder. It’s the safest he’s felt in days and he closes his eyes as he rests his head against her soft thigh.
“I was a couple years younger than you are when I first saw Central City.” Roy feels a soft brush against his shoulder then the comforting hand rests on him once more. “Your father was even younger. I’m surprised he remembered enough to tell you stories.”
“Why were you there?” His voice is a little muffled by the fabric of her dress. It’s softer than anything he ever remembers Mama wearing and he lightly brushes his cheek against it.
“We were coming from the East. That’s where we were born.”
Roy frowns at the words because that’s not right. Grandpop said their home was always Teysas. How could his Papa have been born somewhere else? It doesn’t make sense. He shakes his head against the silky, smooth fabric but relaxes slightly when a surprisingly soft hand brushes over his hair. “But, that’s not right Auntie Chris. Grandpop said we were all from Teysas. Maybe you made a mistake?”
A low raspy chuckle that doesn’t sound very happy is her first response. Roy remains still and wonders why she would laugh if she’s not happy. Her hand smooths over his hair again and he rests quietly as he waits for her to say more. “Your grandfather liked to have things his way. It’s why he dragged Momma all the way across the country and away from everything-” She cuts her words off with a sigh and her hand curls slightly on his shoulder. He feels the tension in her leg where his head is resting and he he’s not sure why. She sounds upset again. Didn’t he hear her like this when she talked to Papa all that time ago?
“Did you not like Grandpop?” His Auntie flinches and he sits up slowly. His tummy is still rumbly but laying down did seem to help. He blinks up at her and tilts his head. He’s not sure why he thinks this and he tries to remember everything about when she came to visit that one time. Didn’t he hear Papa say something to Mama? “Is that why you didn’t come back when he died?”
Auntie Chris’ eyes widen at his words and he shifts on the bench. Was it bad that he asked that? He’s been trying so hard to remember when she was there before and he’s certain it was after Nana died. He was too young to go to the funeral so he doesn’t know if she was there, but he knows she wasn’t at Grandpop’s. He was there. He needs to ask her about when Mama and Papa’s will-
“It’s complicated, Roy.”
He doesn’t know what that means, but she doesn’t look happy. He doesn’t want her to be unhappy. He chews on his lower lip and thinks about the rest of what she said. Didn’t she say something about taking Nana away from things? Why would Grandpop do that? Roy reaches up to brush his hair out of his eyes and tries to ask a better question. “Where was Nana before he took her away? Why were you not born in Teysas?”
Auntie Chris stares at him for a moment then gives him a soft smile. She reaches out to push back the hair he tried to get out of his face and shakes her head slowly. “Has anyone ever told you that you look a lot like your grandmother?”
He doesn’t know why she changed the subject, but he nods. “Mama used to say that.” Auntie Chris nods and smiles at him again, but he can’t help thinking that her smile is a little sad.
“Your eyes are as dark as hers were.” Roy nods but he hardly remembers much about his Nana. He remembers how nice she was and how she looked and talked a little differently than everyone else, but he never thought much about it. That’s just how his Nana was. Was there a reason she was different? Does it have something to do with where she was from?
“Nana wasn’t from Teysas, was she?” Auntie Chris nods and he’s starting to realize there really is a lot he doesn’t know. He thinks back and wasn’t there a time he used to ask about other places?
His eyes widen slightly because he’d forgotten. He was really little and it was after Auntie Chris came to the house. He tried to ask Grandpop about it and he got really mad. Mama told him he shouldn’t upset him so he stopped asking about his Auntie. After that Papa would just tell him stories about things and Grandpop didn’t seem to get upset. Is that why Papa told him stories the way he did? If he’d asked Mama and Papa after Grandpop died would they have told him then?
“No, she wasn’t, Roy. Your Nana was from a place very far away.” Auntie Chris gets a sad look in her eyes but smiles at the same time. This time though her smile doesn’t look quite so sad. “She was from a place called Xing.”
Roy nods slowly then leans down to rest his head in his Auntie’s lap again. His stomach is still rumbly but he wants to hear more. He gets settled on the bench again and smiles when Auntie Chris rests her hand on his shoulder again. “Will you tell me more about her? And about Xing?”