The Justs and Termites

This is chapter 1

Chapter 1: The Justs and Termites

 

On a blue bed placed at the far corner of a cream-wallpapered room, a girl with burgundy-coloured hair sat. She was leaning on the wooden headboard and did not look anything near amused; her lovely brown eyes were in a squint and her arms folded together"obvious signs that she was really, really upset.

The girl’s name, needed be mentioned, was Eliza Just.

Now, the number one reason for her bad mood was not that she missed her favourite late night show, nor the fact that she hated missing that late night show (it did not do anything with the late night show at all), but rather, it was the reality that she was about to have her thirteenth birthday"in about three hours"and the party she had carefully planned for weeks was not going to happen whatsoever.

As if that was her only reason for such bitterness, for crying out loud! However, there is no denying that it was in fact a bizarre event that had somehow caused reason number one and a handful of other bad things.

That said horrible incident had taken place a week ago, on a weekend; surprisingly, it was a date pretty much unmarked on the Justs’ calendar.

Back then, if her memory got it right, her gorgeous mother, Catlea, had been busy baking cupcakes and talking on the phone at the same time. It was their family’s pharmacy tender on the other line and they had buzzed the entire time on matters that occurred in the business. If observant, one would definitely not miss the elegant movement her mother makes even if faced with problems of work and cupcakes.

Meanwhile, her father, David, had been to some extent busy as well. He had slumped boringly on a red sofa that matched the colour of his hair. There, he read a copy of LakewalkDaily while taking careful sips of the coffee that was set on the table in front of him. He flipped through the pages of the business and health sections, searching for news that could somehow help their enterprise climb up the ladder of success.

Moreover, Eliza’s eleven-year-old brother, Jake, was in one of his friends’ house, playing chess"well, that was what he had asked permission for anyway. No one could be really sure since he was the usual rule breaker. On his defence, and even Eliza could not disagree, when words go through Jake’s mouth, they were usually things he’d do somehow.

Yes, the day started pretty much like that. One could not help but think: if it were not for that most ridiculous incident, then surely the date could have passed forgotten, wouldn’t it? Well, maybe, maybe not. We could only guess.

 

Eliza moved her gaze to the bedside table where her lamp was still glowing. She then focused on a book that sat idle on it. She heaved a sigh and went on with her recollection of that most dreadful day...

 

Our girl had gotten up late that day and because of that, she had to eat her breakfast in the kitchen alone. In contrast to her usual views about that, she did not comment a thing and it was for the reason that she had then been in a very good mood. Nothing would have had taken it away from her, be it missing her favourite late night show or that fact of eating alone.

She had finished her meal with a smile.

The cause for such frame of mind had been that her birthday was nearing and her party was sure to be fabulous. (Really, now? Her brows creased as she remembered.)

Her mood had not turned down hill still even after realizing that it was absolutely too boring in the house. Her laptop had been acting peculiar since the day before so using it was out of her to do list.

So, what to do, what to do? As she washed the dishes that she had used, she had pondered on how she could possibly spend her time most enjoying.

Her first idea had been to call her best friend over for movies. That is of course, in spite of the fact that her parents are all the time against that scheme. Eliza never understood why they do not want Janaly Farez over, but it was good they still let her come.

Jana rarely turns Eliza’s invites down so that plan would have been pretty great"that is, if only Jana was not out with her foster mother for a stroll.

Another idea of Eliza was to play some of her much-loved piano pieces in their living room. That, however, had been not so good an idea either since her father was reading there. And Eliza knew better than to upset him.

There was just one other thing that appealed to her and it was to reread one of her beloved classical books, Great Expectations by the one known as Charles Dickens.

Not long after she had done drying the plate and utensils and placing them on their usual spot on a rack, she had skipped her way to the living room to a cupboard where she had kept most of her books. The case situated strategically beside the red sofa where her father had been sitting.

Eliza had knelt in front of it with grace and tugged its handles. It revealed the grand collection she had banked over the years.

Some of the books were horror stories, and some were about love. Some were rather dramatic while some others were more on the fantasy. All of them looked new"that is of course, thanks to the handling of their owner. With some care, Eliza took the book that she had intended to read and closed the covers.

She had trod out of the lounge and had headed to her own room where one could do reading with peace. It was on the second floor and so she deliberately jogged up the flight of stairs.

On the way, one could not help but note the pictures that fell in line on the wall.

Many of them had shown Eliza. It was fairly a mix from when she was born up to the time of her first show in a play.

Some others had her brother. He was too hyper that none seems to have caught him in a right pose. Many of them depicted his sides and back and blurred face that Eliza thought it was funny they still posted them there. Good thing he improved when he was already eleven, at least the pictures could now capture him right.

The rest were of both of their parents and Eliza saw that they were too mushy for her liking. Embarrassed by the frozen show of affection, she faces away whenever she gets by them.

At the end of the flight, and after a sharp turn to the left, was a hallway. Three doors had occupied the otherwise empty corridor; a single door occupied each of the walls.

The door on the left had been dense with scrawls that Eliza drew when she was five. They were faint because Eliza had tried to scrub them off with soap and water. Her parents stopped her when they saw her doing that. They explained it was to be a token of her youth and that she would thank them someday for it. She had always doubted that.

She had opened the door and entered the room.

The first thing one notice upon entering would be the wooden desk. It stood by the window that overlooked the front yard of the house. Schoolbooks had lain on it on a not-so-arranged heap.

Once taken in, eyes would then set upon the pink bed with flower designs. (Why in goodness name was the bed described blue up there? Did they change the covers? No. And we’ll get to that.)

She had clutched the novel tighter and had headed for that pink bed.

In her room, on that pink bed, reading a book, she had spent half of that most horrid day. Surely, no one would have had any idea as to what was to take place.

When her eyes had gotten tired, she had gone to put her book back in the cabinet.

Her mind then had been going over the next things she would do that day and for that cause, she had not noticed them when she had opened the cupboard; however, when she started to put the book back...

 

Eliza shuddered at the memory. She hugged a pillow tight to herself. It was disgusting; nevertheless, her thoughts raced on to complete the scene:

 

In the cupboard where her neat books had been were things she never thought would be there in the first place; countless insects"black winged things that never before she had seen this many. Eliza guessed that they were termites.

It was a sickening sight.

Her books then were tattered or simple in dusts"chewed by the things. The collection that she had accumulated and treasured for most of her life was gone"eaten; ravaged by the intruders, and with the shock she had received, it was just too much!

The ghastly scene had made Eliza panicked"panicked than her usual panic. She was nauseous; all of a sudden afraid of mere sounds and movements around her, paranoid enough to think of them as insects ready to chew her if they had the chance. Over acting you say, but what would you feel if the things you treasured most are gone?

She had abruptly noticed that their chandelier swung. Now, that had been weird. She realized soon after that their wooden home was the one slowly rocking back and forth. The only likely reason that had formed in her mind that time was that the insects were tearing down their home also.

Eliza definitely did not like the idea of the house falling and squashing them.

She had jumpily called the attention of her father such that his daughter’s excited feat had confused him; Eliza had never been that keyed up as far as he could recall.

As he scratched his head, David looked at what his daughter was pointing at so keenly. It took him aback, of course. When he had seen the swarm in the cabinet, his jaw had dropped and his eyes were stuck to the awful scene.

Eliza had been terrified when she became aware of the situation. She was shouting at her father but with no effect that Eliza had to call on her mother to help her. That, however, had not been a very good idea; Catlea had been shocked either that Eliza, then, had to shake them both out of their trance.

Their house had been about to crash and her parents were out of their conscious states. With folks more afraid to insects, Eliza had to try her very best to save them all. It had not been an easy task nevertheless. She had done no progress until she spoke out the word dead and a creak from the house followed it; her parents were out of their stupor in an instant.

They were afterwards suddenly like ants running in various routes, hastily bringing together as many things as possible. What they were lucky enough to hoard included the book, Great Expectations, some cooking pots, vases (still having the plastic flowers in them), chairs, some of the pictures (Eliza saved mostly hers) and many other light appliances. They were not able to save clothes however; their rooms were on the next floor and that was already a dangerous place to be at what with a rocking house.

 They gathered all these saved objects by the sidewalk in front of their home.

These actions did not escape the eyes of nosy passersby. What were the Justs doing? Are they moving? No they aren’t! Yes they are! They whispered intently upon themselves, sharing ideas, arguing, as they watched the Justs place their things in a pile.

By the time the house began to break, the family was safely placing the red sofa along with the others. Eliza and her parents merely watched the entire thing go down, able to do nothing about it.

The house had fallen slow at first but when all of the pillars gave out, it plummeted as if it were merely a piece of wood dropped.

Eliza had flinched as each of the panes broke with a loud shatter. She had kept herself from a fit when she saw the side of the house where her room was gave away. The shrill noise the crash had made disturbed the entire neighbourhood and the curious ones had gone out to check what the fuss was all about.

 They had not known what to make of the terrible scene. Was it merely a trick of light or were the Justs’ house turned into that rubble? Now, they’re moving; told ‘ya! They were simply just as confused of the situation as the victims were. What in the name of lizards had happened?

Poor Justs was what the people had managed to whisper audibly among themselves as the swirling mass of dust settled on the pavement.

It had been a scene worth remembering: three people, ragged and exhausted, watching their home crash along with most of their dreams. The son, however, came home with a smile on his face, not knowing what had just happened to his family.

Jake was surprised and dropped the chessboard he was carrying. “What in the world"” He was dazed as he trotted towards his family to watch the ruins with them as if it were the best tragedy movie ever created. The crowd followed their pose as if they too were watching a movie.

With the events going too fast, their mind had not yet had time to take it all in. They had not yet processed that by that time they did not have a home to go to.

When Catlea had somehow grasped her family’s situation (although with difficulty and utter confusion still), she tried for soothing words; say that everything would be all right.

Once, she tried to speak but her voice had failed her. She had tried for a second time but it was of no use. Even she knew that they were untrue; they were pointless words. Catlea had somehow only managed a coarse murmur that was barely audible after the blast, “We need help.”

David, who was the closest to her, heard clearly what she had whispered. He began to think of a reply, “We could ask help from mom and dad.” That was almost inaudible as well.

The closest relatives that they had were David’s parents (Patrick Grandel and Helena) who were living by the next subdivision, Moonlight’s Tear. They were so hospitable that Catlea often found herself feeling in debt of their kindness, and when she thought of repaying that kindness, they humbly reject. They just delighted Catlea, and they were pleased of her as well, thus the family really saw no hindrance for the plan.

As foreseen, it was quite all right with the folks, and that might as well be the go sign, and after a few important mobile phone-calls, they were ready to go.

They waited for a rented truck (contacted with one of those calls) and when it came, they fitted the dust-covered saved-things in. After a while, the phoned taxi also arrived (their car was quite under the mess of the garage). After the giving off direct instructions to both drivers, the truck followed their ride to their new yet temporary address, #2 Whale Street, Moonlight’s Tear Subdivision, Lakewalk.

The old people had greeted them by the doorway with open arms.

Pa Grandy wore his old-styled glasses with thick lenses. He matched it with a stripped red bathrobe that surprisingly made him look like some rich old movie actor. And by old, he looked more aged than ever with his thinning hair and increasingly creasing face.

Although their houses were quite near, Eliza suddenly observe they had not visited their grandparents often and she regretted it for a while as she took in the look of their grandfather.

The feeling quickly evaporated, however, when she had noticed that Ma Helena had turned, rather, for the otherwise. Her brown hair was in a fixed, neat and tight bun and her eyes somehow still held the sparkle in them that she usually bragged to be the one that made a lot of boys fall in love with her.

The greetings did not last long for it was quite cold by then. They speedily gathered their saved things out of the truck and placed them temporarily in the old folks’ garage that had antique things in, like a broken bicycle and a car that went unused since Eliza was born.

 They had entered the warm home still confused, dazed, and tired. Did they really lose their home in that one unbelievable moment? (Told you it was ridiculous.) It was frustrating and funny to think about; more on the frustrating, nevertheless, what could they do?

Yes, it did happen and nothing they would and could do, as far as they believe and was obvious, could change it. They could dream it, yes they could, but they could never turn back that moment in time.

 

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Author's Note

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