Just as Eliza thought the holiday season was drawing to a close, Sidney and Bob got all excited again. Geek Con was coming to town and all the latest games, sci-fi characters, collectables, cos players and even some TV stars would be there. The Pancakes met up with Sidney at the showgrounds. Bob's favourite was the new virtual reality projector. Eliza didn't really understand what all the fuss was about.
The Pancakes had given Ainsley a violin for Christmas. Eliza had been concerned about sizing, but the 1/4 seemed to fit. At first, just squeaks and squawks emanated from the bedroom where Ainsley was practicing.
However, Ainsley applied herself and was diligent about playing nearly everyday. The house began to vibrate to the sweet sounds coming out of the little girls room. Ainsley's vivid imagination was being channelled into a real gift for creativity and artistic expression.
Late one evening, Eliza paused in doing the dishes and went outside to investigate a strange light.
She felt this strange glow envelope her.
And again, Eliza lost track of time. She found herself on the front patio at just past one in the morning. She was grateful to find the door unlocked. That was always her job, because Bob hardly ever remembered.
She hurried inside and into the shower. Not caring about the lateness, (or was that earliness?), of the hour. Not caring that she might be disturbing her family who were sleeping. She only knew she felt unclean and wanted, no -needed, to try wash off an indescribable feeling of wrongness that permeated her entire being.
She didn't dare tell anyone about her experience. Months passed. Eliza tried very hard to convince herself that the whole thing had been a nightmare. Or some weird trick of the imagination bought on by too little sleep and too much alcohol (never mind she had been stone sober since before Ainsley's birth). Bob privately did think Eliza had been on a bit of a bender, disappearing and only coming home at one o'clock. He never accused Eliza and so she was never certain that he knew she was gone. His concern showed itself in small, non-verbal ways and could easily have been a reaction to her own unarticulated discomfort. He was only mollified when life returned to normal and no repeat of the late night shenanigans seemed to occur.
By the time Ainsley's birthday rolled back around, the Pancake house appeared a happy and healthy one again. Sidney was in attendance and a new friend from school.
"Make a wish kiddo" Bob called as Ainsley blew out eight candles.
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