Through Thick and Thin – Leah Solo
The scent of ma’s cooking filled my nose from down the street, making me ease off the gas on my baby. I wanted to take in the sounds of laughter coming from home, the way her and #Izzy’s footsteps moved around the kitchen as they both opened and close doors. I could hear #TheKid laughing, telling #Izzy all about the Bar and the changes we had made since he last spoke with her. She had seen pictures, videos, heard about the place, and gotten tearful when she first learnt the name of it. But she hadn’t stepped foot into the place even once.
#Seth cut off mid-sentence, telling me he’d picked up on the sound of my baby and even my scent coming up, but he didn’t say anything to the ladies until I was parked in the driveway. Only then did he jump up shouting ‘Sis is here.’ Then came the sound of rushed feet towards the front door before it was being swung open.
I sat there on my baby looking up towards the porch, the smiling faces of my kid brother, leaning back while the ladies rushed before him. They stood looking at me, my Ma’s eyes filled with thanks. She had been unsure if I would leave work to show up. And then my eyes landed on my Auntie.
She wasn’t an ‘Auntie’, by name. Even from afar she had been a part of this family through thick and thin. Her willingness to be on the end of the phone for my Ma, to be there when her sister-in-law missed her husband, sharing memories with one another, of a man they knew so well in their own special way. A way no-one else could understand.
She rushed down the steps towards me, making me throw my leg over to sit on the bike facing her. ‘Nahnai nasgi ageyv galuga!’ (There she comes!) #Izzy threw her arms around me. The five-foot, three-inch woman was strong for her age. Clearly, she’d still been keeping up with her yoga classes. ‘Nihi gesvgi unvdvgi, adageyudi.’ (You were missed, beloved.)
Ma and #Seth both froze their gaze stuck on my auntie and me. Stunted maybe because I hadn’t stepped out from the incoming hug, a move I could have done by standing up and stepping around to the far side of my baby. They were shocked that I had become entwined in her arms, not pushing myself away, letting her hold me for as long as she needed to. Then again, some part of them knew her as well as I did, there was no way to get around #ElizabethClearwater, when she wanted to hold you. But this was more than that. It was her scent… I’d never understood how or why… but the spirits had blessed #Izzy with the near perfect scent of my Da.
I closed my eyes, feeling the burn behind my lids, the tension building at the top of the bridge of my nose, as those emotions came to the forefront. Clearing my throat before speaking. “Ulihelisdi owenvsv, elogi.” (Welcome home, auntie) Pulling back as she did to see my face, but only after kissing the top of her head, as I imagined the feeling of this action if Da was still with us. “Hilago nihi visvi?” (How was your journey?) I asked with a half-smile.
#Izzy cupped my face with her cool hands, her tear-filled gaze admiringly taking me in. ‘Such a carbon copy of my equa dinadanvtli. (Big brother)’ Wiping at her face she sniffled, shaking herself out of her memories she squeezed my cheeks, unaware of the turmoil she’d unleashed within me. It had been something she’d always said to me. that I reminded her of Da, that I’d taken after him. She saw him in me when I could not. ‘It was a horrible flight, delayed for over an hour… your poor mother and brother had to wait for me for so long.’ She’d started back up the steps to the house assuming I would follow, however I was planted in my spot until my Warrior pushed me to stand and follow her.
‘Oh, it was no trouble, Seth bought us lunch and we had time to enjoy some mother and son time.’ Ma interjected into the conversation. I kissed Ma’s head as I ushered her indoors behind #Izzy letting the two of them take the lead in where their minds and words took us all. With #TheKid holding back to look me over.
His eyes took everything in, he was starting to see more than he once would have. But still not enough for him to read me. In a low voice for just my ears he said. ‘She’s already asked why you are still single; she thinks your beauty is frightening off all the men and women. Then she said you were better off because you could live your life freely.’ His smile grew. ‘It’s like she cannot make up her own mind.’
I shook my head, thanking him for the heads up. #TheKid had certainly been deflecting for me by the sounds of it. “Family dinner wouldn’t be the same without our sex life on the table.”
‘Nope, I am not ready to hear that word coming from your lips.’ This earnt him an elbow to his ribs and a laugh from me.
‘Come on you both, we have a lot of catching up to do. Ulisda, ulisda! (Hurry, hurry!) #Izzy shouted from the kitchen.











