Chapter 3

Chapter 3

NEEDTOBREATHE sung through Tirza's headphones as she laid on her back in her bed, reading one of her favorite books for the millionth time.
A scream pearced the bluegrass melody, causing her to jump off her bed and run out of her room.
"What the heck is going on in here?" She asked, walking into the living room she found the two boys sitting on the couch.
"Indiana Jones is what's going on." Eli said dawning his replica fadora.
Tirza rolled her eyes, as she plopped down on the arm of the couch.
"You are such a dork."
"Yes, but I know lots of girls who said they want me as their brother, so you're lucky."
"Yeah until they realize what a pig you can be.”
"Yeah but -"
"Okay that's enough you two."
For the second time in the span of a minute Tirza jumped.
They all turned around and saw a tall, barrel chested man with hardly any hair on the top of his head where most of it had moved down his chin in a ful beared.
"Hey daddy!" Tirza ran into his arms and gave him a tight hug.
"How was your flight?" Eli asked from the couch.
"Luckily it was pretty short. I just had to fly a pastor to the coast."
Uncle Mark sat down on the couch as well.
"Which one are we watching?"
"The Last Crussade."
"Dad do you want dinner? We all just ate but mom left some for you in the oven before she left for the women's meeting." Tirza offered as she headed for the kitchen.
"Here I'll help. Figured it was my day to do the dishes anyways." Joshua rose fromt he couch and followed her.

Tirza tried her best to act normal as she pulled her father's lesagnia out of the oven.
"So what's your favorite book?" Joshua asked as he began to run hot water into the sink.
"Well that depends on the genre. And why the sudden interest?"
"What? I've only been at RVA for three months. I can't form instant relationships.”
Tirza sighed and reached into a cupboard for a plate.
"No, I know. It's always hard being the new kid." She mumbled under her breath.
"I'm sorry, I get kind of..."
"Cranky? Scared? Not sure of yourself? In need of some American chocolate?"
Tirza turned around in shock.
"Well you know a lot about girls now don't you?"
"Hey," He put his soapy hands up. "I do have a mom who does need American chocolate from time to time."
She couldn't help but laugh.
"You're dripping water all over the floor."
"Oh shoot."
Tirza went back to fixing her dad's dinner and Josh went back to the dishes.
"What about you?" Tirza asked, swallowing the lump in her throat.
"What about me?" Joshua repeated.
"What's your favorite book?"
"Well the one I read over and over again is Huckleberry Finn."
"Oh the boy likes the classics. Not many librarians even know what that book is anymore."
"It's really sad. What do you like to do besides reading?" He asked, scrubbing the empty lesangia dish.
"Um...Well I'm learning the piano, so...yeah.”
“Are you any good?”
“Um...I'm decent? Maybe?”
They both chuckled, but she hated talking about herself and he could tell.
"Well I've only got a few hobbies,"
He went on, giving her an out.
"I like to rock climb, play the violin and -"
"Tirza, are you getting that food?"
Uncle Mark asked from the living room.
"Oh yeah, coming!" Tirza grabbed a fork and ran into the living room.

.:+++:.

The next morning the boys asked Uncle Mark if he could help them set up a hiking trip up Mount Moori, the moutain in the neighboring town.
"Do you want to come sis?" Eli asked.
"Uh..." She glanced around and found everyone looking at her in between bites.
"How long are you going to stretch it out?" She asked.
"At least one night. We're going to spend the night up on the ridge, halfway up, and then hike the rest the next day." Joshua jumped in since Eli was busy scarfing down pancakes.
Triza nodded several times slowly, before she came to a decision.
"I'll let you know some time after church today. But when are you going anyways?"
"Probably on Tuesday. Josh is bringing his climbing gear so he's probably going to rock climb or bolder." That sounded like fun to her. She had boldered once before, it was basically rock climbing just with out the ropes and with more of a thrill.
She let out a pent up breath and nodded.
"Yeah I'll let you know after chuch."

.:+++:.

Triza tried her best to concentrait on the sermon that morning. Swahili was second nature to her, but her mind kept wandering off to what the boys had asked earlier.
She kept going back and forth between wanting to go and being stuck with two slightly imature boys for two days. She couldn't decide if it was worth it.
Church went on for it's usual three hours. The worship was always her favorite part. The Ugandan's praised God enthusastically, paying no mind to the people watching. When Triza was younger she had danced in the isle of a supporting church back in the Untied States, and they were a little beyond shocked to say the least.
But here, no one minded because everyone else was doing the same thing.

When the service was over, everyone walked back home.
"Mom, are you sure you don't want to ride a boda-boda (motorcycle) home?" Eli asked. His mom glanced at him with a grin.
"I'm not as old as you think I am. I'll be just fine."
Eli nodded and started talking about the hiking trip with Joshua, his dad and Uncle Jake.
Aunt Kassy hung back with her daughter. She knew from experience, that the look on Tirza's face meant she wanted some one to talk to.
"What's on your mind sweetheart?"
Tirza's eyes were still glued to her feet as she gathered up her skirt and hopped over a ditch full of garbage.
"I'm just... not sure I want to spend two days with slightly immature boys." She answered after a moment.
Aunt Kassy just smiled as she rubbed Tirza's arm.
"Honey, every man you will ever meet will be slightly immature. Boys don't grow out of it, they just grow bigger. Take your father for example," They both chuckled quietly. "He's still as much a seventeen-year-old boy as ever." Tirza sighed. “Well, what should I do?”
“What ever you want. The decision's up to you.”
“Well, what would you do if you were in my position?” Tirza pushed, not satisfied with her mom's first answer.
Aunt Kassy looked down the road both ways before following her husband across the dirt street.
“I would go.” She answered.
“You would?”
“Yes, I would. When's another opportunity like this going to pop up?”
Tirza studdied her mom. “Are you sure you're not trying to hook me up with Joshua?” She asked.
“I would never!” Her mom took immdiate offence, but when she met her daughter's gaze, she caved.
“Okay maybe a little bit.”
“Mom!”
“No but seriously, Tirza! This is also an opportunity to strengthen your relationship with your brother. I know you two went through a lot emotionally that you don't want to share with your father and I, which I don't mind and I understand, but you need someone to talk to, and who better to, then who went through it with you?”
Tirza was quiet for a moment before nodding.
“Alright.”
“Alright?”
“Alright. I'll go.”
“Well, alright then. Better get packed, I have to put food in all three of ya'll's backpacks.”

That afternoon while everyone was lounging around, Tirza told the boys that she would go. Eli patted her shoulder, and said “Good decision.” While Joshua hid a small smile, as he lowered his head, his curly brown hair hiding his eyes.
“But in the mean time, what are we going to do?” She asked.
“Um...” The two boys glanced at each other with a clueless look about them.
“How about we go swimming?” Aunt Kassy suggested.
Everyone immediately jumped on the idea, and ran to grab baithing suits.

The pool Aunt Kassy was reffering to, happend to be the local hotel's pool. It wasn't an outstanding pool, but it was more than welcomed on hot days.
So everyone jumped in the old truck and bumped along the roads, singing The Lion Sleeps Tonight at the top of their lungs just for the kick of it.
Kassy looked back at the kids, all smiles while they clapped out a beat, the jolsting from the pot holes didn't phase them a bit as they sang.
That's how she would always remember her children.
All smiles.