Coffee

Indigo awoke to a loud, “Bang!” She sat straight up in bed, eyes darting around while trying to focus in the dark. The “bang” was quickly followed by a flash outside her window, with another “bang’ a few seconds later. It was a storm.

Indigo’s heart rate started to slow down, and her breathing became normal again. Seeing Forest yesterday had really shaken her up.

She stretched and scratched behind her ears and got out of bed. It was early and still dark, but she knew she wouldn’t be able to fall back asleep.

Indigo crept down the hallway to the kitchen. She was too young to be drinking coffee, but considering the circumstances of the day before, she needed a cup of it. She glanced at the coffee maker and poured herself a cup of day-old coffee. It was cold, but she didn’t care.

As she sat at the kitchen table, her mind went to the events of the day before. Seeing Forest was a shock. All she could ask herself was, “Why? Why was he back?"

She took another sip of coffee and laid her head on the table. Her mind was racing as she thought about what to do next. Her thoughts took her to another time and place.

She remembered when she and Forest were friends. Their families were friends, and even though he was older than she, they had always gotten along and even enjoyed playing together.

Indigo remembered the day Forest had started acting strange. Well, at least to her, he had been acting odd. It was a day etched into her memory.

A few years ago, both she and Forest had been at a birthday party for Norm. Indigo was already at the party with her family when Forest arrived.

She could tell right away something was wrong. Forest looked angry and wasn’t hiding it well. He walked in behind his parents with his dad pulling on the scruff of his neck to drag him inside. Indigo didn’t think anyone had noticed this except for her.

Others at the party were talking and laughing. Loud music was booming, and all the kids were playing with each other and having fun! It just so happened that Indigo glanced up towards the front door just as Forest and his family were entering.

As they crossed the threshold, Forest’s dad let go of him, and she remembered Norm running towards Forest to talk with him. Norm was so excited! Indigo wasn’t sure what was said, but she saw Forest try to smile and then shake his head no. Norm didn’t seem to notice that Forest was acting a little strange and just shrugged his shoulders and ran back to his other friends.

Indigo watched as Forest slowly made his way to a corner where he could be alone. He sat on the ground with his knees pulled into his chest and his head resting on top of his knees.

Soon after Forest sat down, Norm and Sage grabbed Indigo by the arms and yanked her outside!

It was time for water balloons! Once outside, Indigo got so caught up in the fun and games that she forgot about Forest. When she remembered, she ran inside to talk with him, but he was already gone. His whole family was.

What happened a few days after Norm's birthday party was something she would rather not think about. So she didn't.

Indigo stood up, washed her coffee cup, and set it on the counter to dry. She then ran upstairs to change.

She had stuff to do today. But first, she needed to get Norm and Sage. She needed her best friends by her side. The sun was starting to rise, and her parents would be up soon! She quickly changed and threw on a blue vest with a pair of brown boots.

As she was leaving her room, she saw her mom coming down the hallway. Indigo’s mom asked, “Where are you going?” Indigo rushed by her, ran out the front door, and yelled back, “To solve a mystery!”

The storm had passed, but Indigo found herself splashing in puddles as she ran down the blue sidewalk. The fond memories of Forest were still lingering in her mind. Maybe she was the one who was acting strange now, but as she headed to Norm’s house, she found herself thinking, “Maybe, just maybe, I can heal a broken friendship.”