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The Fireflies (6) : In the warm summer nights, little glowing lights begin to bob and dart through the city. Fireflies are mating, so this isn't uncommon in itself; in the past few days you've probably seen hundreds of fireflies. What makes these lights so unique is that they seem to change color; you might see a blue one, a green one, a red one. They flicker randomly, and something just seems off with them. If you come into contact with one, you will find yourself with a strange electric jolt. They cannot be caught, and will flicker away if you pursue too aggressively. This isn’t the first time they’ve appeared in Destiny City, but no one’s been able to tell where they came from or where they’re going. No matter how quickly you chase them, they always seem to disappear before you can find any answers.
July 3, 2024
As dinner concluded at her parents house Mahari got up, pushing her chair back slowly, and went to bring her empty plate to the kitchen. Rinsing it off she set it into the dishwasher before helping a nephew of hers rinse his plate off before he put it next to her own plate, in the dishwasher, Mahari motioned him towards the stairs where other younger members of the family were gathering.
Turning towards one of her sisters Mahari nodded her head towards them, to the question they asked her. “I’d like the company. Another set of eyes to watch them would be good as well.” Even though most of her nieces and nephews were well behaved there were still so many of them, because she had so many siblings, and a second set of eyes watching them was always a welcome thing.
Looping her arm with her sister's, Mahari gently pulled Kashvi along with her. Kashvi was one of her favorite sisters, as they were close in age, and had always leaned on each other while growing up. They would do each other's hair growing up and borrow each other's clothing as well. Both of them looked enough alike that they almost looked like twins, and preferred the same colors, so clothing between them was often shared and half the time never found its way back to its original owner. It had all been good between the two sisters - they were best friends as well as sisters. Now that her sister was married, to an oncologist, Mahari got to help her raising her two little ones.
Reaching the stairs, and the group of young children, the two sisters sent them down the stairs to the downstairs living room. “Don’t open the back door till we’re down there with you.” Because Mahari wanted to make sure her parents backyard was safe, no animals or anything else wandering around. She was always worried about any sick, or even injured, animals being in the backyard and either being hurt by the children or hurting them instead. Nodding her head when several agreed, rather loudly, Mahari shook her head.
“Somehow I think they are all just yessing us on this.” As her sister nodded the two made it to the downstairs and letting go of Kashvi’s arm the younger of the sisters went out to the backyard first, shutting the sliding door behind herself, as she made a round about the backyard to make sure it was safe. She had noted the flickering lightning bugs…as well as the unusual color. “So they’re back..” She whispered before returning and sliding the door open so the children could pour out into the backyard.
“Alright, no animals and it’s all safe. Just do not touch the lightning bugs, those are the ones that hurt. Remember last year when Vihaan grabbed one.” She spoke, pointing out one of her nephews, standing next to his brother. Last year he’d gone to grab a red flickering bug and was zapped rather harshly on both his hands. The shock of the unexpected zap had him crying and rushing for his parents to look his hands over, they’d been fine thankfully, but everyone had seen and heard it that evening.
Watching as the group nodded, some with wide eyes, she smiled softly. “Good, now be safe and avoid them as best you can.” Sending them off she went to find a seat for herself around the large glass patio table that they had outside for summer time events. The chair, like the table, was made of wrote iron but the chairs had soft cushioning on them and it made sitting here for a while a comfortable thing to do. “Come, sit Kashvi, they’ll be fine.” And if not they were both there watching things, even as they talked amongst themselves.
As her sister sat Mahari leaned back in her seat, pink hair brushed out of her way as she focused on the little ones running around. There was a swing set, and playset, in the backyard which some of the younger ones were putting to good use. A soccer ball was being kicked around by two of her nephews and then there was Vihaan who was playing tag with a few others - each of them running around and laughing as they tried to grab at and hit each other as they declared someone else as ‘it’.
Most wouldn’t enjoy something like this, such a large family, with children running around shouting and even screaming but Mahari loved it. She loved seeing them all growing up and she enjoyed when they were tiny and small, oh so innocent, cradled in someones arms and being passed around. She didn’t have any children of her own - she wasn’t even dating. But she didn’t feel the need so much because she was surrounded by so many children and she wasn’t left out of things because she was single. She was included in things and again…not because she was single but because she was family.
There was always something going on, someone doing something, and it kept Mahari busy even when she wasn’t at work. It filled her time and filled her with a warmth. It was another reason she wanted to help protect this city and help those who were most in need…she wanted to help clean u p the red light district even if it wasn’t in the most conventional way. It was something she could do and hopefully some of those she saved, called help for, would clean themselves up and return to their families and loved ones…or they’d build a family for themselves made of people who cared about them.
She wanted more people to have this feeling - everyone deserved to feel like she did sitting there talking with Kashvi and watching the children playing.
Standing up, only slightly concerned, when one of the children cried out over being zapped, she had backed right into one of the fireflies. “Looks like there is really no avoiding them.” Shaking her head Mahari went to check on the little one, they were fine, and she warned the others to be mindful as they were running about. If they wanted to go in they could - she wouldn’t stop them.
Returning to her seat she sat back down by Kashvi and smiled. “Looks like a few bugs can’t stop them from playing.” As it seemed the new game was tag…and the bugs were it.
Word count: 1,077
