Chapter Text
I'm sorry I didn't call Mom
The first week was stressful
I ran like a squirrel in a wheel
I don't think I've even talked with Calli the entire week
There was so much to do
So many new people
Returning home, we both just went to bed
Sometimes even without dinner
We spent all the weekend filling out documents and going to clubs
I'm again in the cooking club
Maybe I should become a chief at this point
I don't know
Oh, I'm so tired…
Someone is already preparing a welcoming party
And we both kind of have to go
...
Mommy!
I won't drink, I know how it all happens at college parties
Calli will be with me
Nerissa too
Don't worry so much, everything will be fine
I will definitely visit you as soon as I get free
Mom, come on, I always have time for you
Mom, we're going on a trip with our groupmates on autumn vacation
So we won't be able to come home
You already know?
How did Calli called you before me?
No, I just guessed you heard it from her mom, but we've been lying in bed all day.
She's even sleeping now
Uh okay
We're going to the mountains
I don't really want to go camping
But the whole group voted, so…
Calli seemed to like the idea
She's even started packing her things already
And I don't want to
Ugh, yeah Mom I know it's not that bad
But we'll be sweaty and muddy all day... brr
I would like something cleaner
But now I can't refuse
It's our third year of college, my group wanted to spend time together
Next year the graduation
I can't believe it
Maybe I can finally change my part-time job to a more paid job
Okay Mom, Calli waking up
I'll tell her you said hi
Bye bye
Hello
Em…
No no, it's not Kiara
Miss Takanashi, it's me Calli
Yes, sorry to call so suddenly
Kiara went to the store
I just wanted to ask you
Serious question
No no, it's fine
Don't worry nobody hurt or dying
It's just you know
We are graduating this year
And I wanted to give something to Kiara
Something special
Damn, I probably should have come and talked to you in person and not on the phone
No, I'm not nervous, it's just hard to ask
…
Okay I will just say it
Will you approve if I propose to Kiara?
Mom, you won't believe what happened today
After the ceremony was over and we returned home
I wanted to give Calli the record player she wanted
Yes, I chose it for so long, even after her mom recommended me that one shop
And she liked it
But you know what happened next?
You won't believe it
No, I'm really saying you won't believe it
No no you know what?
I'd rather tell you when we get there
Yes we're on our way
I'll tell you right away so you'd better sit down
Because you're going to fall when you see this ring
Mom, we're moving to another apartment
Yes, I was accepted as a teacher at that school after all
It was sad to part with girls from the last place, but they understood everything
They pay more here, which means I'll be one step closer to opening my own dance school
We're going to live even further away from you now, but Calli is planning to buy a car, so it won't be a problem
Yeah imagine, they finally acknowledged her
Not that it would be any major label
But you have to start somewhere
I'm sure she will succeed
In any case, Mom, on Friday we will already finish moving things, if you want, you can come
The new apartment is more spacious, I'm sure you would like it
Hey!
Miss Takanashi
It's me Calli
It's really urgent
/aaaaaaa/
Yes, it was Kiara
Sorry it's hard to talk, I'm trying to drive as fast as possible
/Calli...are we already... arrived?!/
No Kiara, just a couple more minutes
Please wait just a few more minutes
/aaaaa/
Mom, I mean Miss Takanashi...I mean
Kiara's water broke
We're going to the central hospital
Can you call my mom?
I didn't know in a hurry who to call first
/Calli aaaaaaaaaaaaa/
Kiara a little more
I'm sorry I think I need to hang up
We're finally here
Elder woman, with graying red hair, was sitting in a rocking chair, watching her chickens running around the lawn. Hearing how her phone buzzed, she got it out of her pocket. Clicking the phone, she saw that it was a message from her daughter, a photo.
A one-year-old child, her granddaughter Clara, and her daughter-in-law Calliope. While Calliope held her daughter by the waist in front of herself, the child took her cheeks and squeezed them, which made Calliope now look like a duck with her eyes closed, Clara herself was laughing at how her mother looked.
‘Mom, can we leave Clara with you today? Friends invited us to a little party’ The message under the photo read.
Quickly sending an answer, the old lady smiled softly and turned looking into the house through the slightly open door. “Hey Moza, I think Clara is coming today”
The door slowly opened and a second woman appeared, her housemate or her daughter-in-law's mother, with graying hair and a few pink strands still visible.
“Oh really? Good, I've already started to get bored” The pink-haired old lady laughed.
“Come on, you annoying old lady, come here, Kiara sent a photo” Louise smiled at her in response, waving her hand to herself.
Sitting down in the second chair next to her, Mnemosyne put glasses on and moved closer to see what her neighbor was showing her.
“Wow, how fast she's growing, I can't believe she's almost a year old,” Mnemosyne said, laying one palm on her cheek.
“We saw her last week, do you really think she managed to grow up during this time?” Louise raised an eyebrow looking at her neighbor with a question.
“Children grow up fast, you won't have time to notice how she will already go to school” The pink-haired old lady laughed. “Like it was with Calli and Kiara... even Bae is not the little girl we both remember”
“It's hard to believe that our children are soon 30 and they have children themselves” Louise sighed sadly.
“Yeah, how fast time flies” Mnemosyne smiled, lifting her gaze dreamily to the sky.
“Although your daughter still looks like that teenager who didn't want to listen to anyone” Louise grunted while looking at the photo. Despite how many years had passed, she still couldn't remember that Calliope had already grown up.
“Oh, you strict old lady, relax already, you're still grumbling about my daughter even though it's been more than 10 years” Pointing to the photo with her daughter and granddaughter, she grinned. “Your fears were in vain and this is proof of that”
Looking frowningly at the photo, the red-haired granny relaxed, laughing quietly, she turned her gaze to her neighbor. “You're right, Calliope was a good kid after all”
“Of course I was right, I gave birth to this child,” Mnemosyne said proudly, turning up her nose.
“Oh come on, don't brag” Louise playfully pushed her shoulder.
The pink-haired old lady began laughing, making her friend do it too. In the end, their children will always remain children for them, no matter how many years pass.