Page 65 of Praying for Thunder

My voice cracked with all the loneliness I was drowning in. “And my aunt.”

Slowly, she turned around.

I hoped she understood… “I miss her.”

Her blonde hair sat right above the smallest shoulders I’d ever seen. Underneath wispy bangs, her eyes were like the sun. Golden and with a knowing no six-year-old should have.

I explained, “She was my Ani.”

The little girl nibbled on her finger, then peered about.

“It’s just me,” I promised.

Her teeny nose twitched, then I finally got to hear that sweet voice again. “Was ya Ani nice ta ya?”

My throat bobbed. “She hummed to me and held me real tight.”

Itty-bitty lips parted. “My mama hummed ta me, too.”

I bit my own lips, hoping not to cry in front of, who I hoped to be, a new friend.

Studying me, she asked, “What’s ya name?”

I can’t be sure why, but I answered her honestly, then held my breath, hoping she wasn’t a Julie like the mean girl Moola wanted to cut.

Some smiles are pretty. Some smiles are beautiful. Then there are those smiles that are kissed by Heaven.

Yeah, that was her smile, even back then. “Thunder?” she replied in amazement. “Wow. Ya have a great name.”

My heart… sighed. “Thank you.” It took some courage, but I asked, “What is your name?”

Her fingers gripped her dress as she gently twisted her body from left to right. “Rya.”

Just then, a man roared, “Ryannon! Get your ass home!”

She jolted. “I gotta go, Thunder!”

And like that, she ran, then was gone, as if the trees had simply swallowed her up.

It was a short first meeting but served to push fresh air to enter my tired lungs. The walk back home was just the reprieve I needed… until my dad found me close to Grandma’s.

So mad I had tried to run away and refusing to hear my pleas that I hadn’t, he beat me. Not accustomed to the pain yet, I stayed in bed for three days, all the while thinking of Rya.

Grandma’s abuse was verbal every minute I was in her presence, but she was also physically dangerous to me. I think I have more scars from her than Dad.

At first, her actions broke my heart. I kept expecting her to realize how mean she was and eventually have remorse about it.

That never happened.

In fact, it got worse.

My only escape was running through the woods, hoping a little angel would be at her church.

The sun was going down, but there she was, stopping me in my tracks. She was sitting on the front steps, holding a few yellow wildflowers that looked more like weeds.

Weeds… My heart ached while wondering if Rya was a gift from Ani.

Seeing me, Rya stood, holding up the flowers. “For ya mama’s grave.”