Chasing Life's Song

Chapter 1
Kansas 1978

Endless bright blue skies stretched out over the golden, Kansas wheat fields. For a brief moment, she basked in the glow of the warm sunlight, and then, she began to run. Memories of a little girl brought a smile to her face and laughter to her lips. Almost as if she was being chased, she ran faster until she spotted the big, white farmhouse in the distance. Slowing down, she closed her large, blue eyes and searched her memory for his face. In an instant, he was there calling out to her from the large porch surrounding their house, “Krissie girl, Mama baked a pie. Come on in. It’s your birthday! I’ll give you a wish, if you give me a kiss.” Her eyes remained closed as she twirled around, and she could feel her sundress puff out encircling her long legs. The voice from deep within called out to her once again, “Come on, Krissie girl. I leave tonight. Let’s not waste a minute!”
Feeling dizzy, she fell to her knees and slowly opened her eyes. The porch was empty. A cool wind blew softly through the fields. She shivered and shook her head in an effort to clear her mind. Standing up, she walked with some hesitation in the direction of the big, empty house. Once warm and inviting, it now resembled those who lived within--tired and lonely, a shell of its former self.
Once upon a time, the rooms had been full of life. Ten uniquely different Kellys had lived within its walls. Her father Patrick was an Irish immigrant who had arrived alone in the United States on his fifteenth birthday. Her mother Lily had settled in the small town of Abundance, Kansas shortly before she married her father in 1944. She had seven older brothers. Cameron, the oldest was kind and true while Ian, the second child, was impulsive and funny. The third boy, William, was strong and determined, and Paul, the fourth, was encouraging and forthright. Joshua was the fifth child, and he was brave and confident. Simon, the sixth, was gentle and thoughtful while Stephen, the seventh son, was diplomatic and loving. Finally she, Kristina, had been the eighth child and only girl.
Six of her seven brothers were strong and stocky Irish boys built very much like their father. However, in sharp contrast, the oldest, and most dear of all, was tall and thin with deep blue eyes and a smile which could melt the coldest of hearts. She closed her eyes once again desperate to see his face. When nothing came, she reluctantly opened them and pushed all thoughts of Cameron from her mind.
She climbed the stairs to the porch and gently pulled at the screen door. As she stepped inside, she thought about how quiet it was within. There were only three Kellys remaining in the house since her youngest brother Stephen had left the farm behind and moved to California two years ago. Because of her brother’s departure, her father struggled to work the land alone. Even though Patrick had recently sold over forty acres, he still had to toil from sunrise to sunset just to make ends meet. And when his day finally came to an end, he drank to forget the past. His wife, Kristina’s mother, lived an alternate existence. While her husband tried to push away yesteryears, Lily wasted her days all alone desperately trying to live within them. She left her daughter alone in the silence. Kristina longed for the smells, for the sounds, and for the peace she had felt in years past. Peace that had crashed and burned over the jungles of Vietnam.
With all of the shades drawn in the living room, it took Kristina’s eyes a moment to adjust to the general darkness as she searched for her mother’s silhouetted figure. She found her sitting in a chair with her eyes closed, lost in her own memories, and listening to her favorite song, Billie Holiday’s rendition of ‘I’ll Be Seeing You’ playing on the old phonograph which sat beside the sofa in the corner of the room. The telephone began to ring. Without a verbal or physical response from her mother, she quietly climbed the stairs to the second floor, closed the door to her room, and answered the phone coincidentally on the fifteenth ring. “Hello?”
“I just knew you had to be there! Happy Birthday, Kris! Wow, you are fifteen years old! Amazing! In a few years, my dad will give me the old VW Bug, and we’ll be free from these endless Kansas fields.”
Emma stopped to take a breath, and Kristina knew if she was going to say anything she had better jump in before her friend fully recovered. Smiling, she replied, “Thanks, Em, but I don’t know if I can wait a few more years.”
“I know you have it bad, Kris, but you’ve lived there for fifteen years already. What’s a few more? Hey, why don’t you come over here? Mom baked a cake, and I need you to help me work on my “Hustle.” I really have to practice before the prom next week. And guess what? Darcy called last night. And did I tell you Mom finished the painting? Hey, would you like to stay over?”
As Emma took in another breath, Kristina spoke quickly, “Ok, Emma, I’ll come, but I don’t think I should stay too long. See you soon. Bye.”
Kristina sat down on the edge of her bed as she hung up the receiver. Emma was a good friend, and although her intention was to distract Kristina from the lack of celebration on her birthday, this was the one day of the year she allowed her thoughts to dwell on him…to remember his warmth, his love, and those last two days.