July 7th, 2016
It's taken me a few days to even write in my journal, Mama. There's been so many things to explore! I've been spending time with Aether, mostly. But on the 4th, she took me to Kai. He was surprised... and kind of freaked out about me being topside. Even more about being in Rhy'Din. But he hugged me and told me he missed me, and asked all the relevant questions. The how have you been? How's your Mama? How's your Daddy? How's things at home? I answered them like a robot, because I knew he was going to ask 'em.
Aether explained to him about the situation, and he... was less than happy about me trying to find Daemien. He told me there was no rush, that Dae wasn't going anywhere. I wasn't so sure. But I listened to him. He told me Rhy'Din was going to be celebrating the Fourth of July... I had no idea what that meant. He told me it was a celebration usually on Midgard, specifically in America to show their independance. Why they had it in Rhy'Din... I don't know. But he said that there would be a lot of festivities, and something called fireworks. I told him I wanted to go, and he took me!
There were so many people there, I was nervous at first. I could feel each one of them, and all the different kinds of people there. I had only seen humans on Midgard, and animals. There were people of all different shapes, sizes, colors, races. There were so many different kinds of people that it made my head spin. We told Spot to go play in the Glen, and he didn't seem to object to that. He gave Kai a weird look and Kai just nodded at him. I think they were having their own conversation, and I don't know what they were saying. But all the people seemed to make Spot uneasy, he kept giving me those puppy dog eyes as he was leaving. I wanted him to play with us, but he's... too... big... And he might've squished someone. Kai kept telling me he'd be okay, that the loud noises might unsettle him.
Kai had me try a bunch of different foods, he gave me something called 'glow sticks'. I love them!! They're so bright and colorful. They didn't smell like anything but plastic... I tried to taste it but Kai took it out of my mouth and told me not to chew on it, because I shouldn't swallow the stuff on the inside. Something about my poo glowing for weeks, and my insides. That didn't sound so bad, but he was adament on me not eating it.
We played with something called 'Sparklers'. That took some work... I wanted to feel it but Kai said it might hurt, and he stopped me from smelling and tasting it. But he let me look at all of them. He even showed me how to wave it through the air to write words on the wind, and it was one of the most beautiful things I'd ever seen! I was sad when we ran out of them, and he left me for a minute and came back with a huge box... I still have a bunch of them left.
When it came time for the Fireworks, we found a field away from where they were having them. He said I looked tired, and I guess that was true. It had been a long day, and all the people were feeling different things and I could feel them. It was exhausting but incredible. We laid in the field, and I used him as a pillow. We stared up at the sky and that's when it all started. I don't even know how to describe it. It's not something I can tell you about the smell, the taste, the feel... But the sight, Mama, the sight! They were like explosions in the sky, and at first the loud noises scared me but Kai told me that it wouldn't hurt me. That it was just a show and they would fizzle out before they reached the ground. We watched the whole thing and I couldn't look away. I think Fireworks are my favorite thing now.
When we were done, we kept laying there. I wanted to tell him what I wasn't supposed to tell him, I wanted to tell him who his daddy is. I wanted to tell him that he was my big brother, but... I remember what you said. And I kept my mouth shut about it. Maybe it's better this way, I don't know. It wouldn't change how I feel about him, even if I just call him Kai.. or KaiKai... He's still my big brother to me. And that's what counts, right?
P.S. He's got more of those tattoo things now... they're interesting and I like to trace them with my fingers. He showed me the ones he had under his shirt, and it was like a giant puzzle of trying to find each and every one in the mess. I think he's got a little too many, it's hard to see him. But it's a part of Kai, he's always been weird to the family. Like me. And I love him for it.
P.P.S. Aether got me a camera today. I'll try to get a picture of Kai so you can see him, too. And I'll try to show you what I see.