Life: Altered 03.48 ~*~ In & Out

            Daisy stepped out onto the widow’s
walk and let out a soft yelp of joy, the fresh air washing into her lungs as she
took in a deep breath.  Daisy loved this
huge house, but the air was stifling, too many people over the age of 30 in
that place.  Rosita stared at her
intently, seeing someone so full of life, yet so quiet in so many ways. 

            “You always like this during a full
moon?”  Ro asked as she sat down on the
roof, her back pressed to the railing her hands dangling between her spread
legs.  Something about the wild way she
smiled drew Daisy to her; the fact that she was five years older than her was
appealing too.  Daisy leaned over the
railing, and yelped again.  Daisy spun
around and smiled a bit more broadly than normal.  Daisy was still on a high about meeting
Desi.  Rosita was just sitting there,
watching her.

            “What’s wrong?”  Daisy asked and Ro shrugged, blinking with a
soft sigh.

            “Why is this called a widow’s
walk?”  Ro asked, popping open the bottle
and pouring the golden liquid into the glasses that were between her legs.  Daisy sat down next to her, taking a glass
she sipped the liquid and smiled at the taste. 
Daisy thought for a moment, then delved into the story she’d once read
or heard.

            “During the time when men went out
on ships, the women stayed at home and took care of the family.  When the ships came back, they would wave
flags with the family’s code of arms, so the women would rush to the roof.  Watching, hoping, and praying that it wasn’t
their code of arms flapping in the wind. 
Because if it was, it meant that their man had died, and they were
widows.  Hence the name, Widow’s
Walk.”  Daisy finished, downing the rest
of the champagne. 

            “Wow, cool story.  Where did you learn that, school?”  Ro asked refilling her glass and Daisy shook
her head.

            “Naw, just read it somewhere ya
know?  I like to read.  Used to read a lot in foster homes.  Whenever I could.  You don’t read?”  Daisy asked, and Ro laughed.

            “If you mean CAN I read, Si I can read.  I never had the time to.  I never got to finish high school.  Papi died and I took over the business,
wasn’t going to go live in no foster home you know.  Ran with the gang, not like I had much better
to do.”  Ro said in a dark voice and
Daisy stared at her.