May My Tears Take Flight

Scene: Halliwell’s manor. Phoebe came down the stairs, not in the usual skipping mode but the type of dragging. She has taken extra longer in the bathroom, not because she wanted it, but she has to be extra careful with the plaster on her right arm, which had enclosed her forearm, wrist and the thumb up to the last joint. Now she couldn’t wear any of her favorite tees, her sisters had insisted she put on all the buttons type, easier for her right arm and she hated to do it with one good hand. Phoebe recalled the accident a week ago. As usual she was at her martial arts classes. After practices, she chose to stay behind for more practices at the slam bag while waiting for Prue to pick her up. She must have tried harder than before because that night after returning home, her right wrist began to ache and she has problem pressing the wrist at the base of her thumb. Piper noticed her having trouble using the fork, had dragged her to the doctor, then the hospital for an X-ray and finally the fracture clinic. Her pain was diagnosed as the fracture of the scaphoid bone, the most commonly fracture bone in the wrist. Luckily, no other bones appeared damaged but Phoebe was dismayed to be told that the plaster has to be there for a whole six weeks. And later that day, she was scheduled to go back for a check-up, to see that her plaster was comfortable and the slight swelling in her fingers had disappeared. She came into the kitchen, saw her sisters already there and better still, her breakfast neatly placed at her favorite seat. Wait a minute, something wasn’t right. Piper has been giving her food for easy handling for just one hand, fruit loops, sandwiches… why the pancakes today? And Prue. She was looking really upset about something, not sure what but the fact that when she came in, her sisters weren’t talking, that means something…)

Phoebe (Try to sound happy): Morning sisters.

Prue/Piper: Mmmm….

Phoebe (Thinking out loud in mind): "Great! No morning response! This is no way to begin a day which has gone bad since last week." (Picked up the knife to cut the pancake) Smells nice Piper. So what are you guys up to today?

Prue: Can’t you at least try to tolerate further with the kind of job I have!?

Piper: I never complain have I!?

(Phoebe though had expected something between her sisters, she was still surprised when they exchanged words in harsh tone. She looked at them wide-eyed, knife on hand about to start on the pancake but froze in action.)

Prue: I’m taking salary Piper! And I haven’t been meeting up to my boss’s standard recently since we are always sidetracked by all these demons hunting!

Piper: And I’m giving salaries Prue! Notice the difference in grammar! I haven’t been taking good care of our club lately and if anything goes wrong, we will be in deeper trouble than we always have!

Phoebe: Err… guys?

Prue: Phoebe, don’t interrupt when your older sisters are having a serious conversation!

Piper: Don’t shout at her like that! This is between you and me! Sweetie, eat your breakfast, be good and stay out of it.

(Phoebe wasn’t about to argue, but she still didn’t move the knife. Prue seemed to have noticed her predicament and came to her side.)

Prue: Look! What’s the matter with you? You made pancakes today knowing fully well Phoebe can’t use her right hand. How is she going to eat it?

(Went over to Phoebe’s side and took the knife from her hand, together with the fork, she started cutting the pancake into slices fitted for her mouth. Piper wasn’t about to give up her argument and she came over to Phoebe’s other side.)

Piper: What do you think I am? A cold-blooded hard feelings witch? Of course I know Phoebe can’t use both the knife and fork at the same time! I just don’t want her to get sick eating the same food everyday. (Took the milk bottle from the table and opened it for Phoebe)

Prue: Since you are so concern about her, and I DO likewise, why can’t you take her to the clinic for her checkup? Phoebe, open your mouth.

(Phoebe tried to take the fork from Prue, but her eyes were fixed on Piper and her hand had locked firmly on the fork. She had no choice but to quietly take the small piece of pancake into her mouth, still trying to figure out what had sparked off the quarrel and how to intervene.)

Piper: Very much I wanted to but I can’t! Roxette’s manager is coming down to the club to view the stage and access’s the possible exposure for the band. If that is a confirmation, you know what that means? Phoebe, drink your milk.

(Phoebe was glad that Piper had given her the bottle rather than feeding her like Prue was doing. She quietly took it from Piper and drank it in the middle of a sisters’ war zone.)

Prue: Right, it’s about the crowd thing again. Ever since you had the club, you have been so obsessed about having it a hit every night!

Piper: And ever since you had that camera strap around your neck, you are letting it leading your life!

Prue: Hold that! I did not! I do spend some quality time with you guys and…

Piper: Oh yeah? If you have picked up Phoebe right after her class that day at the exact appointed time, she won’t stay around longer to break her bone!

Phoebe (Aloud in mind): "Oh-oh, now I’m involve. And I haven’t the slightest idea what started it…"

Prue: Oh, so you are blaming me now? How about you? I was busy and you know it, but you chose to linger at P3 doing the stock taking when actually your assistant manager is capable of doing that! You contributed to our sister’s injury too when you pushed your responsibility to me!

Piper: What…

Phoebe: Guys! Please! What’s going on?

Prue/Piper: Nothing!

Phoebe: Then why can’t we have our breakfast in a nicer tone kind of conversation? (Sounded like a child talking to a pair of angry adults)

Prue: Pheebs, just be a good girl and eat your pancakes. (Held up another piece to her mouth)

Piper: Phoebe, eat slowly. Drink your milk first. (Held up the bottle to her mouth)

Prue: Let her eat the pancake first. You want her to be filled up with milk and nothing else?

Piper: You keep pushing the food down her throat. She needs some liquid to her swallow!

Prue: I have the pancake cut into small pieces mind you!

Piper: So? Milk is more essential right now. She needs the calcium to build up the weak bone!

(Phoebe was really caught in between. On her left side, Prue was there with the fork of pancake. To her right, Piper was there insisting her way with the bottle of milk. The last thing she expected was being told to make such a silly choice like that. Either one she chose would surely make the other one angrier. Phoebe hunched and sank lower in her seat, trying to escape her sisters’ tug-of-war.)

Prue: Phoebe! Eat your food!

Piper: Phoebe! Drink your milk first!

Phoebe (Softly): Will you guys leave me out of this? I don’t even know why you are quarreling. (Saw her sisters’ calming down look) Look, I’m sorry I got hurt unnecessary but I will be fine going to the clinic alone today. I’m an adult already, it’s no big deal.

Prue (Pushed the food into Phoebe’s mouth and walked back to her seat): So long you are the youngest, it means a great lot of deal to me.

Piper (Gave Phoebe the milk bottle and went back to her seat too): I love you too much Pheebs, and I am concern about your every little details.

Phoebe: I know sisters. But it’s only a routine checkup, I can handle it alone.

Prue: No. I’ll come by after your classes to pick you up.

Piper: No. I’ll have my assistant manager entertain the VIP. I will take Phoebe to the clinic.

Prue: No… I made my point clear. Anyway, I have been and I love screwing up my shooting assignment, you just go and do your stuff.

Piper: No. You can’t go on risking your job, besides, P3 should be fine with or without the band.

Phoebe (Aloud in mind): "Ok, I’m not catching up here. A minute ago, they were screaming at each other who should go to the clinic with me. Now they are fighting for the responsibility. Am I really too young to understand older sibling’s mind? Whatever, I’m getting gotta this place…" (Saying out loud) Err… guys. I hate to interrupt but I have to go. Class starts in half an hour time. (Stood up and carried her backpack on her left shoulder with books in hand) I’ll be fine sisters, I know we are all busy in a way today so don’t worry, I will hail a cab to the college. You guys decide who will pick me up later, ok?

Prue/Piper: Phoebe!

(Phoebe was startled when both her sisters yelled at her at the same time just as she was walking towards the kitchen door. She stopped suddenly, stared back at them in wide-eyed, wondering what had gone wrong again.)

Phoebe: What! What did I do or say?

(Her older sisters did not answer. They simply walked up to her, Piper with tissue in hand and started wiping her mouth.)

Piper: You are not going anywhere with that milk moustache.

Prue: And zip up your jacket. It’s chilling out there. (Helped Phoebe with her jacket’s zipper)

Phoebe (Aloud in mind): "They love me so much and I couldn’t do a thing to stop them. Oh boy, am I always the odd one out?" (Saying aloud) Thank you sisters. Can I go to school now? (Phoebe knew that she sounded like a junior kid asking her sisters for permission to do something. She didn’t care for she saw them finally smiling.)

Piper (Stroked her brownish hair): Un-huh… just be careful with your hand. Don’t cause yourself further pain ok? I will be worried sick.

Prue (Gave her a peck on her cheek): Call me anytime if you are not feeling good all right?

(Phoebe nodded and walked out of the manor, finally after being a witness to her sisters’ very classified trial. She still don’t know what sparked off their bickering but since she might be the cause, she felt that she should get further away before it turned into an unfair judgment. Prue and Piper stayed in the kitchen for a while even after Phoebe’s departure. Neither talked or even looked up.)

Prue (Finally got up from her seat): Piper, just spend your time at P3. I’ll switch assignment with someone else if I can or to tell my boss he can consider firing me. But I’ll take Phoebe to the clinic this afternoon, and I’ll call you after what the doctor told me.

(Not waiting for Piper to answer, Prue left the kitchen to the living room, picking up her equipment and left the manor too. Piper, alone in that big house was still fuming. She was angry with Prue for starting the quarrel, or was it she the one? She was angry with herself too, for not containing her feelings, which she usually did. But somehow, that part of her was not there. She has lost control, she has flared up. A sign that shouldn’t be especially she is Piper, the more sensible and peace-minded one…)

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(Scene: College grounds. Phoebe was sitting at the entrance stairs waiting for either her sisters’ appearance. She looked at her watch, realized that she will be late for her appointment. It didn’t matter since she has always hated the white sight of hospital, it’s smell and the white-clothed personnel. She was more concerned about which one of her sisters will turn up and how she should start a conversation without igniting another quarrel. This morning incident did have a significant impact in her mind and she couldn’t really concentrate throughout the classes. Then she saw the familiar sight of Prue’s car coming around the corner. She picked up her bag and books, and dragged her feet towards her sister’s car.)

Prue (Rushed towards Phoebe): I’m so sorry honey. (Took the books and bag for her) I’ve called the clinic and told them we will be late.

Phoebe: It’s ok Prue. You are here and it’s all that matters.

(Both sisters got into the car, Prue helped Phoebe with the seatbelt and minutes later, the car cruised along the highway at a normal speed… Prue noticed that Phoebe was quiet since she stepped into the car.)

Prue: Pheebs, are you hungry?

Phoebe: Nope.

Prue: Are you afraid of going where we are going?

Phoebe: As always, haven’t I?

Prue: So you are lying this morning when you said you could handle it all alone.

Phoebe: I didn’t want you guys to quarrel because of me.

Prue (Suddenly felt so guilty): Oh honey… I’m sorry. I didn’t… I mean, the last thing I expected was to get involved in such a situation with Piper and believe me, it was not about you that sparked it off in the first place. You just happened to come in at the wrong time.

Phoebe: So what are you guys so mad at?

Prue: What was she so mad at, you should be asking. And you want to know Pheebs? I don’t even know.

Phoebe: You what? But I saw…

Prue: Ya, seeing is always so convincing. What did I do? I went into the kitchen, I greeted her and asked how’s her day going to be. There she was, started raving about everything. Our jobs, our responsibilities, our contributions to the manor…

Phoebe: Our? That means… (The feeling of being criticized by her beloved Piper raised up in her mind)

Prue (Knowing Phoebe’s thinking): She has all the intention to leave you out of it Phoebe. You saw and heard it yourself. She sided with you when she thought I was shouting at you.

Phoebe: So what’s wrong with Piper? If it comes to this part, it should always be you and me. Why her this time and… she looked so scary in her eyes I thought she was going to have it out with you right there and then.

Prue: Same feeling here. I have seen Piper getting angry many times but it just didn’t feel the same this time.

Phoebe: You think P3 has been stressing her out? Or was it Leo the cause?

Prue: I dunno Pheebs, let’s just hope that she calms down when we see her later. One quarrel at the start of the day is enough. Hopefully not another one for the wrapping up.

(With that, the conversation about Piper closed and the two sisters started chatting on other topics of their already half spent day…)

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(Scene: P3. Piper was supervising her staff for the night’s opening as usual. Everyone in the club had noticed that their boss’s usual jovial note was missing, in place was a time-bomb ready to explode at the slightest provoke. Roxette’s manager had come and go, after signing some papers agreeing to the band’s playing a week later. Somehow, that hasn’t raised Piper’s mood, instead she felt worse than before. Suddenly, there was the sound of glass breaking at the counter. Piper was at the storeroom taking