"Alright kids!" Mr. Struelian called out to his students after recess. "Since today is a special day, we're going to spend the rest of it making cards and gifts."
He then rolled in a cart filled with paper, glitter, glue, tape and clay, which the kids helped themselves too…all except one:
Sasha Waybright was envious of her friends still having moms in their lives, and such loving ones too.
The poor girl still remembered coming down for breakfast one morning to find her father with tears in his eyes and her mother walking out the door with a briefcase, a cab waiting for her as she paid Sasha no mind, even as the little girl raced after and tried to get her to come back.
Suffice to say? Mother's day was not a fun day for Sasha. Something Mr. Struelian now chided himself for forgetting….before realizing there WAS another student who didn't rush to making something:
"Ollie?"
The half-witch from another world had been looking onto the scene of kids making cards or statues for their mothers, a confused look on his face.
Sasha realized this and made her way over to here friend.
"Aren't you going to make something for your mom?" She asked. "Its Mother's day after all."
"….Mother's day?" Olivier asked in confusion.
This filled Mr. Struelian with concern.
"Did…did you not celebrate this where you came from?" He gently asked, motioning Sasha to come close and maybe help.
"….The only day like this that I remember was 'Emperor Day.'" The boy admitted. "Where you were supposed to write or draw something to the Emperor in thanks for his brilliance and generosity to live on his land."
Olivier realized too late he probably should've changed that….but none of the other kids seemed to hear. His teacher grimaced, respect for Eda growing in how she got out of that terrible situation.
A cackle then filled the air.
"Wow, you're old place sucked!"
It was Sid. Apparently, he was vexed Olivier had helped Anne and Sasha stand up to him when he took Marcy's honeysuckle; as he was now dedicated to brining 'Weird eyes' down.
"No wonder you and Sash get along so well; her mom up and left and yours had to leave wherever you came from!" Sid laughed….only to realize no one was listening.
'…..What is wrong with that boy?' Mr. Struelian asked himself, despite knowing the answer, his mother had sway with the education board and was the poster-woman of…what did the kids call them these days? Karens?
"Oh, shut up, Sid." Olivier said in unamused tone, then tuning the mean boy out as he focused on his blonde friend; now looking very unlike herself:
Sasha was looking down at her feet, shame clear and sadness on that bright face Olivier liked so much. He gently lifted Sasha's face up and smiled.
"Sash, you are the bravest and coolest girl I know; and your mom was a moron; cause she's missing out on seeing the cool hero you'll be."
Tears threatened to break from Sasha's eyes at those words. Sid opened his mouth
"One word out of you and your parents will either have a lot more money for themselves or big expenses to clean out your lungs." Olivier growled.
Sid shut up, grumbling to continue on his picture for his mom. Mr. Struelian ignored the possible death threat and returned to the other two kids; giving Sasha a hanky to dry her eyes, after which she hugged Olivier, before they turned to their teacher.
"Well, on Mother's day, we try and give thanks to our mothers; most people make a card or get chocolate….but here? We can maybe make a staue or a collage….whatever you'd like. I'm sure your Eda will love it."
Looking over his classmates; Olivier spied Anne was slapping together a card/collage while Marcy was painstakingly trying to recreate her mother in clay. Seeing that, he moved to the remaining supplies before he spied Sasha wasn't following.
"…Aren't you make something for your dad?" Olivier asked, making Sasha's eyes widen;….she COULD do that…
"Father's Day is later in the year, dummy…." Sid butted in, only to return to his work when Sasha, Olivier AND Mr, Struelian glared at him.
"….How about I help you make something for Eda for now?" Sasha suggested, seeing that Olivier had grabbed some clay and card material.
OWLPHIBIA
Back at the Clawthorne house, Eda enjoyed some quiet; King was asleep and Hooty was awestruck by the backyard and fresh earth air. Without any distractions, she decided take a nap while she waited for Olivier to come back home.
But, unable to sleep (Ollie was due home soon anyways) she turned on the TV and after some channel surfing, ended up on the Country Music Video channel; she didn't mind the music; could see some Bard pranks a coming through it.
And then a darker, yet heartfelt song came on.
(Play 'Me and Emily' by Rachel Proctor. Note that the lyrics have been edited to fit in the context of the chapter)
"Floorboard is filled with baby toys, and empty coke bottles, and coffee cups…"
The video instantly reminded Eda of that fateful night she used her portal for what she hoped to be the last time: She'd packed up as much of the Owl house as she could, got Hooty into a portable and flown off into the night; her destination unsure, beyond the fact it would NOT be Gravesfield.
"Drivin' through the rain with no radio, Tryin' not to wake him up."
Oliiver had actually woken up midflight, but just nestled in closer; something Eda had smiled warmly at.
"Cell phone says, "Low battery" God, what if I break down?"I'm just looking for an exit with a lotta lights in a safe little interstate town…"
Eda was relieved she didn't have to deal with any of that; the rain in the human releam wasn't boiling at least and Owlbert was fast. Still, she pitied anyone in the character's situation; fleeing a bad situation with a few megar possessions.
Also, should she look into getting one of those 'Cell phones'? Maybe later.
"Just a cheap hotel….with a single bed….And cable TV…"
A chorus of hums overtook the song as Eda recalled the stop at the Mystery Shack: the first place she'd gone to. Stanley had been up and understandably shocked to see her…as she had with him: She'd not meant to run into her ex-husband; she just knew Gravity Falls was a hot mess of supernatural activity on earth.
Where it anyone else they would've turned her away and, in this case, she'd not have blamed them. But Stan welcomed her in, let her wash up and, after being assured Olivier was not his son (which, although he tried to hide it, clearly saddened him) had flirted and playfully teased her:
Apparently, simply running away with your partners winnings did NOT annul a marriage on earth. So, to Eda;s shock, she and Stan were still married…but rather than doing anything unsavory to her (which he was appalled by the implication of) all he had done was pull out a deed and a bag of cash. The deed was to a house an 'associate' willed him
It's good enough for me and Olivier…"
it had been nothing but smooth flying after that one night. Dare she say it? Edalyn Clawthorne owed Stanley Pines one, and she'd be proud to pay that debt back.
The music video then flashed to a classroom with visitors stopping by.
"Someday, when he's old enough, he's gonna start asking questions about them; Some kid at school brings his gramps for show and tell, and gets his little mind a-wondering:"
To her worry, shame and heartbreak, Eda could practically hear her son's voice over the singer's at the next line:
"Where's my grandpa/grammy? Do I have them? Do they not love me like you do?"
That hurt Eda. Yes, her mother was annoying in trying to cure her of her curse while Lilith was all Coven first, family never….
But her father Dell? …He'd adore his grandson, no doubt in the Owl Lady's mind. Titan, she wanted him to adore Olivier; teach him Palistrom carving and his tricks,
"Oh, maybe I'll find someone to love the both of us…"
Stan and Raine appeared in her head, a smile and warmth filling Eda's heart as the song continued:
"And I'll tell him when he's old enough to know the truth…Will it break his heart? Will he understand?"
Olivier already knew why they'd left; something that both made Eda beam with prid yet also feel shame; a five year old having the maturity to understand uprooting all he had known?...Was it harsh to consider herself a failure of a mom in that regard? When she was that young, the worst she'd dealt with was a skinned knee and not getting dessert at dinner.
"….That we had to leave…..That's what was best for me and Olivier!"
She then recalled the last three years before moving:
"That house was never far enough! My magic never great enough…. Nothing I did was ever good enough to make them leave me!"
The bounty hunters, the Scouts and beasts all coming after her. Olivier not being able to make friends out of the likely chance they'd use him to get to Eda…. That was no life for a baby, never mind HER baby.
"So, I guess, they gave me what he thought I deserved!"
In all hindsight, spending your late teenhood and adult life badmouthing the Emperor and calling his system a joke while doingh whatever she pleased had cost Eda many popularity points on the Isles…But in her defense, she'd never anticipated becoming a mother….
"But it would kill me if they ever raised a hand to him…."
The Owl Lady's world went silent and cold at that notion; the idea of someone striking Ollie for ANY reason? Her sweet, smart and caring little boy? The mere thought filled her with rage
Eda had learnt she could kill to survive early in her runaway years. But she learnt she could and would do it again with no thought or care the moment she adopted Olivier
"Big rigs are throwing rain on my windshield and I feel like they're laughing at me…"
Eda then spied the school bus and some of the parents stepping out to meet their children. Some even waved to her from their driveways, she waved back. This? This sense of community and acceptance? This alone proved the move was worth it
Not that she'd ever say that outloud, of course! She was the Owl lady! She had a reputation to maintain!
"Finally the storm is letting up, and the morning is breaking free…"
She then spied her son rush toward the house with Sasha in tow as they waved goodbye to Anne and Marcy, both off to have some Mother's Day fun with their own moms.
"It's a brand new day; It's a second chance. Yesterday is just a memory…"
Eda could hear the door swing open as she prepared a snack for the kids: Ice cold milk and cookies with grapes.
"For me and Olivier"
King, awoken by the door opening, had raced towards his brother and Sasha, Eda chuckling as Sasha effortlessly pushed King to the side and Olivier feed the little monster a cookie he'd snagged away during naptime.
The song then entered the last few lines.
"Floor's filled with baby toys, and empty coke bottles and coffee cups…"
She really did need to clean up, Eda realized. Later tonight or tomorrow for sure.
"Least there's one good thing the Isles gave me and he's…starting to grow up…"
(End song)
As the song ended, another wonderful sound filled the Owl Lady's ears:
"Happy Mother's day, mama!" The youngest Clawthorne beamed as he wrapped his arms around her legs. "Sasha helped me make you these!"
It was a crude but cutely made card and clay figure in her likeness.
And Eda loved them.
"Oh, sweet boy!" She cooed as she lifted her son into a hug, peppering his face with kisses before she messed with Sasha's hair. "Thanks, kiddo."
Sasha laughed under the witch's hand and fixed her hair up before she felt King tug on her skirt.
"Hey, where's my gift?!"
"…But you're a demon King." Sasha had pointed out. "You'll get father's day…or something."
"I am both King and Queen, best of both things!" King snapped to his 'rival.' "Hence, I deserve all the best things!"
"Ollie gave you a cookie."
"I get a cookie anytime!"
"Not after today, you won't." Eda noted, putting OIiver down and handing the snack she'd made. The two kids devoured it as Eda turned on the Disney channel, just in time for a new episode of the Y-Folks; a show Eda herself liked.
Just then, the phone rang.
One Hour later
The doorbell rang and Eda, smirking knowingly, went to open it as Olivier and Sasha laughed at the hijinks on Gonkers, King himself storming away in protest for 'the closest to his kind' being used for slapstick humor.
"Happy to see you're having fun." A familiar voice said warmly, making
"Daddy?" Sasha gasped in confusion, then beamed. "Daddy!"
Mr. Waybright knelt and hugged his daughter, taking her into a spinning hug and delighting at her laughs.
"You're here?! I thought….?" Sasha started.
"Work wrapped up early, so I was thinking….Ho-Ha's Jamboree? Comic shop?" Mr. Waybright explained, then spied the Clawthornes. "You two are welcome to join us….if Sasha is okay with it?"
He knew Olivier was quickly becoming Sasha's best friend and that Anne and Marcy already had plans with their families. Plus, it would be rude to not do something in thanks to Eda…and no, he was not at all trying to flirt with her!
…Okay, maybe a little, but who would blame him?! Plus, Sasha adored Eda, so…You know what, no. This was a daddy-daughter day!
"How about, we all go to Ho-Has, but do our own 'baby-parent' things…until pizza?" Eda suggested
"Not a baby!" Olivier and Sasha said together, but where hushed by their parents hugging. Eda quickly left a plate of food for King before they entered Mr. Waybright's car, where all four had a great time.
Eda may not have been Sasha's mom, but for that day and onwards? She felt the love of a mother whenever Eda Clawthorne was nearby.
OWLPHIBIA
Earlier that day in Gravesfiled, Camila Noceda awoke to her daughter and son bringing her breakfast in bed as Manny snuck a flower into her hair and then revealed a new bouquet at her bedside.
"Feliz día de la madre, mami!" Her children beamed before Ben faltered.
"D-did I say it right this time? No Felix, Dio or Madara….Don't know why I even said those…"
Luz just booped her brother on the nose and gave him a thumbs up, before they spied their mother happilu enjoying her meal.