My life changed completely when my parents died in a car accident around this time last year. I would have stayed at the cemetery longer after their funeral, but it had begun to rain really hard. So I went home and started cleaning up the attic, while my best friend Samantha prepared for the get together that was going to take place at one. My parents actually had sent me to clean up the attic years ago, but I always put it off. While people were down stairs for the gathering that Samantha hosted, I was in the attic the whole time cleaning up.
Cleaning was just something I did when I was upset. I worked on the attic all day and night. It was very therapeutic for me. As I cleaned I came across my mother’s holiday dresses and knitted sweaters. I picked up her Thanksgiving sweater with the huge turkey on it, and a picture of her entered my mind. It was Thanksgiving Eve the only day she wore it. She figured she might mess it up while she was cooking. She really didn’t like holiday sweaters, but my grandma from dad’s side always knitted her them as a gift. Mom didn’t have the heart to tell her she didn’t like them. She wore them the day before each holiday while she cooked because no one would see her and she had a chance to mess them up. I smiled and the tears started to form in my eyes because of the thought of my last Thanksgiving with her. I actually helped her cook. I picked up a big spoon of pumpkin paste from the pie I was making from scratch and flicked the paste at her sweater. She laughed and said “Stephanie, how dare you” as she snatched the spoon out of my hand and smeared it all over her sweater. I threw the sweater and wiped the tears from my eyes.
I kept on looking through and organizing boxes when I found my father’s winter coat. Behind the moth balls smell I inhaled my dad’s cologne and the strong fragrance of his favorite Cuban cigar. I remember taking the coat off the hanger, putting it on, throwing myself on a pile of comforters and crying myself to sleep. Thankfully Samantha remembered about me. She went to the attic, woke me up and then carefully walked me downstairs to my bed. I didn’t finish the attic that day. All of the memories of my parents were way too overwhelming and fresh for me.
Earlier today, a whole year later, I went back to the attic. I wanted to see if there was anything to get rid of, or sell at a garage sale. All the way in the back I found a big treasure chest. Why was I so intrigued by this chest? I have never paid attention to it before, so why was I so interested in it now? It was nothing special; it wasn’t like it was made of gold or anything. It was just an old wooden chest that was covered in dust, and cob webs.
I walked up to the chest and tried to pull it open, but it was locked. I found a crowbar nearby, wrapped my hands firmly around it and with all my force plied the chest open. There it all was, my childhood mementos. I looked inside and found the dress I wore for my Christening, my first Christmas outfit, my first walking shoes. I also found, my favorite teddy bear that was all beat up. He was missing an eye, his nose was torn and his arm was just about to fall off. I remember dragging Teddy around everywhere. I kept searching through the chest and found old report cards, along with a pink and purple striped blanket. I also found my cheer leading pomp-pomps, and then an antique wooden box. I opened it and found old pictures of my mom, me, and… another baby?
The other baby my mom was holding in one of the pictures was the same age as me. We looked also looked alike. We were both wearing pink dresses, white stockings and paten leather shoes, and in our hair we wore pink knitted bows. I turned the picture over and it read 11/1984. The picture was taken twenty-four years ago. What did this mean? Who was this other baby? Was she my twin? I kept looking through the pictures to see if there were other photos of the baby who shared my face.
In the pictures my mom seemed to still have her maternal pouch. She had huge circles under her eyes and a semi-smile on her face. She looked drained while she stood there holding these two very identical baby girls. The baby and I couldn’t be any older than a month or two. So what happened? Why hadn’t my mom ever mentioned this twin sister to me? Where is my twin now? I had all these questions, and no way of getting the answer. I kept staring at the pictures trying to remember something, anything about my past, but I couldn’t. For as long as I could remember I was an only child.
Suddenly, I heard the door bell. I was running down the stairs when I stumbled over a toy that I was going to throw away. I straightened myself up and took a deep breath to relieve my nerves. I walked to the door and checked through the window to see who it was. To my surprise it was Samantha. She had gone on a business trip to China six months ago, and wasn’t due back for another three more months.
Samantha and I have been friends ever since we were in the womb. Our mothers were best friends as well. I was anxious to share my secret with her and wondered if she knew anything about the other baby in the picture. I opened the door and welcomed her with a great big hug. We are usually inseparable, so it was really great to see her.
Samantha had her straight, long, blond hair wrapped up in a bun. she was wearing red lipstick and big white sunglasses that practically covered her whole face. Underneath her black and white pea coat she was wearing a black skirt suit and red pumps. I have never seen her dressed like that so I mocked her a little.
“Welcome back, Wall Street, how was your trip?”
“I am exhausted, I literally just got back.” Samantha took off her pumps at the door and put her coat on the rack. She walked toward the sofa and let down her hair. She plopped herself down on the white floral love seat. “The flight was a killer, I sat by this big older lady who smelled and kept falling asleep on me, it was terrible. So what’s up? What have you been up to lately?”
“Nothing really, except for…”
“I begged my boss to let me have a couple days off so I can be with you. I can’t believe it’s been a year already.”
“Thank you, but you didn’t have to come, I am fine. Do you want coffee or something?” It wasn’t the right time to mention the pictures. I really wanted to tell her, but something just stopped me.
“Coffee sounds great!” We walked to the kitchen and she sat at the table. “So, umm, when was the last time you’ve gone out of this house. You don’t look fine!”
My dirty blond hair was in a semi-pony tail. Little run-away strands of hair were all over my face. I was wearing bleach stained gray sweatpants along with one of Matt’s old t-shirts. Matt was a really sweet guy I started dating from work a little before my parent’s accident. My sneakers were detaching from the sole and made a mouth every time I walked. “I emailed you months ago, informing you about my new job. I started working from home for a medical billing company. I don't need to dress up. I like to be comfortable.”
“Yeah, but you don’t have to dress scrubby every day. Anyway, have you spoken to Matt lately?”
“No!” I haven’t really been in the mood to go out and or confront people. I hate when someone you love dies and everyone asks how you are and how you are taking things. How do they think I feel? I just lost my parents; I am as happy as can be. I don’t really say that. I grin while clinching my teeth, and say I’m okay thank you.
I pulled out some apple pie from the fridge ans asked Sam, “Would you like some, with your coffee? I have tons left over from the other night. I decided to bake and keep myself occupied.”
“Sure. He was a really nice guy; I think you should call him.”
“Soon. Hey listen I was looking through the attic and found some pictures of mom and I…”
“WOW, can I see them?” I was pouring the milk into the coffee, and thought that now was a good time to tell her. It will be easier to explain things to her if she actually saw the pictures. While she sat at the table drinking her coffee, I went to the attic to get the antique box. I brought the pictures to the living room where it was brighter because the sun shined right through the six large windows. My living room was fairly big, with white walls, a huge sky light window in the center of the ceiling and the floor was made of mahogany wood.
I hope you all enjoyed it, please feel free to comment on it.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment