Full Summary
"I'm seventeen years old, my thoughts should be filled with clothes and boys, not whether or not I am dying."
Alice has a secret. What started out as painful migraines and black outs is quickly turning into something else entirely. Alice is starting to believe she may very well be going crazy but with her father's political career pushing forward and all of Biloxi society watching her every move, what will her family do if they find out?
Chapter 1
Pain...I scream as the pain splits my head. I grab my hair and quickly close the door of my room which luckily I was standing right next to when the pain struck. It's getting worse, what started out as slight headaches and blurred vision only a year ago has become overwhelming pain and flashes of light. My knees hit the floor...hard, if my head didn't hurt so badly I'd probably already feel the bruises forming. Vivid colors begin to assault my vision as i squeeze my eyes shut willing myself to not make a noise, my eyes watering, my hands still clenched in my hair. I slide to the floor as the colors become more and more muted and then...darkness.
As I open my eyes, the light from the room causes another flash of pain through my head. Closing them quickly I asses my current status. On the floor...check, head feeling like I just got trampled by a horse...check. Since neither my mother nor sister is here, this latest episode must have gone un-noticed. I know they're worried, heck I'm worried, I'm seventeen years old, my thoughts should be filled with clothes and boys, not whether or not I am dying.
I don't feel sick, besides the occasional "episode" as I like to refer to them as, I feel fine. But every time it happens, I can see the worry on my families faces, though in my parents case it's probably more fear that someone will notice. My father works for the mayor and is involved in politics; in fact, he's planning on running for Governor in the next elections for 1920. So crazy/sick daughter isn't great on the campaign posters. My sisters alright though, her name is Cynthia. I know she worries and that she is actually worried about me, unlike my mother who is more worried about if Linda Jameson with the historical society will find out.
"Mary Alice! Come down and help me with lunch dear, Mrs. Jameson will be joining us this afternoon."
Speak of the devil...
"Coming mother!" I yell, then grab my head again. oww...head...pain...ugh.
"Mary Alice darling you look pale, are you alright?" My mother asks as I walk around the corner to the kitchen.
You would almost think that was concern for my well-being if it weren't for the frantic glances at the front door as my mother asked me.
"I'm fine mother, just a little tired. What would you like me to do?"
"Well if you are sure..." my mother says while biting her lip. "Slice up some cheese for me dear to go with the bread that I made."
"Where's Cynthia?" I ask, she's normally begging to help out in the kitchen.
"Oh she's at the Harris's playing with Claire." she says while slicing bread and butting it on a serving platter.
"Oh." That would be why she didn't hear me earlier when I cried out.
I try to finish the slicing the cheese quickly so I might be able to slip away before Mrs. Jameson gets here but as is the theme of the day, no luck for Alice.
*Knock, knock, knock.*
"Mary Alice, grab the door dear."
Lovely...it's not that I have a problem with helping my mother, it's just that Mrs. Jameson loves nothing more in life then telling me what I'm doing wrong in it. And my mother would never correct such a high standing member of society so...I simply have to smile and listen to it.
I open the door to Mrs. Jameson impatiently tapping her foot.
"Well it's about time Mary Ellen, dawdling as usual I suppose. You know you shouldn't keep people waiting, I'm old dear I can't be standing about all day you know."
Oh and did I mention that she refuses to call me by my name? It's always Mary Ellen, not Mary, not Alice, not Mary Alice, nope...Mary Ellen...
I escort Mrs. Jameson to the dining room where my mother has finished laying out lunch and try to sneak toward the stairs but as is the theme of the day...
"Mary Alice, where are you going dear? Come and sit down for lunch."
"Kids these day, no respect for their elders, and the clothes! Heavens I saw one of the Woods girls running around skirt that was above her ankles just last week. Next thing we know they'll be trying to walk around in skirts pulled up to their knees Helen, I'm telling you. Shameful!"
This is about the time I start tuning out, next will be a commentary on my own clothing which I'll have you know if very fashionable. Then my hair which is somehow too thin, or that I am too short and too skinny and that a husband will never want a woman so small because I'm not fit for child bearing, etc., etc.
"So young Theodore was telling me that Mary Ellen here collapsed at school the other day, I do hope she feeling alright." Mrs. Jameson states pulling me out of my self-commentary with a jolt. She turn towards me smiling knowing by the look on my face that she's gotten ahold of great gossip.
Kill me now...
My mother looks at me with a mix of anger, surprise, and fear then quickly composes herself before Mrs. Jameson turns to her.
"Oh...well she was feeling a little ill, but nothing to worry about, she's doing quite well now. Thank you for your concern Linda."
Mrs. Jameson looks like she just swallowed a toad. It must be such a disappointment to not find out that I'm dying of a strange illness or something. Before she can pick back up I decide to take evasive action.
"Mother, do you mind if I am excused, I wanted to finish up some chores this afternoon."
"Of course dear, go on ahead."
As I get up my mother gives me the "look" letting me know that we will be talking later about my latest "episode".
I head back upstairs to my room and sit on my bed. Why can't I just be normal? Wanting to relax I pull out the latest outfit I have been working on. I love making my own clothes. In fact several of my friends have me make clothes for them as well. I love taking the patterns that my parents buy for me and changing them up or mixing parts of different patterns. I've even started working on creating my own patterns.
"Mary Alice please come downstairs, we need to talk!"
I jump realizing I've been sewing several hours and it is already starting to get dark outside. Putting my sewing materials away I head downstairs to face my very furious mother.
"What were you thinking? At school? Why didn't you tell me? Instead I find out from Mrs. Jameson without any warning. If you had told me I could have done some damage control. You know we cannot have any surprises. Your father is working very hard to be in a good position to run for governor and we cannot have this situation getting out."
"I'm sorry mother, you are right I should have told you, I just didn't want anyone to worry."
"Well of course we are worried dear but Doctor Gerald says it's nothing to be concerned about and that you are probably just getting too worked up. You just need to take it easy dear."
Of course, just an over emotional teenager, that's obviously the problem.
"I not happy that you didn't tell us Mary Alice I thought they were getting better."
My mother is delusional there is no other way to say it. I've been continuing to get worse for the past year.
"Just make sure if it happens again that you tell me, we have to be prepared for any questions that could arise." she says looking thoughtful.
"Yes, Mother." Arguing is pointless, been there, tried that. So I simply nod my head like the good little daughter that I am.
*Slam!*
"Mother, Alice I'm home!"
That would be Cynthia my sister. She's 13, so she's 4 years younger than me. And she has great timing.
"Hello Cynthia, how was your day at the Harris's?"
"It was fun, Claire and I played Jax and listened to the radio then Mr. Harris took us for ice cream!"
"Well I'm glad you enjoyed yourself honey. Why don't you wash up and you can help me with dinner. Your father will be home soon."
"Okay!" Cynthia jumped up and ran up the stairs.
She loves cooking and helps our mother almost every night. She really is a good kid, annoying sometimes, but very sweet.
I stay seated for a while thinking about my conversation with my mother then slowly get up and start walk toward the stairs to wash up as well when I start to get a sick feeling in my stomach and a chill throughout my body. I stop. It doesn't feel like a headache coming on, instead I have the strangest feeling of Deja vu. I can hear Cynthia walking back down the hall headed to come down the stairs.
"Cynthia STOP!"
I don't even know why I yelled but the next second I hear her scream and then I see her tumbling head over heels down the stairs toward me.
I jump forward to grab her before she hits the bottom but I can already tell she's hurt badly.
"Mother!" I yell but there was no need, my mother had come running the moment she had heard her scream.
"Mary Alice quickly, call Doctor Gerald, tell him to come quickly."
I race to the hall grabbing the ear piece and turning the dial as quickly as I can for Dr. Gerald's phone number.
"Hello?" Dr. Gerald's gruff voice answers the phone.
"Dr. Gerald, this is Mary Alice Brandon, you must come to our house quickly. My sister Cynthia has fallen down the stairs and is badly hurt!"
"I'm on my way." he says quickly hanging up the phone.
I turn to run back to my mother and sister as the door opens and my father steps in.
"Oh Father." I choke on the tears I'm try to suppress. "Cynthia..."
My father drops his brief case and runs down the hallway to where my mother is holding my sister sobbing. As I follow slowly behind feeling like I'm in a dream, all I can think is - How did I know?
Well, let me know what you think so far. This is my first fan fiction so give me some feed back. Thanks!
