(A/N M'kay... Let's see... anything I feel I should mention... This story takes place about nine years after the series. Mhm... That's it... Enjoy!)
And I remember the sound
Of your November downtown
And I remember the truth
A warm December with you
But I don't have to make this mistake
And I don't have to stay this way
If only I would wake
-- Joshua Radin, "Winter"
Click!
Miriam watched the blender whirl into life. Today, her smoothie was just that—apples, bananas, and pears—and nothing more. Lamb was baking in the oven, a "just because" dinner that her family was unlikely to understand, and that she would be utterly incapable of explaining to them..
She threw a sideways glance to the clock as she poured the blender's contents into a coffee mug. The Felix Cat Clock indicated 4:00. She still had time—they wouldn't return for another two hours. Her husband was at work and her youngest daughter at play. Miriam took a sip of her smoothie and dumped what remained down the drain, setting the mug on a counter on her way to the living room.
She turned the television on and pulled a box out from the cleared space beneath it. The box was as ancient as a piece of cardboard should be permitted to be. It bulged at the sides, the dozens of videotapes it contained left to gather dust. Miriam had once tried to force her life onto tape. Her fans would one day wish to see it, once she was that famous singer-songwriter-actress everyone knew she could one day become. She sorted through the tapes until one label caught her eye: The Important Stuff!
Miriam ran a finger across the words and loaded the tape into the VHS.
--Play--
The television's image fizzled and changed to a beaming blond girl in her early teens.
"Hello, Future!" The image gave a peace sign and laughed. "To those of you who don't know, I'm Miriam Lyn Gallagher. And to my already adoring, cowering, and worshipping fans, I'm glad to see you again… Well… not see you… but.. um.. mmhm." She smiled awkwardly. "Well… Here we go! Let's see what I deemed worth remembering!"
The scene shifted a school stairwell, where a freshman Miriam was standing, looking peeved.
The voice was off-screen, a loud whisper. "C'mon! Do something!"
"Like what?" Miriam glowered.
"You told me to film you, and that's what I'm doing! Now you do something!" The view fell to the floor for a moment before focusing on Miriam. A brown-haired boy brushed between them and the camera followed him as he walked. The offscreen voice giggled. "'Big Bob' Pataki," she said dreamily, refocusing the camera on Miriam. "How 'bout that?"
Miriam rolled her eyes and threw her hands over her heart. "Oh, Bob! I WANT him," she screamed, sarcasm dripping from her voice. "That UNIBROW!"
Miriam's face fell a moment later, as Bob's voice came from the top of the steps. "What the…"
"Oh good lord." Miriam gulped, her voice suddenly tiny. Both she and the videographer made a mad dash down to the first floor, laughing in gasping breaths.
--Fast Forward--
The stage was hidden by deep red curtains, the lights dim. A man in a tuxedo held a microphone to his mouth. "Welcome, to Hillwood High School's Spring Concert. Tonight, we're going to open with a very talented young lady, who will be singing her first solo—a song she wrote herself. Hold your applause 'til the end, please!"
The curtains flew apart, and there stood Miriam, too small in the center of an otherwise empty stage. She smiled, noticing someone, perhaps whoever held the camera, and waited for the music to begin.
--Fast Forward--
"Okay, honey… Now one more twirl before your date gets here!"
Miriam, gussied up for homecoming, wrinkled up her nose and struck a pose for her mother. "Happy?"
The doorbell rang and Miriam rushed to answer it. Mrs. Gallagher's laughter could be heard as she zoomed in on the couple. "Aww… how cute! Bring him on in here!"
Miriam sighed and stood off to the side, letting her date walk in. "Mom, this is Bob. Bob, my mom."
Mrs. Gallagher's laughter subsided, voice amused. "Hey! Isn't this the kid from your video?" The camera zoomed in on Bob.
Bob blinked.
"No, Mom… I don't—"
"Yeah! You guys were on the stairs and—" Mrs. Gallagher's laughter returned.
"Okay! We gotta go now!" Miriam grabbed Bob's arm and pulled him out the door. She probably wouldn't have another chance to escape.
--Fast Forward--
"Okay, Olga, you can do it! Go hug Mommy!" Bob let go of the child's hands and the little girl walked forward.
Miriam set the camera on the ground and Bob picked it up in time to capture the scene of Miriam hugging her first-born. Olga was giggling, Miriam beaming with pride.
Miriam hit the fast forward button once more, watching various scene of her life speed by. Olga's countless recitals, Helga's sixth grade graduation, family reunions, Christmases and summer barbecues—everything good and happy.
She turned the TV off and pushed herself up, returning to the kitchen to check the lamb. She turned the temperature down and headed toward the stairs, flicking out lights as she went.
Her youngest daughter's bedroom was so pink, reflecting a personality rarely shown. Miriam knew about the closet and the secrets it contained. The poems were sweet and sad, but worthy of praise…someday. That girl could make something of herself, if only she would give her talents a bit of credit. Helga was rough around the edges, but that would change eventually; Miriam was certain of this.
Miriam smiled fondly and closed the door. As Miriam checked the remainder of the upstairs rooms for lights she had left on, she began to hum. After each room was inspected, she returned downstairs.
She stood by the counter, pen in hand, leaning over a notepad, her humming louder now.
Dear Bob, she scribbled. But something seemed wrong with writing this letter on a sticky note. Miriam scowled and ripped the note off, wadded it up, and flicked it into the space between the counter and the refrigerator.
She started writing again. The words were not what she expected, they were cliche and horrible, but they fulfilled their purpose.
Went out for doughnuts. Be back soon.
--Miriam
Sunlight flooded through sheer curtains as Miriam pulled her purse from the coat rack and stepped out into the street, a hum in her throat and a smile on her lips.
(A/N: Hope you enjoyed this first chapter! I may or may not finish it. There will only be two more chapters, if I do. Sorry if this reads a bit flat. I hardly had any time to work on it:/ Oh well! I had to write something down.This idea has been bubbling in my mind for months now! xD)
