Chapter Ten
Susan H
Sally turned the key and entered her tiny efficiency. She sat on her couch/bed and pulled a worn rag doll to her chest. She ran her fingers through the doll's yarn hair. She pulled her feet up on the couch and thought about the night her life changed.
Her mother braided her hair and cradled her in the rocker while humming. Sally laid her head on Mommy's shoulder and smelled her hair. She loved it because it always smelled like summer morning. She traced her silver and blue butterfly pendant, and rubbed the silky ribbon with the tip of her finger.
"I love this necklace Mommy."
"One day, I will give it to you. You can wear it on your wedding day. Something old and blue."
"Old and blue?"
"Yes, there is a superstition about weddings that says the bride should wear something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue."
"But you said I shouldn't be superstidious"
"That's very true. I was just talking silly."
Mommy squeezed her.
"Mommy, will Daddy yell at you today?"
"Sometimes grownups yell at each other Sally."
"Sometimes they don't, too"
"Well your daddy and I agree on one thing. You are our special girl, and we love you. Okay?"
"Okay."
"Would you like to make some cookies?"
"Can I break the eggs?"
"Absolutely. You can surprise Daddy with his favorite cookies."
"Chocolate Chip!"
***
Daddy came home, and thanked her for the chocolate chip cookies. He was surprised. He danced with her through the house and gave her a thank you kiss. After dinner, and cookies for dessert, he tucked her in bed and read a story to her and Dolly.
In the present, Sally thought deeper, pulling every detail from the deepest area of her brain. The story had been Rumpelstiltskin.
Sally asked a lot of questions. How could straw be spun into gold? It was her favorite story, but she still didn't understand it. She had pulled a straw out of her glass and spun it as fast as she could. But it never turned to gold. It never changed at all. The most important part of the story was that the queen got to keep her baby.
Daddy kissed her goodnight, and kissed Dolly goodnight. The door closed and Sally concentrated on the sliver of light bleaching her carpet under the door. She imagined floating on a sliver of light and meeting a rainbow. She imagined children sliding and playing with her on the ribbon of color.
Soon she was dreaming of a strange little man with a strange name coming after the beautiful Queen's baby. But the Queen outwitted him. When he fell through the hole in the ground, blue and silver butterflies fluttered out of the hole and surrounded the queen and her baby.
Shouting penetrated her favorite dream, and Sally changed from her nightgown to a dress. She liked to pretend she was leaving for someplace else when her parents fought. She never left, but pretending comforted her. She remembered rocking and singing to her little dolly until the loud bang. The silence scared her.
She pattered down the stairs clutching Dolly. Grandma and Daddy sat at the kitchen table whispering.
"You never liked her mother, but this was insane, you went too far."
"Watch your tongue son. Someone had to end this monstrosity."
Her daddy looked up. "Hello sweetheart. Did we wake you?"
"Where's Mommy?"
"She left. Did you hear the door slam?"
"Was that the door Daddy?"
"Yes sweetie."
"You poor dear. Come home with Grammy. Daddy has to pour cement to make a driveway, and you'll have more fun at my house."
"Is Mommy coming back? I want Mommy."
"I don't know numchkin. But I am a Grand mommy, and I am your Daddy's mommy, do you think you can be happy with me for a while?"
Grammy hugged her and smelled like old talcum powder.
Sally cried while her grandmother packed her bags.
Sally drew in a cleansing breath. She tucked the memories below the surface and picked up her phone. He answered after three rings.
"Hi Daddy. How are you?"