A little light reading to end the day! Enjoy!
Nice To Meet You, Anyway
"Can you please pass the stuffing Annabelle"? The Senator said in a cold tone.
Annabelle reach to her right and with both hands lifted the serving dish and handed it to her mother and said, "Here you go" in an indifferent manner.
So, Annabelle, how has your first semester at college gone so far"? Annabelle's grandfather, Thomas Tillman asked.
"Actually pretty well grandpa. I love my schedule and my classes are a bit time consuming, but I like the work and of course the music courses are my favorite. I have also reconnected with my best friend from high school, you remember me talking about Collins right"? Annabelle replied.
"Yes, dear, I remember you mentioning her a lot, you always said that she helped you get through your last two years in high school" The elder Tillman responded.
"Is she at school with you now dear"? Annabelle's grandmother, Caroline Tillman asked.
"Yes she is, I ran into her on the first day of classes, she is actually in my English class, talk about coincidence and fate" Annabelle replied with a smile and a shrug.
"Well I am glad to hear that sweetie, everyone needs that one best friend, and I am happy that you both are still friends" Caroline stated while lightly tapping her hand on Annabelle's.
Senator Tillman just sat in silence eating what was left on her plate during this meal that was on a day set aside to give thanks. It was a small gathering of relatives, mostly from Annabelle's father's side of the family. It had been a long time since Annabelle actually looked forward to being around her relatives.
She was even hoping to get a chance to talk with her mother about everything that she has been going through while at Cal, as well has her rehab meetings. But each time she looked over to say something to her mother, all she noticed was a stern, cold, and distant look on her face. So Annabelle kept her distance throughout dinner, just focusing on her grandparents and a few older cousins that were sitting nearby.
The clatter of the dishes being cleared signaled everyone that Thanksgiving dinner was over and dessert was the next course. Everyone began to take demur bites of their various flavors of pie, Annabelle was now taking bites of pie with the ice cream on top. In her quest to be different all these years, Annabelle would forgo the whipped cream as would be the more common topping, for a big scoop of vanilla bean ice cream that would melt over the warm pumpkin slice. She quickly finished her dessert, and then decided at that moment to lean over closer to her mother and say, "Can we talk later"?
"Later" was all The Senator would mumble out to her daughter.
Annabelle politely excused herself from the table and climbed the stairs at a rapid pace in order to get to her room quickly so she could let out the frustrated sigh she was holding in after the dinner that mostly had Senator Tillman sitting in silence next to her daughter who was trying her best to reach out to her mother.
She got out her phone to send a message to the receiver that was only a few miles away.
You done eating? -A
Yep, I'm sooo full!- C
Me 2! Just wntd to say hey.. HEY!!-A
HEY urself!- C
Plz tell ur family hello for me, I will call u ltr!-A
K, will do! U o.k.? –C
Yeah, mom is being mom is all.. – A
Sorry!- C
No worries tho. Talk at ya ltr!-A
Ltr!!- C
Annabelle just wanted to feel some kind of connection to anyone, especially on this day that was supposed to be a day to give thanks.
Annabelle was thankful, for everything that she had suddenly going on in her life, she was thankful that she had been given a second and in some cases a third chance at straightening herself and her life out. She knows deep down that she is one of the lucky ones.
She had plenty of people to turn to for support during her travels down that dark road, but the one person she was reaching out for, needing to make a connection, needing to have an that understanding that everything would be alright, just never seemed to materialize. She was always just out of Annabelle's reach. She knew she had a difficult task ahead of her.
Annabelle was ready to tear down her own walls and embrace the mother that she had in the past tried so hard to give up and render her unreachable. She decided to stand firm in her belief that she deserved to be loved by the woman who gave her life. She believed that all the things she learned about forgiveness and making amends were going to be the final piece that had been missing between her and the Senator's puzzle of an existence.
"Mom, are you in there"? Annabelle stated quietly as she lightly knocked on the door to the den.
"Come in" Annabelle's mother replied in a quiet tone.
Annabelle entered the room and noticed her mother sitting at her desk looking through what looked like her calendar with a furrowed brow.
"You leaving soon"? Annabelle asked already knowing that her mother was looking at the many dates listed in the book with red, blue and black writing signifying important meetings and out of town appearances.
"Sunday night" The Senator replied.
Annabelle pulled a chair away from her mother's desk that was covered in memo after memo about budget cuts, appropriations, upcoming debate topics and anything else that one would see on an elected official's desk.
The Senator did have one reminder that she was something other than the stern and savvy politician she had worked so hard to turn herself into, she had just one piece of evidence on display that showed she was a mother and had been someone's wife.
The picture rested itself near the jar of uneaten candies, like that was the area on the desk reserved for frivolity, but was kept separate from the ninety-nine percent of the other desk that was reserved for the cold hard facts of life of helping a the state of California run smoothly.
The picture reflected a far away past, one that was full of color, life, love and most of all passion. Now it sat alone as only a reminder of happier times, but didn't seem to have a place in the Senator's life anymore, in reality, the placement of the picture was not in direct view if one was sitting at the desk going about the daily tasks of phone calls and emails, it could have just been someone else's family in that frame for all Victoria Tillman knew.
But Annabelle knew better, when she reached for the picture to find herself in between two people who she had once been able to hold on to each hand and felt safe and that all was right in the world.
A slight smile drifted over her face at the remembrance of her father's insistence that they go to the beach that day. He also insisted that Annabelle be allowed to get an ice cream cone as a treat to which said ice cream cone ended up dotting Annabelle's outfit with brown splotches as it fell to the ground after the second lick. If you looked close enough at the picture, you can see the remnants of the ice cream on her shirt as well as around her mouth.
"Those stains never came out" The Senator sighed.
"Well, it was good while it lasted" Annabelle replied while still staring at the family in the frame in her hands.
Victoria Tillman looked up from her calendar and said "What did you want to talk about Annabelle"? in a tone that wasn't as cold as usual, but still a bit on the chilly side.
"I just wanted to, um, I wanted to just air some things out with you, talk about what is going on in my life, in your life, you know like a mother and daughter" Annabelle stated in a hopeful tone.
"Annabelle, I really- The Senator was interrupted by Annabelle saying, "Don't worry, never mind, it's not important, I know now is probably not a good time, so".
Annabelle got up to leave when her mother said "Wait, Annabelle, I was going to say that I really would like that. I know you have been working hard at making some changes in your life, and I know I am busy, but, I would like to set some time aside while you are on Winter break from school".
"I would really like that" Annabelle stated as she moved past the chair and around the desk. She was now standing in front of her mother, who looked so much older than she really was after many years on the campaign trail as well as many emotionally draining years having Annabelle as her more than rebellious daughter.
Right before her mother spoke again, the phone rang and soon Victoria Tillman was back into Senator mode as she rolled her chair back in the direction of the ringing and picked it up and said "Hello, this is Senator Tillman".
Annabelle stood in place for just a minute, and then realized that the barrier that seemed to be slowly falling away between them, just for a split second, was back in place in the same amount of time. She moved away from the desk and turned to leave, looking back just once only to see her mother completely engrossed in what sounded like some kind of schedule or agenda change for her upcoming trip. Annabelle took her signal to leave, and exited quietly.
___________________________________________________________________________
"Hey" Collins said cheerily into her phone.
"Hey" Annabelle said in a more somber tone.
"Is everything alright"? Collins replied.
"Yeah, I just thought I would catch an early flight back to school" Annabelle said in an even tone.
"Why? What happened"? Collins asked.
"Nothing, just that my mom left already this morning and I didn't want to be here in this big house by myself, so I figure I would get back early and just chill tomorrow before classes on Monday" Annabelle replied.
"You can hang out here you know" Collins responded.
"I know, but I know you have other relatives staying with you and really, I am fine heading back early. I will see your parents during Winter break and will definitely crash at your place a time or two then" Annabelle stated hoping that Collins would just agree with her decision.
"Oh, okay, um, did you need a ride"? Collins questioned.
"No, my mom's chauffeur said he would take me later on this evening" Annabelle responded.
"Okay, but please call me when you get back to the dorms so I know you got in okay" Collins said in a motherly tone.
"Yes mom" Annabelle snickered.
"That's right missy" Collins retorted.
"Oh, um, Cheyenne says hello" Collins stated in a quieter tone.
"Tell the kiddo I said 'hey' as well" Annabelle replied.
"Okay, we will catch up when I get back Sunday night" Collins stated as she heard her mother calling her from downstairs to help with the dishes.
"You got it! Bye" Annabelle exclaimed.
"Bye" Collins replied.
_____________________________________________________________________________
The gate was filled with people trying to get out of Los Angeles on this brisk Saturday evening. Annabelle had gotten to the airport with much time to spare, she decided to sprawl out by the window that faced the runway instead of sitting in a chair to wait for the cattle call to board the airplane.
She had her headphones on relishing in the peace the music gave her as she closed her eyes listening more intently to the words and thinking how this song would sound if her and the boys were playing it live. She started to bob her head a little to the beat of the music getting more lost into the song with each note. Once the song ended, she opened her eyes and was about to reach down to grab her water bottle when she noticed the space next to her was now occupied.
As she reached for her water, she turned to get a better look at who decided to invade her space when she noticed a girl with long brunette hair was smiling shyly at her. Annabelle politely smiled back before she took a sip of her water.
"Hi" The brunette said.
"Hi" Annabelle replied wondering why this girl was staring at her so intently.
"Um, I know this sounds random, but are you in a band"? The brunette stated as she turned to face Annabelle more fully.
"Yeah, actually I am why"? Annabelle asked.
"You just looked familiar. I was at Merkle's last Friday night and I thought you looked like the girl that was playing with the band" The brunette said while shrugging.
"Yep, that was me and the boys. Actually, that was my first show with them, well, it was my first live show with anyone" Annabelle replied.
"Well, you guys were great and you would never have known that it was your first show" The brunette said with a smile.
"I was so nervous, but Jason and the boys are great and they helped to calm me down by joking around. So do you, sorry what is your name"? Annabelle asked.
"My name is Lita, nice to meet you Annabelle" The brunette said while sticking out her hand.
Nice to meet you to Lita, and how did you, oh, yeah, that's right, the introductions at the show, wow you remembered all that"? Annabelle questioned as she let go of LIta's hand.
"Yeah, you are the only girl, but really, you sounded great, hard to forget a voice like that" Lita stated shyly.
"Thanks, so I take it you go to Cal"? Annabelle asked.
"Yeah, this is my first year as a grad student. I am assisting in the College of Environmental Design, basically I grade papers for Dr. Craig and edit his notes for lectures, but I get my Master's paid for, so I can't complain.
"Wow, what is your degree in"? Annabelle asked.
"Urban design. My undergrad was in Architecture, but this will give me a little more hands on experience with places like Berkeley as well as other cities downtown areas" Lita replied unsure if Annabelle was interested in what she was saying.
"That sounds interesting, so do you want to design buildings"? Annabelle questioned.
"Yes, but also the area around those buildings and work on how everything functions together. What about you, what are you working toward"? Lita asked.
"Well my major is music, but I am only in my freshman year, so I have a ways to go" Annabelle stated with a small sigh.
"Oh, that makes sense, well, you seem to have a handle on this music stuff already so I am sure you will sail right through your classes. Did you say you were only a freshman"? Lita replied looking confused.
Just as Annabelle was about to respond, they heard the first call to board the plane. Annabelle checked her ticket and said, "That's me, the first part of the herd to get on the plane".
"Nice to meet you Annabelle, good luck with everything"! Lita stated as they both stood up to collect their carry on items.
"Nice to meet you too, and oh, we have one more show before Winter break at Merkle's next Friday night. So if you aren't doing anything, bring your friends and well, anyone else you can find"! Annabelle said as she waved and smiled back at the brunette.
"Yeah, that sounds great, see you then"! Lita replied with a wide grin.
Annabelle found her seat quickly. She put her headphones back on and leaned her forehead on the window and gazed into the hazy sunset thinking about how she had left things with her mother, that maybe there was actually a glimmer of hope for some kind of reconciliation.
She then noticed the notes of the next song filtering into her brain that quickly reminded her of a certain blonde-haired professor she would be gazing at in person come Monday morning. Annabelle began to let a smile creep up on her face but soon she was letting the last few days activities weigh heavy on her eyes and she began to drift off to sleep while hearing:
And
it's amazing And if I told you And I
saw And I'm surrounded And I saw The days are And I saw
With the look in your eyes
Like you could save
me
But you won't even try
And then you tell me again
How
everything will be alright
That I'm
sorry
Would you tell me that you were wrong
Or would you hold
me down forever
If I came to your for answers
Pictures in my head
And I swear I saw you opening up,
again
You spill
All alive and brand
new
And I'll forget about you long enough
To forget why I need
to
Pictures in my head
And I swear I saw you
opening up again
Cause I would be heavenly if
Baby you'd just
rescue me now
Drifting away from me
I still
wake up
Burning through everything now
Pictures
in my head
And I swear I saw you opening up again
I would be
heavenly if
Baby you'd just rescue me now
Pictures in my head
I
saw you opening up again
Cause I would be heavenly if
Baby
you'd just rescue me now
Yes, the journey is taking some turns, as always, hold on tight….
Song is "I Saw" by Matt Nathanson
Peace and love to all!!!!