5
The first treasure unwrapped was a small figurine. It was a girl dressed in a short white frilly dress with matching hat. She was posed on one foot with the opposite leg outstretched behind her and arms out to the side like delicate wings. Even her boots were the same sparkling white with silver blades on each sole.
Skye stared at it in wonder as she quickly shoved both hands under her legs. She marveled at how the fine glitter shimmered in the sunlight that trickled into the room through the large double glass doors of the patio. It spun on the delicate string William held between two fingers. The little girl watched as it pirouetted clockwise, then counterclockwise. He held it out to her but the child leaned back and shook her head.
"Is she a princess?" Skye exhaled softly. "I ain't never seen a real princess." She shook her head as she whispered almost to herself and stuffed her hands further beneath her.
William motioned gain for her to take the small object. "Would you like to hold her?"
"Uh ah," Skye shook her head quickly. "I ain't so good with breaky stuff." She glanced quickly at the thick black belt her grandfather wore.
William looked to May who very subtly shook her head. He drew the figurine closer to his gaze. "Your mo…Mellie was a fine skater when she was a small girl just a bit older than you are now."
Skye smiled at the use of the name William had for her May.
"She spent many hours on the ice perfecting her ability." He added.
"And collecting bruises," May snorted as she reached for the small object.
"It's real pretty." Skye remarked, watching May smile at the little treasure.
William nodded and crinkled a bit of paper as he unwrapped a second mystery. He held it up in the same fashion. It was not quite as pretty as the first. This appeared to be some kind of snowman, but it was more grey than white. It had but one eye and the orange stub that was probably once a full carrot was now no more than a dot. Its hat had a chip on one side revealing a papier-mâché interior.
Skye squirmed as her fingers began to tingle, squished between her bent knees. "That one don't look so good." She scrunched up her nose wondering why it was wrapped so neatly when it looked so yucky.
William chuckled as he spun the sad little snowman just has he had the skating princess. "Mr. Xuěrén has not had an easy life." He shook his head. "He was the favorite of a little girl that had such slippery fingers. Many times he was dropped and many times I put him back together because of her tears. See here," he leaned forward and pointed to a jagged line around the little figure's head. "After I repaired his head he earned a special spot at the top of the tree where a certain little girl could not reach."
Skye stared at the little snowman, looked at May and then back at William. She swallowed once and looked a May again, but spoke to William. "Did the little girl get hit with a belt cuz she broked it when it was spensive."
William stop, his smile quickly fading. May set the ice skater on the tissue paper in the box and pulled Skye into the space formed by her criss-crossed legs. She took the little girl's hands in her own and wrapped her arms around her, kissing the top of her head. Even in the midst of this season of supposed joy, this little girl was still haunted by the terrors she survived. Even a moment of family memories ignited that memory.
William's eyes met his daughters and caught the unspent tears there. He opened his mouth to speak, then closed it quickly, at a loss for the right words. For a moment he simply watched as May silently comforted his granddaughter, then shook his head and smiled again.
"No, no wǒ kě'ài de háizi, it was an accident. That little girl loved this snowman and wanted so much to hold him and love him, but she was just a little girl and sometimes things just slip. Every time we repaired him and he still hangs on our tree every year. He is still our favorite." He held it out and May took it, gently laying it Skye's palm.
The little girl looked at it for a few seconds, then up at her grandfather. "You keeped it even though it's all broke and dirty." She waited for an answer.
"I kept him because he was…he is Mellie's favorite." He smiled broadly, "and mine."
Skye turned the small light figure in her hand. "He got hurt lotsa times but ya kept fixin' him. Ya didn't throw him away cuz he got dirty."
"No, Skye," May squeezed the little girl gently. "We kept him because he is important to us."
"Because we love him," William smiled again as he picked up the ice skater and held it out to her.
May repeated her previous action, placing the delicate figurine in Skye's opposite palm. She held her hand beneath it. The little girl smiled at her then stared at the figures in her hands.
"I still think the princess is the beautifulest, but he's my favorite too." She bounced the little snowman gently.
May smiled at her father and kissed the top of Skye's head again.
"Very good," William clapped his hands. "Now, let us see what other treasures we can uncover." He reached into the box and pulled out another carefully wrapped object.
May placed the already unwrapped figures on the nearest table and sighed as Skye leaned back against her, resting her very warm hands on May's knees. She told herself it was from the little girl sitting on her hands for so long, but glanced at the clock and gave herself about thirty minutes before making another temperature check.
xx
Thirty minutes came and went as William continued to unwrap pieces of May's past. A bright red ball covered with gold speckles, a panda figurine, a shiny pink and white bauble printed with 'baby's first Christmas'. William smiled at the small object and recalled how he had purchased it on a whim about a week before the holiday. He told a mesmerized Skye that his mama had come from China and his own baba was born in California, as was his grandfather. His family was Christian, having lived in small villages visited by missionaries before immigrating to this country. Great-grandma May was a Buddhist. So William grew up with a mixture of both religions, then married a woman who practiced none. He had chosen at the last minute to bring home a tree and decorate for his new daughter. He laughed saying it was no more than a branch compared to the monster in the corner of that grown daughter's living room. Lian had growled and grumbled but relented and the little tree stood on a small table with no lights and but one little pink and white ornament. He smiled at his daughter then told Skye it was the start of the tradition he and his Mellie had with collecting Christmas 'treasures'.
Skye took the little ornament and held it carefully, examining the gold lettering. "We never had these kinda ormints on the tree at S'agnes. We just made 'em outta paper." She shook her head. "And we never had no lights on the tree."
William grinned as he took the small ornament back and placed it on the table with all of the others they had already unwrapped. He reached into the box and pulled a rectangular object out, holding up with a wrinkle crossing his brown. "Hmmm, this does not look familiar. I do not believe it is one of our old treasures." He said to Melinda as he gave the little box a gentle shake. It too was wrapped, but not just with white tissue paper tucked around it to keep it safe from breakage. This box was carefully wrapped with red tissue and taped neatly on both ends.
Melinda looked for a moment then shook her head. "No, I don't think I've seen that one before."
William peered at the box for a few seconds then placed it back in the box. "I guess we should leave it."
Skye's eyebrows raised as she leaned closer to the box. She had climbed up onto the couch to sit next to William as he unwrapped his surprises. "Don't ya wanna know what it is?" She asked the box, without looking at May or William.
"It is not mine. I am not sure I should." Willliam shook his head and looked to May. "Mellie?"
May held up a hand and stifled a smile. "Nope, not mine." She shook her head.
"Ya could still see, maybe ya just forgot ya put it there." Skye argued.
William lifted the small box again, holding it up and staring at it from all angles. "No, I am sure this is not one of our old memories." He looked to Skye and raised his brows then held it toward her. "Perhaps, since you are new to these treasures, you should removed the wrapping?" He nodded and moved it closer to the little girl.
Skye's eyes widened. She sat back and quickly cast a glance toward May who simply smiled and gave a just as quick nod. Skye gave a shy smile and took the box, holding it carefully and staring at it for a few seconds. She shook her head and held it out to William.
"It ain't mine either. I don't wanna break it." Her voice sounded a combination of sadness and remorse.
William pushed it back. "No, I think you are the best person to open this special box. Perhaps it is something that will surprise you."
Skye looked at the box she still held out toward William, then looked up into his eyes. "I already got lotsa s'prizes just lookin in this box."
William reached out and pulled the little girl to his lap. He wrapped an arm around her and smiled at May. "How about if we open it together? I help you and you help me." He held the little girl's hands with the box resting there. "I will hold the box and you can take off the paper.
Skye hesitated for a moment, but her curiosity overcame her caution. She nodded and slowly, carefully peeled away the tape at the top of the small box. Melinda smiled at her father as they watched the little girl very gingerly remove the red tissue paper to reveal a plain white box. She looked up at William and smiled at her success. He turned the box on it side and motioned for her to lift the top. The little girl took a quick breath and did just that. Her eyes widened as she peered inside then looked quickly to William, silently asking permission to lift the object free. He smiled back and nodded.
"This treasure is special for you, sunnu. It is your first memory for this holiday." William beamed.
Skye cradled the small object in both hands, slid off her grandfather's lap and almost tiptoed to May. She smiled as she held out the ornament to her. May looked for a moment then took a breath to keep the sob she felt rising at bay. She looked up at her father in awe.
"Where…" she started.
"I have my sources, Mellie. Your mother is not the only one to have friends in special walks of life." He smiled back.
"Ain't it beautiful?" Skye breathed softly, snuggling back down in front of May in order to see the treasure up close.
May nodded. The small figure was an older man holding a little girl up to place a star at the top of a tree, while a younger woman watched. On the base it read, Our First Christmas, Yeye, Mama and Skye. May smiled at the words and ran her finger across them. Written in script, Skye was unable to decipher the words. She placed her small finger atop May's as she read them to the child.
William shrugged and frowned just a bit. "I am sorry it does not say May. I can have it changed."
Skye shook her head quickly and pulled the object and May's hands to her chest. "Uh uh, Yeye. It's okay. Please let it be our first treasure tagether. May is my mom. She just is my May too."
Melinda hugged the little girl to her heart and kissed the top of her head then mouthed 'thank you' to her father.
Skye glanced up over her brows. "Is this really mine for keeps?" She asked softly. At his nod she sighed and laid her hand over the tiny monkey charm that hung on the delicate chain around her neck. "Two presents for keeps, just for me?" The little girl was completely baffled. "I don't never get presents, speshly two in one whole day."
"Ah, but there are so many surprises for new granddaughters," William laughed softly.
Skye leaned back turning into May and resting her cheek against the woman's shoulder. May rested her cheek against the child's, feeling the heat that had risen since her last 'lip check'. She whispered in the little girl's ear. Skye could not keep her eyes off the little figure in her hands. She nodded slowly and turned toward William.
"See-a see-a," she tried to repeat the mandarin word for thank you, May had whispered to her.
"You are most welcome, sunnu." William grinned.
May lifted the little girl to her feet and pushed herself to stand. "I think we've had enough surprises for a while, kid." She turned the little girl and frowned at the deep red blush on her cheeks. Quickly she pressed one hand to the child's forehead and the other to the back of her neck. She put out a hand to Skye who stepped back and shook her head.
"I wanna help fix the tree to look like Mrs. Gibbons." She protested almost in tears.
"Skye," Melinda warned softly. "We had a deal. Didn't we?"
"But…" the little girl started, but stopped at Melinda's raised brow.
William reached across the small divide and took the little girl's hand. He too felt the warmth. "I too feel the need for a nap. We have been so busy and this big tree will wait for us." He pulled Skye closer and kissed her forehead.
Skye nodded and held the new treasure out to her grandfather for safe keeping. He closed her hand around it and shook his head.
"No, sunnu, you take this. Keep it with you. It will be the first decoration we place on your beautiful tree." William smiled as he stood and took the little girl into his arms. She wrapped her arms around his neck, never letting go of her new treasure.
William carried the child to her room, placing her on the bed before kissing the top of her head and wishing her well as he left the room. Twenty minutes later, after a temperature check of almost one hundred three and a dose of fever reducer, Skye was asleep. The figurine depicting her new family stood on the nightstand next to the box that held her lantern ornament.
May screwed the top back on the jar of arnica and stood watching the little girl sleep. Immunizations were necessary, the diseases they prevented much worse than the reaction but she still hated to see the kid suffer. Skye had more than her share of suffering in her eight years. She tucked the light blanket around the little girl and stood back as her father approached behind.
"She will be fine, Mellie." He reassured her. "You are doing what is best for this very special little one." He rested a hand on her shoulder as they turned and walked from the room. Melinda pulled the door closed with a soft click.
They moved back to the living room and began picking the small wads of tissue paper from the table and floor, placing it back into the box. Melinda smiled as she lifted a forgotten object from beneath the paper. She laughed as she pulled back the tissue revealing a popsicle stick frame covered with elbow macaroni, painted gold and drowned in glitter. The picture in it was faded with age but she recognized the younger image of her father kneeling down to fit into frame with the toothless little girl smiling next to him.
William took the frame from her hands. "You were five years old," he chuckled. "And so excited I had to unwrap the gift the day you came from school with it." He handed it back.
"I can't believe it's still in one piece." Melinda smiled as she set the frame on the long table next to the red dragon. "Skye will get a kick out of it."
"She has seen much." William's voice turned serious. "Her fear shows although she tries hard to hide it."
Melinda nodded as she moved to the kitchen and filled the kettle. "All the questions about breaking things and being punished?"
William nodded, taking two cups and saucers from the cabinet and placing them on the table. "Did she fear I would harm her?" He was saddened by the thought.
"She was beaten by a man with a belt for breaking a damn ashtray." Melinda spat through her teeth. "She talks about it like we discuss the weather…like it's some damn everyday thing." She balled her fists and thumped them on the edge of the counter.
William wrapped his hands around his daughter's fists. "You cannot change what has been, Mellie. You can only affect what will be."
Melinda smiled through her anger. Her father had said those words to her many times as she grew, as she overcame regrets and mistakes. Yet it was so much easier to work past her own misadventures than this little kid's tragedies. She slipped her hands free and moved to the pantry to retrieve the tea.
"When she got here she was covered with all these egg shaped bruises on her arms and thighs." Melinda shook her head and tried to quell her rising anger. "She told me it was from one of the nuns at that hell hole swatting her with a wooden spoon."
William grinned. "I recall your mother wielding a spoon much the same."
Melinda shook her head. "She threatened with it and the one, ONE, time she did use it there were no bruises left behind." She slammed the tea tin on the table. "She had a bruise across her backside this wide." She held her finger and thumb about two inches apart. "Those damn b.." she glanced at her father and then shook her head. "Those witches beat her for being who she was, not because of anything she did, just for being a clumsy little kid." She slammed her fist against the table.
William pulled out a chair and selected a calming tea to brew. "Skye is safe now, Mellie. She will not have those worries again."
"She never should have been, Baba. Someone should have saved her…someone should have noticed." May shook her head.
"You did," William stopped her. "You saved her."
Melinda closed her eyes and drew a deep breath before sipping her tea. She nodded at her father and he did the same.
xx
Skye tiptoed across her room and listened at the door. She could be quiet, very quiet, quiet enough that May wouldn't hear. Yeye and May were talking. She could hear their muffled voices but really didn't understand their words. She slid her feet back across the floor because sliding didn't make noise at all. Once there she dropped to her knees, then her belly and crawled beneath the bed.
The little girl wriggled to the far side of the area and pulled a yellow notebook from above one of the box springs slats. She lifted her self on her elbows and paged through the book, counting the small x's on each page even though the tally number was written in childish scrawl at the bottom with green crayon on two pages, blue on one and red on the others. Skye counted the pages as well. She'd filled five full pages and half of another. It was the most pages she'd ever covered. She smiled as she pressed the stub of crayon to the page and made one more jagged X then brushed away the little pieces of wax that crumbled off.
If anyone found this strange record they'd think it nothing more than a child's attempt to create notes. To Skye it was a way to keep track of her time. She'd done it at every foster place. She'd never filled this many pages. Most of the time she didn't even fill one. The little girl would go through this ritual There were two days on the weekend and sometimes if she was sick she forgot, but she was pretty sure she kept a good enough count to know she'd been with May almost six months. That made her happy, but also sad and scared.
She'd never been with anyone that long, but May said it was forever. Other fosters said forever too, but they sent her back anyway. May said she wasn't a foster, she was a real honest to goodness home for real and Skye wanted so much to believe her. May didn't lie. She never once told Skye one thing that wasn't true. She told her shots would hurt and she told her she'd get them in her pigu. That was the Chinese word for butt. Skye didn't like it, but she was glad May didn't lie or try to trick her.
But stuff happened. It always happened and she got sent back. Skye stared at the mark she'd made and traced it with one finger. She turned back and looked at all of the x's…all x's, no sad mouths. That little upside down smile was Skye's mark for a bad day, a day when she got hit or locked in a room or went without dinner because she talked to loud or made a mess or broke something. She caressed each page with a soft touch and traced each number before closing the book and folding her hands on top of it. She closed her eyes and bowed her head.
"God?" The little girl peeked up with one eye, ignoring the bottom of the box springs a few inches above her head. "It's me, Sk…er, Mary Sue." She whispered her real name cuz it was God and well, ya had to be all honest to him. "I really like May and now I gotta Yeye too. I only been bad a little bit and May don't let it go but she don't hit me so…" she paused and peeked up again. "Maybe this time you could let me stay here. I know I ain't a good pray-er, but maybe you could hear me just this one time." She opened her eyes and let out a soft sigh then quickly folded her hands again and put her forehead to them. "Please…" she whispered then rolled over and stashed her notebook back in it's spot between the box springs and the slat that kept them in place.
The child wriggled out from under the bed and climbed back onto the mattress, pulling the blanket over herself then snuggling into her pillow, with Willie in her arms. Skye let out a wide yawn and struggled to keep her eyes open for a few minutes before sleep took her again.