DISCLAIMER AS YOU KNOW Except for Um…a lot of people in this chapter…Haha
National Treasure Insert: Ben's niece
Hi. I'm Rose. Daughter of Sarah Gates. Niece of Benjamin Franklin Gates, granddaughter of Emily Appleton, and Patrick Gates. My dad left before I was born, because my mom…well I wasn't exactly planned, per say. I saw nana a lot. But I only see my grandfather a few times a year. I never remembered seeing my uncle Ben in my life. My mom said he was a great guy, but she lost touch with him long ago. I loved my mom like crazy. She was my FFL (friend for life), she only had one flaw. That I ever noticed. She dated. I mean I didn't like my father, but I don't need one. I lived practically all my life without a dad. I'm fine! I'm great at gymnastics and dancing, and I loved cheer team. I also like running, and karate, so I had to quit gymnastics. But that was okay. I live in a small cute house in NY. We were planning on moving to Baltimore at the end of the school year and it was June. So everything was basically in boxes except for essentials and a couple other things.
It started when I was 10. Almost 11(though people say I am quite mature I blush when I here this). "I have a date tonight." My mother squealed. She stopped dating for me, but eventually I told her that, I'm just not ready to have another father so, please no marriage. She agreed. "I have a date with algebra." I told her watching her do her makeup from the doorway of the bathroom. "We're only going dancing and out to diner so I should be back in three hours at most. Okay?"
"Okay. Have fun. Miss ya, love ya." I said giving her an air smooch. We decided that was what cool moms did. She wobbled out to the drive-way in her high-heels as best she could. I was studying for my science test when I checked the time. It had been five hours since she left. It was a school night. She should be back by now…I decided against calling her because I didn't know where the date was or if her date was drunk or what, so I'd let her handle it. An hour later I was close to tears. 15 more minutes as I picked up the phone I nearly dropped it because it rang in my grasp. 911? Why would they call me?
"Hello?" I answered cautiously. "Is this Rose Gates speaking?"
"This is she." I answered still cautious. "Your mother…has…well she passed away about two hours ago in a shooting at a dance club, do you have anyone else with you?" The gruff voice asked me. I was open mouthed in shock and panic mode. I gasped and when I remembered how to exhale I said, "No. All relatives of ours live in Baltimore, and Philadelphia. We-I- have no neighbors either." I chocked out. "We'll send a squad car out for you Ms. Gates. I'm very sorry." I nodded as if he could see me. After I hung up. I called my best friend Chelsea. "Oh, my God! I'm so sorry Rose!" Chelsea cried. She was sobbing. I was still in the shock phase. "It's…I'm…will you meet me at my house ASAP?" I begged.
"Absolutely. I'll be right over."
Surprisingly enough and gladly she got here before the squad car. When I opened the door, she threw her arms around me. My body wracked with sobs, so I sobbed into her shoulder for an hour. She was done sobbing but she still cried. Most people in the small town we lived in knew my mom as the woman who devoted her life to others. Which was the best title, and was the worst. It's an understatement, she- I can't even put it into words. "It's okay honey. Shh…calm down." Chelsea soothed me. I eventually was just in crying, instead of sobs. When people could finally talk to me, I didn't respond. "Are you okay?" I shook my head to everyone that asked. "Who are you're close relatives?" A police officer asked me. I shook my head. "Why don't you call you're closest relative near here?" Chelsea's mom asked, gently. She was on the force. I nodded, and called nana. Though I wasn't sure how close she lived she was the one who'd understand me the best. She'd know how to react unlike me, when my mom was gone, my senses for maturity left me for quite a while too. When nana arrived at the hospital two hours later she squeezed me into an un-breathable hug. I sobbed again. Then she did, and then she resulted into crying like me. But she did stop way sooner than me. "Honey, I'm so, so, so, so sorry. I can't believe this is actually happening to us. To us all." Nana hushed me. Arrangements were made. Nana would stay at my house until after the funeral, then court would begin. The funeral was in four days. I gave my grandma a hug and went to bed. At 4 in the morning I woke up walked straight up to the toilet and vomited.
Nana heard me and held back my hair tears streaked down our cheeks. Around 5 A.M., I finally stopped with the on and off sickness. I found out that nana had called my Uncle Ben. And that Grandfather and him were coming the day before the funeral, so three days. I cried some more. I could tell nana didn't like the fact that my grandfather was coming, but soaked in it was his daughter, too. I hadn't spoken since when I found out. Nothing came. Just vomit. I went back to bed and slept until 9 am. My nana decided since my vomiting I could stay home from school. I'd probably just get sympathy about everything anyways. All I did all afternoon was cry over architecture books, and other books. Mostly architecture, though. Still no speech. "You want some lunch, dear?" Nana asked from the kitchen. I shook my head no from the couch, knees clutched to my chest. I started writing a speech, for the funeral. It just explained how giving, devoted, and just overall great a person my mother truly was, though she could have been someone so terrible since she didn't get the normal aspects someone might usually have like a husband. (Though I didn't read it at all, not even at the funeral). The days passed up to the funeral. I hadn't eaten or spoken in 3 days. I had a glass of water or two each day. But I could tell nana was getting worried. Finally it was their arrival day. I did the same thing every day. Read, cry, and long for my mother again. The vomiting continued. But only in the early morning. Grandfather came in, he looked excited to see me, but the sadness was in his eyes. And some slight fear. From Nana and me, I suspected. He'd only seen me what? 5...no four times before. I ran into his embrace when he stepped in the house. "Oh, Rosie it's so great to see you again. I'm so sorry though." He said in my ear. An hour trailed by and still no food, and no speech from me. I went to my room, and flipped my laptop on. I went onto my e-mail only to see a bunch of stupid sympathy e-mails. And spam. I just didn't need that right now though (especially the spam, trying to sell me lotion. Thanks for telling me I have dry skin right after my mother died, helps a ton!). I heard my uncle Ben enter the house. I didn't go downstairs. He didn't come up. My nana must be telling him I just needed time or something. I went to my bed with my laptop, clutched my knees to my chest and stared at my feet. I had only thrown on my black sweats that had the cross country symbol and said cross country in red down the side, and had a lime green top on with a white tank underneath it. I heard a knock on my door. A man with brown blown-back hair, blue eyes, and a strong build stood in my doorway. My uncle Ben. I stared back at my feet and nodded as in yes come in. He sat on the end of my double bed. He smiled a warm handsome smile at me, "So, you're Rose. You look just as pretty as you're mother. Are you okay?" He asked. I shook my head my eyes still at my feet. He put his index finger under my chin and lifted my face up. "I'm sorry Rose. I wish I had gotten to see you before." He whispered. I gasped and buried my head in my knees and cried. He climbed over by my side and put his muscular arm around my shoulders, and moved my face into his jacket. He smelled like coffee. "I miss her so much." I murmured into him. "I know. I know." He pressed is face into my amber-copper ringlets, my hazel eyes had turned basically red from all the crying. I was just to upset to process my new uncle, and everything. I wanted to scream. But I didn't. I wanted to run away. But I didn't. I didn't know what to do, or anything. I just cried into my new uncle's shoulders. I still didn't eat, but I did talk now. Usually only if spoken to though. I had so many- too many, actually- questions. But the big one was what I wanted to know the most. What was going to happen to me?
I stared down at the food in front of me, to be polite I picked at it. But still barley ate. Nana looked at me concerned, "Rose you have to eat something." Nana brought up. "This could be adding to your sickness." I felt Ben's gaze on me. Only nana knew about the sickness. "Sickness?" My grandfather beat Ben to it. "She's been getting sick in the very early morning. If you don't eat you're going to be sick. I know it's hard sweetie, it is on all of us. But you can't just starve yourself I can't afford to loose you either." Nana said. "Promise me you'll eat more, dear?"
"I promise I'll eat more." I promised nana. I helped her with the dishes and we all separated for the night. Nana got my mom's room, grandpa got the guest room, and Uncle Ben slept on a blowup mattress in the office. I climbed under the covers. Tomorrow was the funeral, and then court was the next day. Who would I live with? Probably just someone here…no probably with nana. I slept through the night this time. No sickness. I was happy about that. But not too much else. The funeral was slow, and sad. Too many sympathy cards and messages. I cried but thankfully I didn't sob. I didn't go near the casket. I was in the back of the room when I heard a bit of Ben and Grandpa's conversation. "I haven't ever seen her before, I can't just-"
"You have too. Ben she had it in the will. Besides you know your mother nor I could."
I wasn't sure if I should here the rest so I quickly walked away from hearing distance of them. I tried to cry, but I couldn't. I cried out all my tears. Nothing came. My friends Chelsea, Star, Lily, Chloe, Artisa (art-ee-juh), and Brea, took turns chatting/hugging me. They were able to cry. They were lucky they could. I ran myself dry! And I usually don't cry anyway so that's saying something. I decided I'd just breathe. Take in everything with one simple breath. Inhale. Hold. 1.2.3. Exhale. Alright I was done. I'd do everything normally. After the funeral I road with nana back to my house. There'd be a moving truck here in half an hour to load up. Then, I was to take a nap. I ordered myself. After my nap I watched a couple episodes of a T.V. show in my room. I came down for dinner, and took a long power shower. After that I went to bed. I spoke with my family, tonight. I found out Uncle Ben (well our family the Gates family but mostly just Ben) had a conspiracy theory that there was a large amount of treasure hidden in the United States somewhere. So, basically he had too much time. When I woke up, I showered again and changed into something a little but not that much, nicer. It was a navy blue shirt, and jean shorts. I put my blonde mess into a sloppy pony tail. I put on purple flip flops, grabbed my purse and walked down stairs. In the courthouse my life took a surprising turn. A twist to life, if you will. No one argued over my custody. The judge read the will, "All my possessions go to my lovely daughter Rose. I want her to live with my-…" He abruptly stopped. "With my brother. Benjamin Franklin Gates."
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