curiosities a fictional short story
Our city is having a fiction contest (and a poetry one). I figured, why not it could be fun. So I did :)
Here for your reading enjoyment…
Curiosities
Prompts:
Location: Amusement Park
Object: Locket
Line: "I never meant to..."
It looked like such a normal amusement park, but alas, that is what happens when you don't give due time and attention to common places and things, you underestimate them! So, when Lila plunked down her hard earned coin for the entry wristband, she didn't think twice. She was ready for some adventures!
"Here is your change, miss," the smiling man at the gate said, handing her some coins,a map and an events calendar for the day. "I hope you have the day you need!" Lila shook her head, "People are funny," she thought and off she went.
After Lila shoved her bag in a locker and pocketed the key and glanced at the map. She was meeting her younger sister, Manda, at noon, so she had exactly two hours of freedom to do whatever her heart desired. Usually, she let the other person do what they wanted, taking the lead, and she tagged along, not having strong opinions or agendas, but these two hours were all hers!
Saving the most daring coasters to enjoy with her sister, she opted for the esoteric activities that others may eschew. There was a food court that offered a foot long corn dog stuffed with cheese and nutella she had to try, and then the Museum of Curiosities. She had always wanted to see what was in that museum, after hearing some strange and fascinating stories from others who had gone.
With a plan in mind, Lila made her way to the food court, but to her disappointment, the Hotdog Wonderland booth wasn't open yet!? "Ok, fine," Lila mumbled to herself, "I can revisit it after the museum. No worries."
Lila headed across the greenway and past the line of amusements straight for the museum door. Before she could put her hand out, the door creaked open. "Oh thanks," she said to no one, as she looked around the door. Strange that it had opened on its own when it wasn't electric. Was that part of what made the museum a curiosity?
Venturing further inside, Lila entered the first room, which was full of mirrors. Expecting fun house reflections of long and squat her, she was pleasantly surprised to see mirrors showing past, present, and future her, and all the versions of her in-between. There she was, playing with her dolls at age three. "And that older me has a limp but a big smile," she observed, "Curious indeed!" After spending some quality time with herself, she headed on to the next room, labeled "A place for every need."
"What does that even mean?" Lila wondered, as she wandered inside. She saw signs lining the room leading to hallways, nooks and doorways, one read "When you need bravery, enter here!" Scanning the names of next alcoves, "When you need comfort...When you need love...When you are happy...When you need strength...When you are angry...When you are bored...When you need rest...When you are anxious."
Lila turned into the "When you are anxious" alcove and stepped into a forest alive with birdsong and strewn with wildflowers. She could smell flowers, dirt and pine and hear ocean waves crashing in the distance. Following the footpath through the trees she saw a small private beach, whose sand was as soft as feathers and white as snow.
Sitting in a hammock chair, by the waters edge, Lila saw a figure. As she moved closer she said, "Please excuse me, I wasn't intending to interrupt..." but paused when the figure turned, and she saw her mama.
Lilas mouth fell open as tears sprang to her eyes. Her mama had passed away two years ago in an unexpected accident. Never having had a chance to say "I love you" or "goodbye," Lila blurted out, "What are you doing here?" and ran to her mom, who stood to embrace her. Their tears fell freely and they held on tightly for several long minutes.
Finally spent from their tears, they cuddled in the hammock while her mom told her the story of the accident. How sorry she was to leave like that and assured Lila that she was always watching over her and Manda. Her mom explained that she has been safe, well and waiting for them to join her, but not for years yet as they had some living to do first.
Lilas mother praised her for how she had cared for her sister after the accident, her eyes shining with tears and pride, "I just love you so much, sweetie," she said. Overwhelmed with emotions, Lila closed her eyes and sighed, a long overdue exhale.
All the weight, worry and anxiety of the last couple of years fell away. Lila felt like she could breathe again for the first time since the accident. She shared the details of her life with her mama, expressing the fears and sadness she had been carrying since she died. Then she laughed and said, "Manda is never going to believe this! She will be here at noon, can you wait and see her too?"
Lilas mom smiled and said, "I wouldn't want to be anywhere else! I would love to see her!" As the time inched closer to noon, Lila roused herself to go. Loathe to leave but knowing her sister would be concerned if she was late, Lila stood up. One last embrace, then her mom said, "Oh, I have something to give you." Her mom reached into her pocket and pulled out a locket. It was smooth and golden, with a small latch. Wear it and remember our time on the beach. I'm always here, watching over you and so, so proud!"
Lila slipped it on, and promised to keep it with her always. One last kiss, and she and her mom walked together to the edge of the woods. As Lila turned to go, she kept her hand clasped around the locket, willing herself to keep going forward though her heart yearned to turn back for one more glance, one more hug.
When she got through the woods and neared the entryway, the sound of the waves and her moms distant call of "I love you!" echoed in her ears and heart. She shook her head, smiling to herself in wonder, and made a beeline for the museum exit, "I never meant to stay so long," she thought, knowing she would love to stay with her mom forever, but not yet, right? "Oh, well," she murmured, "Time to meet Manda! She will never believe this!"
Lila looked down and saw 11:58 on her watch, so hustled to their assigned meeting spot. While waiting for her sister, in the golden sunshine, she noticed a beautiful locket in her hand. "I wonder where that came from?" Lila wondered, turning it over curiously. Noticing the clasp on the side, she opened the locket and inhaled the rich scent of woods, beach, and a hint of what smelled like her Mom's perfume. Despite her earlier rushing, a wave of calm washed over her and she knew in her heart that everything was going to be okay. Smiling serenely, Lila waved to her approaching sister.