The Shell

        On the outskirts of San Francisco there are a cluster of houses. The houses are built so close together a person could spy on his neighbor's life. Two of the houses are back to back, and are almost identical. The upstairs bedroom windows on each house faces each other. In the left house, in the left upstairs window, a young boy of 12 lived. He was a lonely boy with hardly any friends. He often spent time alone in his room reading. He had grown used to the window across form his. The curtains were always shut, and the light never shined.

       One Saturday afternoon the boy sat on his blue and green plaid comforter bed, reading 'Great Expectations' by Charles Dickens. A peculiar feeling came over him, and he had the urge to look out his window. He did just this, and looking out, he saw that in the window across form his, the curtains were pushed back. He could see inside the spacious room. The room had a wardrobe, and a bed. There were no pictures on the walls, or nick-knacks. The boy was surprised to see inside the room, but soon shrugged and returned to his reading.

        The next day the spent with his mother. They went to church, then lunch, then to the farmers market. When they finally returned home, the boy climbed the stairs to his room. Opening his bedroom door the boy immediately faced the window. Out his window, across the small space between the houses, the curtains were pushed back. On the window there was a single sea shell. The boy traipsed across his room, he pressed his face against the glass. The shell was really there, white with flakes of pink and purple. A shadow moved at the window and a women appeared, looking at the boy. The boy stumbled backwards in shock, tripping over his bean bag he fell to the floor. He stood up quickly. The woman was still at the window, she moved the shell and was busy unlocking the window. She looked frantic. The boy rushed over to his window, unlocked it, and slid it open.

        "Are you all right dear?" the women asked, leaning out the window slightly. The boy noticed that she was older, much older. She had thin white hair, and her face was sagged and wrinkled.

        "I'm fine,"

        "I didn't mean to give you a fright, I'm sorry," the old lady smiled. "What's your name?"

        "Michael, what's yours?"

        "It's nice to meet you Michael, I'm Mildred," Michael nodded, then looked back into his room, unsure of what to do now. He wasn't comfortable with talking to people it made him feel silly. "I guess we'll be neighbors for a while, I've moved in with my daughter she's taking care of me," Mildred continued to smile, but Michael saw that her eyes did not match her smile they were watery, filled with tears. Michael furrowed his brow and nodded again.

        "Well, I'm staying with my mom for a while. Till I move out," Mildred smiled politely, while Michael avoided eye contact.

        "I'll leave you to it then, I'm glad you're all right." Mildred waved then slid her window down and locked it. She placed the shell back on the window and moved out of sight. Michael closed his window then moved away towards his bed. He went about his business, which mostly consisted of reading, but he had forgotten to lock his window.

        A few days passed, and when ever Michael and Mildred saw each other through their windows they would wave. Michael didn't tell his mother about his new neighbor, and she remained oblivious, leaving her son to his own affairs.

        Michael was in his room after school, still dressed in his navy, and grey uniform. He hadn't started his homework, but the light was just perfect in his room to read. He sat in his bean bag by the window and indulged in a book. He had a yearning to look out his window again. Michael pushed himself up and peaked out, his neighbor sat at her window as well. Michael couldn't see what she was doing, so he climbed up his wall to look out some more. Mildred caught his movement and smiled at him, her crows feet becoming more prominent. Michael slid open his window, and Mildred hastened to do the same.

        "Hi, what are you doing?" Michael asked sticking his head out to get a better look.

        "Hello, I'm making a necklace," Mildred held up a wiry string that held 3 shells with gem stones between them. It was beautiful. "Before I came to live here, I went to the beach and collected as many shells as I could. I'm making this for my daughter," Michael said nothing but just watched her as she twisted the wire into a clasp. "What are you doing?" Mildred asked not looking away from her work.

        "Reading."

        "What is it?"

        "Great Expectations."

        "Aah, Pip," Michael looked at Mildred.

        "You know it?"

        "Of course, who doesn't? It is one of the greatest stories from it's time."

        "Nobody I know has ever heard of it," Michael said resting his chin in his hand.

        "Surely, your mother does."

        "Nah, she doesn't care for books."

        "There!" Mildred held up the necklace. "Finished," She looked at Michael seeing the awe on his face. "Would you like me to make you one?" Michael shook his head, stating that he didn't want to be a burden, but Mildred wouldn't hear of it and promised him one.

        "After this encounter the young, and old neighbor talked across the little space daily. It was usually after dinner before Michael's bed time. Sometimes Mildred would help him with his homework. They soon became close, and Michael was happy to say he had a friend.

        A few months had passed since their first meeting, Michael and Mildred sat looking up at the stars over the others home. The lights from San Francisco blocked out most of them, but there were bright ones still enjoyable to watch.

        "Hey Mildred."

        "Yes Michael."

        "Remember you said you would make me a shell necklace?"

        "Yes I do, I'm still looking for the perfect shell," Mildred said. A voice called from within Michael's house.

        "That's my mom, I better go. Goodnight."

        "Sweet dreams, don't let the bed bugs bite," Michael closed his window and shut his curtains. Little did he know that was the last night he would see his friend.

        Michael waited at his window everyday for hours. Just waiting for Mildred's curtains to open. Michael soon became concerned, and snuck out of his house towards Mildred's. The house was identical to Michael's except Mildred's door was blue and Michael's black.

        Michael rang the doorbell twice, till a short woman with mousy brown hair opened the door.

        "Hello?"

        "Hi, I'm Michael, from next door, I'm friends with your mother."

        "Yes, yes you are, I've heard a lot about you, please come in," the woman gestured, but Michael hesitated.

        "I can't, my mom doesn't know I'm here," the woman nodded then told him to wait. She left the door open and retreated into the house. A minute later she returned with a shell. It was the same one Michael first saw. Michael looked at it. "She died a few nights ago in her sleep. I think she was planning to give this to you," the woman began to tear up.

        "Thank you," Michael returned home. He sat on his bed and rubbed the shell in his hand. Mildred was gone, his only friend. She knew this shell would mean so much to him. She knew that whenever he rubbed it he wouldn't be so afraid to open a window, and leave it unlocked.