Her World

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter 18

Friday 16th December. The 16th of December has been the worse day of the year for the last 4 years. It’s the day I lost my Grandad and what’s even worse is that fact that it’s also his birthday. Every year rain or shine I go to his grave and tell him how much I miss him. I try and go as much as possible to see him but I will always go, just to keep his memory alive and to show that he will never be forgotten. Well not forgotten by me anyway, Melissa and my parents haven’t been in 3 years.

I slowly get out of bed and pad along to my wardrobe; I pull out some grey jogging bottoms and a blue t-shirt. I opened my door checking the landing to make sure what Noah wasn’t lurking again. When I finally decided the coast was clear, I speedily made my way into the bathroom. i locked the door behind me and began doing what I had to do.

When I was finished in the bathroom and dressed in my clothes, I made my way back to my room. I went over to my bedside table and took out another plaster, and covering my left wrist. I pulled my hair up into a pony tail and left my make-up. I wasn’t planning on really seeing anyone special. I picked up my phone and some money and put them in my pocket. Walking over to my door, I pulled my blue hoodie off the hook. I quickly put it on and made my way down the stairs.

There wasn’t any noise from the kitchen and I knew there wasn’t anyone in the living room, so either Melissa and Noah had gone to work or they were still in bed. I weren’t too sure though, it was only 8:50am and it was a Sunday so no doubt that they were still in bed. I grabbed some socks and slid them on then my converse.

Opening the door, the cold air hit me. I was happy for the choice in clothing now, my hoodie had fur on the inside. It made me look podgy but I still loved it. I headed towards town, before I went to see my grandad I had to go somewhere first.

The town was dead but that wasn’t really that surprising. I stopped at his old favourite sweet shop. I pushed the door open to hear the little bell ting to signal the staff that someone had entered. The sugary smell hit my nose as soon as I walked in. The place never changed, it was set out like the really old sweet shops. Everything was wooden; wooden flooring, shelves and counters. This place does every single sweet or chocolate you can think of. The only problem was it weren’t cheap, but I guess they have to stay afloat somehow in this god forsaken town.

I looked around at all the sweets from the colourful ones to the plain ones. I didn’t care much for any of those; I knew exactly what I was looking for. I carried on looking round the shop, on all the different shelves and containers.

“Ugh, where is it?!” I sighed irritated. Just to make sure I hadn’t gone past them I went around the shop once more. I started to get a bit disheartened when I couldn’t see the sweets I wanted. I couldn’t show up without them.

“Hello Marie” I jumped back a little startled from the sudden noise, I spun around to face Mrs Andrews. She looked the same as she always did. She stood with some much poise and elegance, her black locks all pulled back into a tight bun. She must have been around 50 but she didn’t have so much as one wrinkle. “What can I help you with today my dear?” she asked while smoothing out the creases of her long black pencil skirt and blouse.

“Oh yeah hi, I’m looking for-“

“Ah the toffee, we have ran out” that had just dampened my mood even more; I could turn up without them. I think Mrs Andrews noticed my changed in emotion. “But I remember what day it was so I saved you some” she quickly added with a bright smile.

“Really? Omg thank you so much” I ran up to her giving her a big hug, I wouldn’t normally do this but lately I’ve been an emotional wreak and I didn’t care.

“Well I knew you would be in here today so I put some behind, let me just go and get it” she gave me a warm smile before disappearing into the back. I moved towards the glass cabinet, it was full of chocolate. My favourite chocolate was in there, it was just plain milk chocolate buttons but they had smiley faces on them, and they tasted amazing. Mmmm I knew I was practically drooling, it’s a good job that there is some glass over the top over wise they would be now all covered in my saliva. But then again Mrs Andrews wouldn’t be able to sell it. She would simply have to give it me for free, ugh now I wish there wasn’t any glass.

“Can’t beat chocolate can you” I was snapped out of my food trance by Mrs Andrews leaning against the wooden door frame with a smirk on her face. I didn’t know old people knew how to smirk. I just simply nodded before she planted something in my hand then curled my fingers around it.

 I finally came back to the real world when I heard a giggle. I looked down to see my hands now tightly wrapped round a little brown paper bag. I reached into my pocket to retrieve the money to pay but before I could, I felt a soft warm hand on my wrist stopping me.

“No my dear, that’s on the house and so is this” I brought my head up from the floor to have another brown paper bag shoved into my hand. “Don’t open it till you get out of here” she winked at me before disappearing once again. I shouted my thanks, and then walked back into the bitter morning.

I finally reached the graveyard and swiftly made my way to my grandad’s grave. As soon as I got there, I notice the ivy curling its way around the stone. I kneeled down in front of it, dropping the brown bags at the side before ripping the growing leaves away.

Richard George Rhodes

Beloved Husband, Father and Grandfather

1948-2009

“Oh I miss you grandad” I felt a few tears slide down my face. “Things have been so different since you left us. But I’ve met a boy and he’s so nice. Good looking to, you would love him.” More tears trickle down my face, I use the back on my sleeve to wipe them away. “School’s okay as well, I’m nearly finished with school so there’s a plus.” I let out a little chuckle, remembering how much he used to tell me to suck it up and it will be over before I know it.

“Oh who am I kidding, life is terrible. Mom and dad have been really distant lately; they have even gone away without me and haven’t called since they left. Also Melissa has a new boyfriend and well h-he’s h-horrible to m-me” Loads of sobs erupt from my body. “I don’t know what to do anymore, I feel like I’m stuck in a dark whole and how ever hard I try, I just can’t seem to get out of it.” After a few more minutes my sobs turn into little snuffles.

“Look on a brighter side, I brought you something, you’re favourite” I opened the bag to reveal loads of little chewy toffee. He always has these toffees in the house, I used to see him every day after school and when I was little he used to give me one.

He would always say something like ‘Marie here’s a toffee but don’t tell your mother’ he would whisper to me so my mom wouldn’t hear. If we had any snacks, she would go all crazy about spoiling our dinner. He would only let me have one toffee though; I was really close to my grandad. This is something we did all the time, it was our little secret so now every year I would go to the sweet shop and get his favourite chewy toffee.

I took one toffee out of the brown, and then lay the bag next to his grave. I popped the toffee into my mouth the whispered;

“I won’t tell mom”

I spent the whole day just talking to him about everything; it was nice to finally get everything out of my system. I had opened the other bag to find Mrs Andrews has poured so of the chocolate smiles in a bag for me. I demolished the whole bag in about 5 minutes but I really didn’t care. I made myself comfortable on the hard ground just chattering away, my eyes began to get heavy and the last thing I said was;

“I need you. Please come back to me” I whisper before my eyes close and darkness reappears.

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