Short Stories

Treasures To Cherish

Collectibles of books, clothes, old furniture, toys laid on tables. People gathered at the tables and stared at a toy, piece of clothing, or furniture to see if that item was perfect to take home. Some items were easily paid for while others sat waiting patiently.

Alexandra hummed as she eyed the items on the table. Nothing seemed to stick out at her. She wanted a decoration for a new bookcase for her apartment. The decoration had to be small and to hold all the books that she collected over the years.

A vase caught her eye. Alexandra walked to the table where the vase sat and picked it up. The vase was small, light blue, and had small, white flowers lining the top. The vase also had a lid.

Alexandra picked it up and walked to the cashier table. "This is really pretty."

The old woman that worked the register smiled. Alexandra placed the vase on the table, and the old woman started to wrap it in paper.

"I had it in my attic," the old woman said. "I don't remember where I got it, but it's time it went to a new home."

The old lady passed the wrapped up vase to Alexandra. "Thank you for your purchase. Enjoy!"

Alexandra thanked the woman, paid, and left the garage sale. As she walked back to her house, she began to think about where the vase would go and what she would decorate it with. Lilies will work best.

Alexandra stopped by the flower store before heading home. When she arrived home, she placed the vase on the coffee table and the flowers in the kitchen. Once the flowers were in their own vase in the kitchen, Alexandra picked up the wrapped up vase and unwrapped it. She walked to the bookcase.

The bookcase had a series of fiction, mystery, and historical fiction books resting on the shelves. On the left side of the books was a picture frame and a frog figurine. Nothing sat on the right side.

Alexandra placed the vase on the right side of the bookcase and stepped back to admire it. The vase looked nice on the shelf. With the flowers, it would look better.

Alexandra picked up the vase and walked to the kitchen, so she could fill it up with flowers. She placed the vase on the counter and moved the flower vase so she can move them from vase to vase. She opened the lid to the vase and was about to move the flowers when she noticed something at the bottom.

She placed the flowers down and placed her hand in the vase. She felt something grainy, like sand at the bottom. She took her hand out of the vase and saw a clump of black and gray sand on her hands.

"That's strange," Alexandra whispered.

She looked at the inside of the vase again and saw more sand. Curious, Alexandra walked to a drawer and pulled it open. She dug around for a flashlight and pulled one out of the drawer. She turned it on and shone the light at the bottom of the vase.

A small pile of the black and gray sand laid in the vase. Alexandra was stunned. Did anyone check the vase before selling it? Alexandra shone the light around the inside of the vase, and saw a small piece of paper hiding in the sand. She pulled it out and read it.

Dorothy Mcleese, 1943-2019

Alexandra dropped the note. The vase was an urn with ashes still in. How did someone not notice? She was stunned.

Alexandra reached for the note and looked it over. There was no information about the ashes or who to return the urn to. Alexandra really wanted to help return the urn even though she purchased it at a garage sale. It was better having the urn be with its family than sitting unloved on her bookshelf.

So, finding the rightful family became Alexandra's mission.

After a few days of waiting, no one contacted her about the urn. Alexandra printed and posted missing posters in hopes that someone would contact her and ask. She googled and facebooked people who sounded related to Dorothy, reaching out when she thought she found one. She even called the lady that she bought the urn from. The lady didn't know that the vase was an urn and was also shocked that someone would get rid of a precious family item.

Alexandra hit a road. How was she able to find the family and get the urn back if she couldn't find anyone? Why did anyone want to get rid of an urn? Especially with the ashes of a beloved family member?

One day, someone reached out to Alexandra about the urn through email. The person who sent the email asked if Alexandra can meet at the coffee shop and bring the urn. Alexandra replied yes and was excited. Hopefully, the urn will be reunited with its rightful family.

When the time came, Alexandra drove to the coffee shop. She sat in the corner of the shop and waited. After fifteen minutes, a woman entered the shop. She noticed and walked to Alexandra.

"Are you Alexandra?" the woman asked.

"I am," Alexandra replied.

The woman sat down in the seat next to Alexandra. "My name is Lauren. I'm the daughter of Dorothy Mcleese. I understand you have my mother's urn."

Alexandra nodded her head and placed the urn on the table.

"Thank you so much for finding it! My husband accidently gave it away a few years ago while cleaning our house and I've been hunting for it ever since," Lauren said. "When I saw your poster on Facebook, I knew that someone found it."

"I'm glad!" Alexandra said. "I'm happy I could help you."

Lauren grabbed the urn and gave Alexandra's hand a shake. Alexandra watched as Lauren grabbed the urn and walked out of the coffee shop. Her bookshelf decoration was gone and now Alexandra had to find a new one.

Alexandra waited for a few moments and then left the book shop. She walked to her car and got in, happy that the family was reunited. She started the car and drove back to her house. On the drive home, she noticed a vase sitting in the window of a shop. Alexandra parked the car in front of the shop and looked at the vase.

The vase was very similar to the urn. Same light blue color and white flowers-even having white flowers at the bottom of the vase. Alexandra got out of the car and walked to the shop.

Another treasure to cherish.