A Part of My Memory

Zara

Monday came and Elliot went to work. As did Aunt Mary and Uncle Harry. And Harley went to school. So I was left at home all alone to my own devices, and boredom hit me hard.

I watched TV but then I got bored of it, read a book but then I got bored of it, and I even took a nap until I got bored of it too. I didn't have a phone to call Elliot, and I didn't know his number by heart to use the landline.

So in a nutshell, I had nothing to do. I needed to find something to do.

****

I didn't find anything to do, and when the landline suddenly started ringing, waking me up from what felt like my 100th attempt at taking a nap, I rushed downstairs, desperate to interact with someone other than myself. I glanced at the clock as I ran past it and almost stumbled when I saw the time was 9 am.

It was only 9 am?!

"This is Zara from the Fraid household, how may I help you?" I asked once I picked up the phone, and only when I found myself searching for a pen and paper did I realise what I was doing and how formally I had just answered the landline. There was only silence on the other end. "Hello?"

"Sorry, that greeting just took me by surprise."

"Elliot," I felt as my lips curved into a grin.

"How bored are you on a scale of 1 to 10?" He suddenly asked.

"Bored enough that the scale broke," I answered, and I heard Elliot's chuckle. "I honestly need to find something to do."

"Something to do like a job?"

"That would be ideal but I have no idea what I did or what I'm good at," I admitted.

"Judging by the way you answered the phone, I think I have an idea of what you're good at," Elliot told me. "I'll see if I can make a plan."

That phrase sounded like a farewell of sorts, but before Elliot could cut I quickly shouted, "wait, Elliot!"

"Zara," Elliot groaned. "The phone was right on my ear, you didn't have to shout."

"Sorry," I apologised. "It's just that, for the sake of my sanity, I need you to talk to me."

"I am talking to you."

"Talk to me for longer," I instructed.

"I need to get back to work," he told me. "But if you're that bored, try taking a nap."

"I just came from napping."

I could hear Elliot's smile as he said, "then nap again," and cut the call.

****

After what felt like years, I heard the front door open.

I rushed out of my room and down the stairs but the last person I expected to see was Jess.

"Oh, hey Jess," I greeted, continuing down the stairs.

"Ah, Zora."

"It's Zara," I corrected her. "What are you doing here?" The last time she was here she had come to announce the details and prices of the wedding, but no one had seemed excited about it.

She reached into her purse—which I had no doubt cost hundreds of dollars—and pulled out a pile of what looked to be invitations. They were designed with some golden fabric and silver lace and the handwriting on the front was cursive.

"I've already done the guest list, I sent it to Elliot," she told me then extended the invitations in my direction. "These are extras, just in case I missed anyone."