Once Upon a Hair Cut

The Necklace

     A week passed by, and I didn't have a single moment alone to open the hat box. Until, finally, I had a bit of free time that Sunday. As dusk was falling, I found myself in the courtyard, the hat box from my mother in my backpack, walking into the woods that ran behind the property. Oh god, if Auntie find out I did this, she'll KILL me! I thought as I walked deeper into the trees. But I didn't know how accurate that thought really was.

Five minutes later, after tripping over many stupid branches, I finally made it to my destination. A tree house perched in an old oak tree. I climbed up the rope ladder, and into the tree house. I striked one of matches, and lit the oil lamp that sat next to the tin box of matches. I pulled up a little stool and placed the hat box on the table. I carefully opened the top, and took out the bag. My fingers opened the pull string sewn into the top of the bag and peered in. But before I could see anything a loud voice startled me.

"Oui, what are you doing here?" I turned around to see Harry leaning against the wall behind me. His eyebrow was raised in suspicion.

"I well," I rolled my eyes in frustration and pulled the bag shut. "I was just looking-"

"At a hat box? Wow, you are crazy." I frowned.

"It's because of the hair isn't it? Eh, I like it actually, so I don't care what you say!" Harry shrugged, walked over, and pulled up the other stool.

"So, really, what's in the box?"

"I don't know. I came out here to get a moment alone but then you came along and creeped up on me," I said opening the box again, and pulling out the bag.

"Well, whose it from?"

"My mother, she and my dad died when I was a baby.." I said glancing over to Harry, whose face had become more downbeat.

"My mother passed away when Elouise was born, I think I was about four."

"Oh, I'm sorry..." it was silent for a few moments, with only the sound of crickets in the background.

"Well then, you gotta open it!" Harry said with a more chipper expression. I pulled the pull string top open, both of us staring into the sooty blackness. I reached my hand in and pulled out a piece of paper, and a jewelry box. I unfolded the piece of paper, as a polaroid picture fell out onto the ground. I put the paper down and leaned over to grab the picture. It was of my mother and father...and me. I flipped over the picture, and on the back was written:

Cordell, Nelia, and Rapunzel Fisher

June 19, 2001

198 Blue Rock View Road

" 'Dear Rapunzel,

Happy 14th birthday! You're growing up so fast! Inside this bag is the necklace that used to belong to my mother, then it was handed down to me. And now, my child, I'm giving it to you. I know that you're old enough to understand how important this is.

This necklace will also remind you that I will always be with you. Whenever you look into it's jewell, or gaze at the stars high above, know that I'm looking out for you. No matter what happens to me, or you, always know that your father and I love you so much.

Love, Mom'. Whoa.." Harry read aloud.

I put the picture down, and opened the jewellery box. Inside was a necklace with a gold chain, and a gold heart shaped pendant. In the middle of the pendant was a red gem, with gold wings forming the heart shape around the edges. I took it out of it's box, and clipped it on.

"Wow, it's really pretty."

"Thanks," I smiled.

"Jeez....you were really young, if it's okay to ask, what happened..?" Harry asked hesitantly. I thought for a moment. Aunt Mary, told me it was an illness....right?

"Yeah, it's fine I didn't really know them. They got some kind of illness, or at least that's what my Aunt told me."

"But this picture, it must have been taken a little while before they passed away right? I mean if you were that little, this would probably be about that age," he said pointing to the baby me in the picture.

"Yeah, I guess so...what are you saying?"

"If your parents got sick, if that was the real reason, it would have taken a little bit of time. Right?" I started to connect the dots in my head.

"So if that picture was taken around the time they died, they should look sick-"

"But they don't," Harry cut in. "Then that means, they weren't sick...something else might have happened.."