The next morning, my mother and father had arranged to drive me to the train station to go visit my Grandmother Elizabeth and cousin Alice, my 15 year old cousin, who just happened to be visiting for the weekend. My mother couldn't even look at me. My father just felt bad. He didn't seem mad that I snuck out, not at all. Just strangely......concerned for my. But why? I packed a suitcase full of things I'd need, and was on the train by seven o'clock in the morning. Grandmother Elizabeth lived in a mansion on the farther side of town, about 3 hours away. The houses and people were nicer, the area was nicer, and her home was cozy. My mother decided to send me away just because she couldn't figure out what to do with me. On the train ride, I stared out the window, as cumulonimbus clouds filled the sky. There was no sun, and I could tell the sky would he dreary all day. It's not like I had a phone. My mother wouldn't allow it. To be honest, I couldn't stand her sometimes. It pissed me off that I didn't even have to ask her something, because I knew the answer would be no. I sat alone on the ancient train that barely anyone rode. It was dim litted, and the seats were cozy, and brand new since hardly anyone ever rode the train except for elders, and divorced mothers and children. I was on the train often to my Grandmother Elizabeth's house, because my mother knew hardly anyone that I could associate with rode it. A bitch move. She was so slick when it came to protecting me. When the train pulled up at the station, I immediately saw Grandmother Elizabeth and Alice, who had grown from the last time I saw her. Grandmother Elizabeth smiled at me. I ran over to her, and gave her a hug. "You've been naughty, huh, child? Your mother tells me so. Let's get in the car" She tells me. I smiled and looked down. We walked over to the parking lot, and I saw her silver Honda. Her car was in perfect condition; it was clean on the inside and outside, and smelled of honey soap on the inside. Grandmother Elizabeth liked everything to be clean, and tidy. She was a beautiful woman, and was in her early 50's; she was just a teenager when she had my mother, who was now 34 years old. Grandmother Nora managed to look so young for her age, using the best skin care protectors, and never putting dye in her pretty, long, thick Auburn hair. She had a few gray streaks in the front, but I thought it looked fantastic. She wore glasses and button down shirts, jeans and heals, always, and was the head of her law firm. She was a professional woman, and very independant, even when Grandfather Patrick was alive; he died from a long, hard battle of brain cancer. When he turned 35 years old, he was diagnosed, and even though it wasn't incurable yet, the chemo wasn't working fast enough, and his brain cancer killed him when he was 47 years old. It was awful, and my family spend years with Grandmother Elizabeth so she could stay mentally okay. She eventually decided the only way she would stay healthy is if we left her, and life returned to normal for her. Alice sat in the backseat, staring out because her family also kept Alice hidden from the world. Her mother was my mother's sister, and they were just alike. Her father also didn't have any say in her mother's decisions. Alice was flawless, features and knowledge wise. Her hair was a thigh length frizzy, curly auburn color, and her skin was a delicate, faint olive color. She was about the same height I was, and 6 months younger. Alice always loved to learn; it had been that way since we had matching cribs. I was sure that she was fine with the way we lived, because she was an indoors type girl. I wanted to break loose, but Alice was fine the way she was. When we pulled up to Grandmother Elizabeth's home, We grabbed our suitcase, and we went inside. Her house was beautiful, inside and out. She managed a beautiful garden that grew organic vegetables and fruit, and exotic flowers. This was the home my mother and Alice's mother grew up in. "Why don't you put your stuff in the guest room, and come down here so we can chat" She told Alice and I. I nodded. When Grandmother Elizabeth told me to do something, she wanted it done; and right away. Alice and I sped up the grand staircase, and into the guestroom. It smelled of vanilla and was freshly cleaned, like a hotel room. There were two twin beds with white comforters and pillows, a closet for our clothes, a flat screen television, a brown desk with a lamp so Alice could read, and best of all, a large window with a view of the whole town. I loved that window, especially at night when the stars were shining. Alice loved it too. As I unfolded my clothes and hung them up, Alice did the same. I hadn't seen her in a year. She had changed. Her hair was much longer, and she seemed older. "Hi, Alice" I said to her; the first words since I saw her. She looked at me, directly in the eyes. "Hi, Ambrosia. It's been a while" She said to me. "Yeah, it really has. How are you?" I asked. "I'm okay; you?" She asked. "I'm great" I responded. The conversation made me so sad. Alice and I had been so close for years. The cousin connection was gone. When her clothes were all hung up, she left. I dropped my suitcase on the floor and followed her down the stairs. Grandmother Elizabeth was sitting in the living room, hands folded and legs crossed. "Sit" She told us. Alice and I sat on the purple velvet sofa in front of her. "So, Ambrosia. Your mother has told me some news. What's this about a party, I hear?" She says. I wanted to bury myself in a hole. Disappointing Grandmother Elizabeth was always hard; always had been, always will be. "Ummmm........ I snuck out" I told her. I couldn't meet her eyes, so I looked away from her. "Go on" She told me. I clicked my teeth. "I asked mother if I could go out to a party with Hayley and Carly.....she said no, as she always had, so I snuck out" I told her. Alice was silent. "Why would you do that, Ambrosia? Why would you defy your mother's wishes?" the wise woman said. Suddenly, I felt bad for sneaking out. I just wanted to have fun. That's all I'd ever wanted. "I......I don't know" I told her, and shamefully bowed my head. Another one of Grandmother Elizabeth's powers was to make you feel bad in an instant second; she could get to anyone's heart, even those with the most pride. "Look, love, I'm gonna let you two girls in on a little secret" She said. I looked over at Alice, who was quiet beside me. I had forgotten she was there. She hadn't said a word. But her ears perked up when Grandmother Elizabeth said the word secret. "When you turn 16, Ambrosia, secrets are going to come your way. You best be prepared, child. Because you aren't ready for what's in store for you".
TO BE CONTINUED
