The Seven Keys

Taylor

    Once upon a time I lived in Cardiff, Wales... and I say once upon a time because it seems like forever since I have been in my home country.  Since I first was able to remember, our family has been moving from one place to another, for reasons I do not know.  My 18 year old sister Abigail and I, have learned to not ask our parents why we keep moving, as they brush off our questions and pretend like we don’t exist. It seems as if they don’t care what we think; that we are just something they are “forced” to take with them when we move.  Moving so much has resulted in me not having many friends, and relying on my sister and dog for company.  Having my sister makes a huge difference in life... she is all that I need to be happy.  

“Taylor!” My mom calls me from the kitchen, interrupting my day dream.  “Can you put some of the china boxes back in my closet?  I want to eat out tonight and get those boxes out of my sight.  I am tired of seeing boxes everywhere!”  

“Sure mom,” I replied.

Now, our current “home” is in America,  New York City.  There is something about New York that I love besides the flashing lights and all the tall buildings.  I hope my parents consider not moving again and settling down in the city somewhere. The place we are living in right now isn’t too big of a hot shot.  It’s a small duplex with loud drunkards in the place next to us.  Tomorrow is my first day at Parksburg High School and I am very nervous.  What will people think of me?  The only “cool” clothes I have are regular shorts, Bear-Paw boots, and a disgusting flower blouse.  I am jealous of Abigail as it doesn’t take her long to make friends and her glamorous smiles attracts many boys.

I grabbed a heavy box filled with delicate china, and headed upstairs to my mom’s small bedroom.  As soon as I opened the closet I felt this strange feeling come over me, as if there was some sort of presence.  I carefully set down the box in the closet and took a step back, sizing up the closet to see how many more boxes it could hold.  As I was doing this, I noticed there was a loose floorboard at the back of the closet.  I was putting the floor board back in place when I felt a lump that was preventing me from doing so.  I quickly ripped off the whole board to discover a rusty yet beautiful key.  At the time I didn’t think much of it, as there were no locks in our house besides our house keys.  I put the key in my dusty jewelry box that has never been used.  Little did I know that that key would change my view of things and my future forever. 

 “Tay-tay!” Abigail gently shoves me.  “Time for school! First day of school in New York City!  Oh yeah, baby!”  I slowly open my eyes and find them staring at a beautiful girl in cute jeans and a cute blouse.  Once again, I noted how my sister was so much more beautiful than me.  I pull back the covers, kiss my sister, and dig through one of the boxes with my few clothes in it.  I end up wearing loose jeans, dirty Nike boy shoes, and a cami with a cowgirl blouse over it.  I already started making a chart in my mind of how many times I would be called a slut. I slowly walk downstairs, glaring at my dad.  School came so fast and I never was truly mad at him until now.  Ever since 4th grade when the teasing started, I wanted to be homeschooled.   My mom was the only one supportive of the idea, but my dad insisted that I still go to school because, “why teach me when other people can?” My mom and dad would argue all night, and sometimes the argument would become physical.  My dad would sometimes hurt my mom, but in the morning, she would act like nothing happened.  He doesn’t know what I’m going through, and he never will.   I won’t be surprised when my parents break up. My mom puts on her fake smile and gives Abigail and me a bagel for the bus.  

         “You girls better hurry up for the bus!  You don’t want to miss it the first day of school.”  My mom says.  

         “ I will mom, don’t worry. But first I need to say something to dad.”  I glare at dad with ferocious hatred.  “You back off mom, you understand me?  I know what’s going on every night between you and her.  And I refuse to back away from this situation any longer.  I am warning you right now...if you don’t start treating my mom right, I will make sure you are the first one to leave in the morning.”  My mom covers her hand with her mouth, shocked at my boldness.  I grab Abigail, keeping her safe from the wrath of my father if he blows his top.  Abigail in return clings to me for protection.  My father doesn’t say another word.

      “You have nothing to say.. that’s good.  I hope I got the message clear to you.”  I say fiercely to my father.  I was shocked at my boldness, but I knew it was time to say something after having held that back for so long.  I grab my sister’s hand and I storm out of the house.   The bus stop is a five minute walk from our house, and we are already late.  I start quickening my pace and quickly glance up at Abigail who is sprinting to the bus stop, not stopping to watch for cars.  All of a sudden I hear a loud car horn and Abigail scream.  

        “No!”  I shout.  Tears stream down my cheeks as I see my sister sprawled on the ground and the car take off down the road again like nothing happened.  I quickly run to her and kneel by her side.  Her eyes are rolling to the back of her head and she becomes unconscious.

       "Help!  My sister's hurt!  Anybody!” In the distance I hear the bus screech to a halt at our stop, and then quickly continue on.  I scoop my sister up in my arms and run like hell back to our house.