Cora

Part 3

*Author's Note: THIS IS NOT THE LAST PART! This was the 'original' last part because I wrote it as a short story but reading it all a year later, it seems very rushed. I'll extend this into a longer story when I have time, sometime this summer!*

Part 3

Over the course of the next few weeks, I worked very hard on being more ladylike. Aunt Madeline came over to visit more often and during one of these times, I attempted high heels.

I stare at Aunt Madeline for some time now as she walks around with me in the mall. I notice how tall her heels make her and she seems just that much more…ladylike. I think I should have a pair of heels; they can’t be that hard to walk in right? She makes it seem so easy, she walks so confidently… Surely if I start wearing heels, Aunt Madeline will notice how much more mature I am and I won’t have to live with her and change into someone else.

“Aunt Madeline,” I begin smiling hugely “I’ve decided that I want to go high heel shopping.”

“High heel shopping, Cora?” she replies sounding a little too amused. There is nothing amusing about wearing heels. I’ll show her.

“Yes, Aunty. High heel shopping.” I say trying to sound very mature.

“Well, okay then. Let’s go get some for you then” She says leading the way. 

I sit down in a chair and try on one of the grossest, pink, sparkly pairs of shoes on a pedestal with a sign that read ‘6 inches’ beside them. This would surely make me seem more ladylike; pink is the color of ladies after all and these were high heels. I quickly slipped my feet into the lethal weapons, ignoring the worried looks from Aunt Madeline and the salesclerk, and stood up. Immediately I lost my balance and had to walk forward to keep it, but then I had to keep walking quicker or else I would fall, and I couldn’t let that happen. True ladies never fell down. But then, that’s exactly what happened.. I kept walking and barreled right into Aunt Madeline and both of us went sprawling across the floor, in a very unladylike fashion.

Aunt Madeline just turned to stare at me, her eyes emotionless and waited for me to get up. 

That had been one of the most embarrassing days of my life. But it didn’t even top the next day…

My last encounter with Aunt Madeline had ended up disastrous, so I was determined not to let this end the same way this time. I had decided to have a tea party; real ladies had tea parties all the time and I was sure to make Aunty realize that I was a real lady if I had a tea party with her.

Aunt Madeline came walking in and looked impressed with the decoration. I had read countless books on how to have the perfect tea party and it was time to put my skills to the test. I sat down and poured tea for Aunt Madeline and myself. She took one sip then choked.

“What is this, Cora?” She spluttered. I stared at her confused and then took a sip of my own tea – only to spit it back out… right into her face. She stood up very quickly and mopped spittle and the extremely salty tea from her face and dress.

“I’m so sorry! Are you okay? I’ll go get a wet towel...” I replied, getting more panicked each passing second. Aunt Madeline wore contours and her clothes were expensive. I jumped up to get a wet towel and in doing so, bumped into the table which caused the teapot to go flying and soak her with its contents. Like last time, Aunt Madeline only gave me a cold assessing look then turned and left.

But then something unexpectedly happened to me and over the past month I had realized something. Aunt Madeline couldn’t get me to be someone I wasn’t and I would never let her change who I am. I am Cora, and I’m not a lady. I like dinosaurs and jungles and playing around getting messy in the sun. I would never be like one of the little porcelain dolls that my Mother had collected before she passed. It was time for her to realize that. Which is why I was getting her to come and meet me today; at the restaurant I was waiting at for my birthday. 

I sat at a table, sipping my drink when I heard her come up behind me.

“Happy 15th birthday Cora.” She told me slipping a small but pretty box towards me. "What was it that you wanted to speak to me about all alone before your party?" She took a seat beside me and waited expectantly for me to talk.

“Aunt Madeline, I love you but I can’t live with you. I would miss daddy too much and I don’t think I’m meant for the kind of life you want me to live.” I stated to her and she just continued to stare at me to continue. “I’ve realized that I was trying to be someone else, someone that I’m not. I’m not a lady, I love exploring jungles and getting messy with animals, I like adventure. Not cute little tea parties and high heeled shoes. I can't be someone that i'm not.”

I stared at Aunt Madeline, willing her to understand me and for a long time both of us just sat there staring at each other.

“Your determination, it reminds me of your mother, you know.” She finally stated, very bluntly. “And you’re wrong you know.” I stared at her, mind completely blank and thoughts racing a mile a minute. I was wrong? How was I wrong? I’m someone that i'm not?

“You see,” she begins “you are a lady. A lady is always true to herself, she speaks up when there is something important to say and she never let’s someone change who she is. You Cora, have done all of these things.” 

What?

“The reason I came here today was to wish you a happy birthday, and to tell you that it is no longer necessary for you to come and live with me. In that box however, you will find a key to my house if you ever wish to visit.”

“You’re not making me go away and live with you, then?” I ask her dumbfounded and she laughs.

“No, my dear; you have proven yourself to be a fine young lady. Your mother would have been proud. Of course i'll still come by to visit every now and then to check up on you and see how you are” She says smiling.

"Oh Aunt Madeline!" I cry as I rush over to her side and hug her to death. "Thank you!"

My aunt laughs and hugs me sincerely and at that moment I felt almost a sort of bond with her. I had never seen her laugh so unabashdly and when she did, her whole face transformed. She looks a lot like my mother in the photographs Daddy shows me and I get the feeling that my Mother is here with me today. I smile.

After that friends and family came over to join us and we had lots of fun. I wouldn’t have to leave my daddy, Aunt Madeline and I had come to a truce, and it was my 15 year old birthday and before I knew it, I had already started growing up.

The End!~...For now :)