Homesick

6

Emily

Tuesday, June 4

I hadn't left my room since yesterday. Not even to eat. During the day, my mom seemed perfectly fine, happy and like herself. But at night, she was different. I could hear the sobbing from her room. She would cry all night, and then be fine the next day.

"I don't think moms ok. How can she just hide her feelings like that", I said to Abby. She hadn't gotten over it, but she tried to be strong for mom. "Maybe she's just trying to make us feel better, you know. Isn't that what parents are supposed to do?" She asked. I nodded and walked downstairs. I more wobbled than walked, but I still made it down. I don't think my heart beat ever slowed down. I could hear it pumping in my ears. Mom was a mess, her cooking was off, she looked noticeably older. Dad's funeral was planned for next week, but that's when we were still on vacation. The old man we rented this house from wouldn't let us leave earlier than expected. Muttering something about not getting paid enough, whatever that means.

It was around five in the afternoon, and I was hoping, praying, there wouldn't be another bang. All day it had been quiet. I just couldn't lose mom too. I decided it was time to see what was going on. Abby and mom had gone to the store, this time letting me know. I walked into Abbys room and started searching for something that didn't belong there. Yesterday when she left my room, I heard her say 'this is all my fault'. I had to know what she meant but I couldn't just ask her. That's weird. So I snooped in her room.

After about thirty minutes, I finally found something strange. It was an old box that resembled a music box. It wouldn't open, no matter hard I pried. I looked around for a key. I found one hanging in closet. Wow Abby, you're really bad at hiding things. I laughed and opened the box. Inside was a scroll. I opened it and the first thing was what looked like and ancient symbol. I recognized the symbol, maybe it was on somebody's arm. I looked further down, but it was blank. What is this then. I heard the front door opened and quickly put everything back. I ran downstairs and grabbed Abby.

"What the hell is that box!", I asked. She looked terrified, maybe I shouldn't have done it so soon. "What box?" Her eyes turned from confusion to anger in about point two seconds. She pulled me up the stairs and into her room. "You went snooping in my room!", she yelled. "Shhh. Keep it down. Mom will hear", I didn't need her any more upset than she already was. I looked at her with my famous puppy dog eyes. She sighed, "The box fell out of the ceiling the day that hole appeared. It came with a key, so I... opened it," hesitating on those last as if it was something bad. "It spoke to me", she said, "it told me to make three wishes, so I made one so far". I remembered earlier that day she and dad had gotten into a fight about talking to Damien, her crush. He didn't want her to date him, but she "loved him". "What was your first wish, Abby", I asked. "I wished that dad would mind his own business, and not snoop", she said so quietly that it was barely inaudible. "The box repeats what you say. But it twisted my words, it repeated 'i wish dad would die a painful, horrible, death' ", she said, sobbing in between words. My mouth was wide open, she jumped on her bed and buried her face in her pillow. "Why would you make a wish into a creepy old box in the first place, Abby!" She never answered.

All day I had kept the box a secret from mom. If she found that Abby had wished for dad's death, she would never forgive her. I watched as mom made dinner, watching her every move. She seemed old again. Her hair was gray like dad's beard was, and her wrinkles were more profound. She looked at me with sad gray eyes, all hazel had gone. That box was trouble and we needed to get rid of it.