Letters to Victoria

Chapter 1

BEEP. BEEP.
Michael rolled over and turned his alarm off. He propped himself up on his bed and started rolling his back until he heard a crack. He slid off his bed, gracefully, touching the ground with a soft pat. Still groggy, he attempted to stretch out the tiredness but it was no use, he had stayed up rather late last night and was definitely feeling the affects.
Knock. Knock.
"Come in." Michael yawned.
It was his sister,Victoria. She was holding a shoebox that was wrapped in newspaper. She handed the box to Michael and looked down sadly,
"I know your just going to be like a phone call away, but I'm still going to miss your stupid face." She looked up at him, tears starting to form in her eyes. "I wanted you to have this so that you have a little piece of me with you."
"Tori" Michael sighed. He put down the box and extend his arms out to her, "Come here, you big dork." She rushed over and buried her head into his chest letting out a loud cry. He wrapped his arms tightly around her and laid his head over hers.
"I swear, I'm not just going to disappear! You always have been and always will be my little sister, and what kinda brother would I be if I just ghosted you?" Victoria pulled her head back and sniffled, "I don't know, I just know that happens and I don't want it to."
"It won't! Here," Michael held out his pinky, "Jones's honor." Victoria held her pinky out too. "Jones's honor."
"Now this box here, is it something you'd want me to open now?"
Victoria nodded
"Well, if you insist!" Michael turned the box to its seam, and carefully undid the tape along the edge, he opened it up enough so he could slide the box out. It was one of Victoria's old ballet shoe boxes that she had painted over with black paint and added small white swirls. Michael opened the box carefully, only to be greeted with a black card with silver lettering, he opened the card and it read:
"Misto,
Words cannot describe how proud I am of you, for not only following your main passions in life but also getting into your top college on your first try. You have inspired me more than you will ever know, you took the pain of moms absence and turned it into something I'm sure she'd be so proud of. You've taught me so much, I love you so much, and I've treasured these past 16 years.
Your favorite magicians assistant (and sister),
Tori"
"Tori!" Michael teared up, "This is too sweet."
"Well, open the rest!"
He moved the tissue paper that laid at the top. The first thing that caught his eye was a mug, it was black and sparkly and written on it was "the original conjuring cat". Michael placed it down gently and picked up the next thing that caught his eye, a pack of black playing cards labeled "Merlin's playing cards", again he placed them down.
"You know I'm kind of sensing a pattern here. Are you implying something?" He said teasingly.
"Well, I have fond memories of playing magician when we were younger, so I figured it be a cute thing to incorporate. I didn't go overboard did I?"
"Of course not, I love it."
The last thing in the box was a t-shirt wrapped around something. Michael unraveled the t-shirt to revel a jar of candy, he simply just put it to the side and picked up the t-shirt. He held it up to see that the shirt had a photo of the two of them playing magician when they were younger. Michael was in a tuxedo and a cape while Tori had on a purple dress on with rhinestones, and was holding a large stuffed bunny. Under the photo was "never forget your roots."
"Never forget your roots?"
"Listen, it was the first thing I thought of."
Michael chuckled, "Thank you, I love it."
Knock. Knock.
"Michael! It's your dad! Open up!"
Michael rushed over too the door, and opened it, only to be greeted by his father fully dressed and him holding a little box.
"Yes, dad?" His father handed him the little box. Michael looked at it half way puzzled "My dad is not one for surprise presents. What is it?"
"Well," his father said cheerfully, "aren't you going to open it?" Michael turned to Victoria, she shrugged and nodded.
"...okay?" Michael opened the box, it was a set of car keys. Michael's eyes widened.
"Dad!" He exclaimed, "You shouldn't have!" Michael gave his father a massive hug. "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!"
Bustepher chuckled, "Well don't you want to see the car?"
"Yes!"
"Then let's go!" Bustepher lead them to the front door, "Alright. Michael, close your eyes and take my hand."
Michael excitedly complied. They walked out of the door, off the patio and into the driveway. "Alright, sonny, open your eyes!"
Michael quickly opened them only to be greeted by a silver mini-van, all of his prior excitement slipped away, but he tried to keep a good out look on it.
"Now, I'm sure this isn't what you were expecting, but, in order to really appreciate the luxuries of life you must first experience the averageness of life."
Michael gave a half witted smile, "thanks dad. I really do appreciate the car."
His father motioned back to the house, "come along now, we've got a big day ahead of us!" Michael and Victoria scurried in.
***
"Okay kids, just grab a box and start loading the car!" Bustepher grunted while picking up a rather large box. Michael and Victoria grabbed as many boxes as they could and loaded up the car. It wasn't the most exciting thing, but it was something that had to be done. After several trips from the house to the car, the car was packed.
"Thank you two for helping. You both did a terrific job, such a terrific job that I think I'm going to have to treat you to breakfast. And with your permission, Michael, I'll drive."
"Sure, just let me run in the house and grab my day bag." Michael ran into the house and grabbed his bag, as he was leaving he noticed the box Victoria made him, he quickly slipped it in his bag and headed out of the house.
"Let's go!" Bustepher said rather excitedly, "Time to start your wonderful, wonderful life journey."
"Dad!" Michael groaned, "this isn't going to turn into one of your dad speeches, right?"
"Of course not! But when I was your age college was not something just handed to you, you had to earn it! Which is why I'm so proud that you did go out and earn it. I'll admit I was a little apprehensive to pay for you to major in dance, but you earned that scholarship! You put in the effort and I am oh so proud of you!!"
"Thanks? You know I wouldn't have been able to go through with any of this had it not have been for you two and Julia." Michael looked down, "you guys did a lot for me, and I really appreciate it."
"Oh, Michael, we're always going to be here for you!" Bustepher put his hand on his sons back and patted it, "it's what families do."
"Yeah, Michael!" Victoria interjected, "it's what families do."
"Thanks." Michael looked out the window "well if this isn't the perfect start to college, I don't know what is."