Searching for a Perfect Day

Knowledge is...

“Mom!”

Her mother turns just as the door to the waiting car opens, Anna bounding down the stone steps and looking like she just got out bed. 

“Anna, did you forget that it’s Saturday?”

The redhead rolls her eyes at the jibe and strides until they’re merely a couple feet apart. Her hair is a fiery bird’s nest and she knows her whole getup of pajama top and bottom rabbits looks ridiculous especially for someone who’s now in high school, but she doesn’t care. The mission is first and foremost. 

“I need Elsa’s address.” 

The female elder Andersen looks taken aback for a moment before she composes herself and looks at her patient driver who just smiles at her. She glances back at her daughter, sees the impatience around the expectant face and sighs inwardly. 

It begins…

“I…don’t have it memorized, dear. Do you want to send something to her?” 

Anna nods, her expression turning downtrodden as she looks at the ground between them. Her voice is small and meek when she begins speaking. “I’ve sent her texts daily and she’s not answering back. I thought maybe go the old fashioned route and write an e-mail. That was maybe a week ago. Now I’m really going the super old fashioned route and writing a letter…I mean, I know she must be busy…but I wish she’d at least say hi.” She looks back up, the wounded look contrasting against such a splendid face. “Did…did she say something to you? Nothing happened to her or anything, right?”

Helene reaches towards her cheek, strong fingers caressing her skin before combing back her unruly hair. There’s something in her expression that Anna can’t decipher. She seems…withdrawn? Closed off? Secretive? What is that? 

“She called when her plane landed,” her mother says with a strained smile. “She’s all moved in and is being kept busy. It looks like she can begin in spring quarter like she planned, considering the early graduation, and she’s trying to get the paperwork filled out and everything. But as I said, I don’t have her address memorized. If you want, I can send the letter for you.” 

Anna’s eyes light up in happiness, a quick, “Give me a moment!” coming out of her before she beelines it back to the house. 

In record time she’s back, a plain white envelope clutched in her hands before it’s given to her mother. Helene takes it from her with a tight lipped smile, coming down and kissing her in the cheek before the older woman turns back towards the car. 

“Have a good day at work!” Anna calls, arms waving happily at her. 

She’s given another rigid smile before the door closes, and although the tint of the windows makes it hard for her to see her mother, the redhead knows those tan eyes are looking at her, and an anxiety from seeing that strained countenance seizes her, clutches her throat and makes it difficult to breathe…and she’s not quite sure why.