My dad and I are staring at the grave where my mother lays, resting hopefully in peace. Today is the fourteenth anniversary of her death. Today is also my birthday. My dad started to speak, looking down at the smooth tombstone.
"Makenzy was a wonderful wife, and would have been a wonderful mother, had she lived until today. We miss her, and hope that she is doing well in heaven." My dad whispered, looking down at the ground. I stood in silence, not daring to make a sound. My dad started to walk away, and I followed him. When I caught up to him, he put his arm around my shoulder.
"Your mother wanted a boy so bad. That's why she named you Jordan after your great grandfather. She didn't know you were a girl." dad said. Great. He told me this story every year on my birthday, making me feel bad for not being a boy. What could I do about that? I nodded, pushing my blond hair out of my face. We walked out of the graveyard, and to our car.
"Dad," I started. I looked into his face to see if he would listen to me. He looked alright, so I continued. "Can we celebrate? Since it is my birthday and all?" I waited, expecting the same oldNo, today is a day of mourning. Don't you have any respect for your mother? He looked at me for a minute, and sighed.
"You can invite some friends to the movies, I expect you home around eleven tonight." My dad said, not taking his eyes off the road. I smiled, and asked him to drop me off at Bridgette's house. Bridgette has been my best friend since second grade, and this is the first year we aren't in the same school. High school separates me and all of my old friends. He pulled into her driveway, and I jumped out of the car.
"OMG. Jordan?" I heard Bridgette calling me from her house. I ran up the stairs, like I use to do when I was seven. "Happy Birthday! I got you a present, I didn't know you were stopping by!" Bridgette rambled for maybe three minutes straight. We both have a rule that we are alowed to come to each other's house anytime we want to.
"I can stay all day. So, what's up? Let's go to the movies and invite all the others." I said while she was taking a breath. She nodded, and started inside. As I stepped inside after her, I saw a man staring at me. He had a long, red beard, and was sitting on a bench across the street, just staring. I don't know who he is, but this isn't the first time I have caught this man staring at me. As I closed the front door, he waved and smiled, showing huge gaps where teeth are supposed to be.
YOU ARE READING
The Cherry Tree
Genç KurguJordan was born the day her mother died. Now, fourteen years later, the man who killed her mother is threatening to have her killed too. Jordan and her father take every precaution to get away, but he still comes back. Not only is she being stalk...
