Lost Time

Chapter 1: little black dress

"God has many rooms in his house. Arthur Hill now lives in one of those rooms", the priest drones on. 

 I scoff, rolling my eyes. My grandfather didn't even want a funeral, let alone a religious one. When the priest was finished spouting off lies about God and his house, everyone stood. 

I stand up, trying to smooth out the wrinkles in my little black dress. It doesn't fit, but I didn't really have time to shop for a new one. Someone's hand clasps mine, and I instantly know who it is. As soon as we exit the church, she pulls me into a hug. 

I hug her back saying, "Thanks, Olivia, I needed a hug after that awful service."

"I know, right? That song was a special kind of bad." I pull away and nod, scanning the crowd for my mom. 

"Why are there so many people here, anyway? He wasn't this popular.", I ask.

"They might not have known Arthur personally, but they definitely know your mom", she stated.

"Yeah, I guess", I grumbled. My mom owns the only decent grocery store in Greenville, California, population: 2,465. Everybody knows Donna Hill. My mom spots me at the exact time that I spot her. She keeps walking towards me until she's hugging me. 

"Oh, Sammy, how are we going to survive without him?", Mom choked out. 

"We'll just have to do the best we can.", I say sadly. Olivia taps me on the shoulder and whispers, "I'm going to nab us a couple cookies from the kitchen. Be right back." 

I nod, letting go of my mom. "Have you eaten?", I ask, already knowing the answer.

She winces, then says, "Alright, alright, I will also go and 'nab' something from the kitchen."

I nod approvingly, then sit on the church steps, waiting for Oli to return with my cookie. I was surprised to see her walking down the steps juggling several huge Tupperware containers. I rushed to help her and she gasped out, "Ms Berttle wouldn't let me leave without enough food to last us a week." 

"Ah, yes, poor Ms Berttle. Well, what would you do if you lived all alone?"

"Knit. I would knit." 

We stared at each other for a minute, then burst out laughing.

"You would knit? For who?" I asked, still laughing.

"My cats, of course." she said confidently, which only made me laugh even harder. My laughing eventually turned into sobbing, and Oli pulled me in for another hug. Of course, my mother returned at that exact moment and joined in on the hug. 

"The cookies were that bad?" she asked, trying to change the subject. It worked, and I started laughing again. Finally, we pulled up to our driveway. 

Two years ago, Oli's dad died in a car crash and her mom fell off the deep end. She started drinking and doing drugs. She finally realized that her daughter needed her, and that she had to get better, so my mom payed for her to go to rehab. Meanwhile, Oli lives with us. 

Walking up to the door with my key, I noticed a package on the ground.

"Mom! Delivery!"

She looked confused, "I didn't think I ordered anything."

Olivia picked up the box, read something scrawled on the top, then showed it to me.

 'For Samantha' was written across the top of the box in read sharpie ink. "I guess it's for me.", I said, taking the box from her. After unlocking the door and taking my shoes off, I dragged myself up the stairs, following Olivia into our room. 

Oli went to find pajamas and I set the mysterious box on my desk. I stared at the box for awhile before remembering just how uncomfortable this dress was. I walked across the room to my dresser and rummaged through the drawers until I found what I was looking for. 

My favorite PJ's, light blue with bacon print. Oli thinks that they are too childish, but I like them. They are fuzzy and my grandpa gave them to me for my 12th birthday. Which means that they really don't fit at all. 

I stumble to my bed and fall onto it. All I am thinking about right now is sleep and that box. Wait, why am I thinking about the box? It's probably another t-shirt that my friend in Wyoming designed for fun. I met her online through homeschooling. 

I love that I don't have to worry about school anymore. I am 18 years old and I have my diploma. So does Oli, except she is 17 years old. My mom started homeschooling both of us three years ago. Olivia is super smart and a hard worker. She finished a whole grade the summer of her fathers death. I think that she wanted a distraction from all of her problems, and I can respect that. 

Anyway, sleep. Yes, I need that. I look over at the light switch and groan. I lift my hand and concentrate. Oli walks in and puts her hand on her hips. 

"Are you trying to magically turn off the light switch again?", she chuckles.

I lower my hand and lie, "No! No way, why would you assume that?", I look at her incredulously. I roll over and I hear her turn off the light. 

"Thanks", I say

"For what? Turning the light off?"

I chuckle, "Yes, for that, but also for being there today."

"Goodnight, Sam."

"Goodnight, Oli"

I fell asleep staring at the box on my desk. I will open you tomorrow, I tell myself.