The River (Laurisa Cimorelli)

Five: Mr. Gribble

FIVE: Mr. Gribble

Lauren

LAUREN WOKE UP IN HER bed with the blanket still covered her body. The sun is already came out and it's light breaking through Lauren's window. Sighing, Lauren remembered that she had a mental breakdown yesterday in front of Dani. That was embarrassing, Lauren thought. She, indeed, had several mental breakdown but it was always just herself all alone. She doesn't want her sisters and her family knows about it because they sure will get worry. But yesterday, Lauren couldn't help it. She was trying the whole day to holding back the urge to cry and hurt herself because of how frustrated she was, but it's failed after Dani brought it up over again. It was like Dani scratches the match and throw it to a small fire that Lauren's been trying to quenched the whole day, it turned into a fire. Lauren couldn't help it to have a mental breakdown right at that moment. Her body really can't control it.

But little did she know, her sisters knew it all. They knew that Lauren has been like this a lot. They also knew that Lauren don't want them know. One thing Lauren knows now is if Dani had witnessed her in the moment like that, it wont be surprising that now her other sisters knows it all too. Lauren get up from her bed, and saw that there's a bit of dirty spot on her carpet. She remembered that it was from yesterday when she throws away the food. She need to thank whoever it was for helping her cleaned the mess.

Feeling like doesn't have any energy to start the day, Lauren sit still and do nothing except staring at the ceiling. And then her eyes found a teddy bear right above the shelf. Noticed the doll, she smiled. Suddenly she has energy to get up and walk to grab the teddy bear. Once she holds it, she went back to her bad. A smile plastered on Lauren's face. She looks at it as if it was the most precious thing in the world.

Well, it is. For Lauren.

Mr. Gribble.

The old teddy bear that Lauren loves so much until this second. His eyes doesn't look so shiny anymore. The bowtie on his neck is not as clean as it used to before. And Lauren noticed theres an opened spot on the left side of the doll. The smell of it still the same but the only thing that makes it a bit difference was the dust. Even though like that, Lauren still happily look at it carefully because she doesn't want to ruin it. Ignoring the sadness in her eyes, the smile on her face tells a lot about the first time she got the doll.

Lauren was so young and she couldn't clearly see the memory, but one thing for sure is Lisa was the one who gave her the doll and she named it Mr. Gribble. Lauren could imagine how happy she was as a kid back then. But of couse, after a thing happened—the one that she still doesn't know until now—Lisa didn't want to see Lauren holding the teddy bear.

"Don't you dare to hold this thing ever again! You don't deserve this!" Lisa growled to a 5 year olds Lauren. Then she grabbed Mr. Gribble and tried to rip it, but she was so angry so she's just throw it away. Lauren cried in silent, doesn't want her siblings and parents know about it. Lisa finally left her alone after she pushed Lauren until she fell to the ground with a pretty loud sound. And Lisa doesn't care. After she left, Lauren could only cry and grabbing Mr. Gribble and hug it for the last time after she saw the left side of the doll was a bit ripped.

That day, Lauren promised to keep Mr. Gribble as long as she could even though Lisa don't want her to keep him. No. Lauren has to keep him because Mr. Gribble is the only good real thing about Lisa besides the beautiful memories between them too before Lisa turned into hating Lauren.