Spirits

The Charm

I wake up, and look up at Temp’s bed, she is still sleeping. I decide not to wake her and to just check my phone. I look and I have one text message, from my Grandmother. I open it…

Kimberly, I need you to come home when you get up. Everything is fine. I just need you to come home. I love you, Grandma

Just perfect! I thought. I wake Temp up. I stand up, and shake her a little bit, “Temp, Temp?”

Tempest rolls to her side, “Go to bed.”

“Temp, I have to go,” I say.

“Okay, just let me sleep. I will see you tomorrow.”

“Bye Temp,” I say and grab my green draw string bag, and start to walk home with my pajamas still on. The whole walk was only five minutes. The walk home was different. I kept thinking I saw something or someone in the corner of my eye, but when I would turn around to check it out there wouldn’t be anything or anyone there. I swear I am going crazy. I try to get to the house as quickly as possible.

When I finally reached the house there was another car in the driveway; it was a white Mustang. I walk inside, set my bag down in the nearest chair, and go to the dining room. And there she was, my Grandmother, with someone with her. I couldn’t tell who it was at first because her back was face me. But then I recognize the auburn hair. I ran towards her, and there she was. I was my Aunt Jennifer. “Aunt Jennifer!” I exclaim, and she smiles. I give her a big hug. I missed her a whole lot. “What are you doing here?” I ask.

“Well, if you want me to leave then I can,” says my Aunt Jennifer jokingly.

“No, of course not!”

Then, my Grandmother walked over to us. “Well, Kimberly why don’t you go unpack and then we can go get some lunch?” asks my Grandmother. I nod, with a big smile on my face. I grab my bag and unpack everything, wanting to rejoin my Grandmother and my Aunt. I was about to run into the dining room, when I overheard them talking, I decided I shouldn’t interrupt.

“C’mon Ma Kimberly is ready! She is sixteen, and you know what Carol would say in this situation!” yells my Aunt.

“My final answer is no!” fires back Grandmother.

“Even he thinks she’s ready! And you can’t protect her forever!”

“Well, I can try! And you better tell that boy to leave her alone!”

I am so confused! What am I ready for? What would my mom want? What is my Grandmother trying to protect me from? And who is the boy she is talking about?

I run in, “What is going on?!” I shout, on the edge of tears. My Grandmother walks over to me and hold my hands, “Kimberly how much of that did you hear?”

“The part that you are hiding and protecting something from me! And that it’s something my mother would want me to do!” I shout, with tears slowly running down my cheeks. Then, Aunt Jennifer walks over and gives me a big hug, “Your mother thinks you’re ready! And she also thinks that you need to come with me right now for your safety,” explains my Aunt.

“What? Safe from what?” I ask, still confused.

“It doesn’t matter,” Grandmother interrupts, “because you are staying here! End of discussion!”

“I think she should be able to choose!” Argued my Aunt.

“I said END OF DISCUSSION!” thundered my Grandmother. I didn’t know what to think! Or who’s side to think! But clearly it didn’t matter what I thought!

I run to my room, and out the door to my balcony. I sit in my favorite chair, which is white, and the cushions have red roses all over. I pull my knees to my chest and begin to cry. I hear a knock on the balcony door, and without looking up shout, “Go away!”

I hear the door open, and close again. I keep my face buried in my knees. “Did you know that this was your mother’s favorite spot of the whole house?” I ignore my Aunt, not looking up to even take a glimpse.

“Look at me, Kimberly. We need to talk.” I could feel my Aunt’s hands rubbing my back.

“I d-don’t want t-to t-talk,” I say, choking in between tears.

“You just did.”

“I mean I don’t want to talk anymore!” I shout through my knees. 

It was a different voice this time. “Jen, she doesn’t want to talk anymore. Just leave her be.” It was my Grandmother.

“Okay, I will leave then I guess. I have to return to my duties out of state,” states Jennifer. I feel her hand being lift from my back.

“Wait!” I yell, as I lift up my head from my knees, “Aunt Jennifer c-can I talk to you alone before you go?”

“Of course,” Jennifer replies, but my Grandmother reaches her hand as if to stop Jennifer. “We will only be a minute, and then I will leave.”

I watch as my Grandmother leaves, and my Aunt takes a seat next to me. “You needed to tell me something?” I inquire.

“Yes, thanks for listening. Anyway, I can’t tell you everything, but this is what I can. You are in danger! You can’t trust anyone! Do you understand?” Jennifer insisted.

“But how am I in danger?” I ask.

“Like I said that’s all I can tell you. If it was up to me I would take you with me.”

“Take me where?” My voice cracked a little.

“Somewhere, in which you will be very soon,” My Aunt reaches out and gives me a hug, “Just remember don’t trust anyone!”

I nod and wipe my tears, and I watch as my Aunt walks out and into her car, and drives away.

I walk back into my room, and my Grandmother was sitting on my bed. “Hey, why don’t we get some lunch and pretend that this ever happened.”

“Can we just make sandwiches? I don’t want to go out.” I request.

“Of course, but do you want to change out of your pajamas first?”

“No, I am fine.”

My Grandmother and I walk downstairs and into the kitchen together. I make my BLT sandwich and my Grandmother makes a turkey and cheese sandwich.

“Don’t forget we have church tomorrow,” states my Grandmother. I nod with my mouth full. I finish my sandwich and head back to my room. I decide to go through a few boxes, which I have still not unpacked when I first moved here. All of the boxes were stashed away in my closet. I pull them out one by one. The first box contains clothes, but of course, I can’t wear them to school. I grab the next box, which has all of my books. I carefully place each book on the bookshelf that my Grandmother bought me. I have many books, but not even close to the amount that Temp has. I go through many other boxes, which mostly contains clothing or hair accessories. I, finally, come across the final box. I have literally been unpacking for hours. I open the last box, and to my surprise it’s not my belongings. It’s my mothers. I pull out a plain short sleeve purple shirt. As I attempt to fold it I feel something fall out of it, and roll to the floor. It’s a charm. I pick the charm off the floor, and examine it. It was a charm of a young girl in a long dress and long hair. It was beautiful. I clasp the charm onto my bracelet, and admire its beauty. I suddenly feel a cold chill across my shoulders. I look over to my balcony, to see if the door is open, but it wasn’t neither is my bedroom door. They are all closed. I quickly get into my bed and pull the white blanket over my head. I close my eyes, and before I know it I am asleep.