Meet Me By the Old Oak Tree

Chapter 1

“Come on, Scar!” I yelled loudly running over to the old oak tree. I shrieked suddenly as Scarlett tackled me to the ground. I faintly heard my mom yelling at us; specifically at Scarlett. Her voice began to get louder as she got closer. Next thing, Scarlett was getting ripped off of me.

            “Girls!” my mother screamed in an angry voice. She gave us both the death stare and Scarlett and I exchanged a glance then burst out laughing.

            “Ellis and Scarlett,” mom said sternly. We both tried to put on a serious expression and refused from looking at each other. We both stared at our mom. After about a minute I started fidgeting, eager to go play on the oak tree. I pressed my lips together to keep from speaking. It didn’t work.

            “Can we please go play now?” I blurted out. Scarlett gave me a look that said she wasn’t impressed. Even though we acted like best friends, we were still sisters and she was older than me. Mom gave me the same look as Scarlett, but waved us off and said,

            “Yes, yes, go and play,” but then she added loudly as we were already half way there. “Just be careful!”

            Scarlett and I raced to the tree. I let my hair loose and let my legs have freedom. I just ran with my sister. We were so happy and free from fear or sadness.

**

            I was in the hospital with my mom. She was sad, but I didn’t know why. Mom said Scarlett was sick. Really sick. That did make me sad but I didn’t understand why she was that sad. I was just sad that Scarlett wouldn’t be able to play by the old oak tree for a bit. Whenever we usually got sick mom didn’t cry. I didn’t understand what the difference was now.

            “Why are you sad, mommy?” I asked curiously.

            “Scarlett has this sickness, you see, it’s called Cancer,” she said. I looked at her. Cancer. I’d heard about it before.

            “It’s bad but she’s going to get better, right?” I said, my voice quivering. Suddenly fear consumed my body. Was mom sad because she thought Scarlett might stay sick… forever? She couldn’t stay sick forever. I needed her to play with me by the old oak tree. To help me clean my room when my told me to. To talk to me when I need to talk to someone. Scarlett couldn’t stay sick!

            “Of course, sweetie,” said my mom. Her eyes were uncertain though. Mom said it and she wouldn’t lie, right?

            “Promise?” I asked.

            “Promise.”