Attic Surprise

 by Lizzy D. Age 15

Fifteen-year-old Andi Carter watched the raindrops slowly travel down the window. She’d become tired of racing the drops against each other because often one of the contestants would veer off and never make it to the finish line.

  Andi picked up her head off the pillow she was resting on and looked around the room. Chad and Mitch were engaged in a friendly checker game, while Justin and Melinda both had their noses in a book. Mother sat politely stitching at a piece of cloth in a hoop.

  Andi stood and walked out of the room, heading for the stairs that lead to the second floor. She walked up the stairs and down the hall to her room, hesitating before the door. She craned her neck to see down the rest of the hall and thought of exploring the attic.

  Andi knew what was in her room. Books, clothes strewn about, and homework. She shuddered at the thought of the math pages that awaited her. She quickly decided and continued down the hall to the attic door.

  When she reached it, she put out her hand, grabbed the cool brass handle, and opened the door. It creaked open, sending a chill down Andi’s spine. Andi could swear that a cold bit of wind had just rushed down on her, but then again, it might just be her imagination.

  She looked up the steepest set of stairs in the house and caught sight of the cobwebs and spiders hanging from the corners of the room. She took one step onto the wooden, creaky stairs. Andi closed the door behind her and continued up the stairs.

  One window was set in the farthest wall, letting in just enough light to show Andi where to step but not enough to explore the contents of the room.

  Andi quickly went down the stairs and went to her room to fetch an oil lamp. She returned to the attic and resumed exploring. She set the oil lamp on a table and looked around the room. Several trunks were lined up along the walls around the room. Some Andi knew what was in them, and others she only had an inkling.

  One trunk pushed way back in the corner caught Andi’s eye. Andi had never seen it before, probably because she never looked into the deep, dark, cobweb corner. It was an old trunk with golden-colored wood, painted with red and green swirls representing flowers, and in the middle of the lid was written in fancy cursive letters, the name Elsie.

  Andi pushed over to it, pushing away cobwebs, and opened the gold latch. She lifted the lid and looked down at the contents of the trunk. On the left, a quilt, blues, pinks, and greens were all present, giving Andi the  suspicion that it was also to do with flowers.

  On the right side of the trunk, books and bundles of papers lay neatly piled on top of each other. Andi picked up the top bundle of paper, tied with a red silk ribbon, and looked at the neat spiraling handwriting.

  Little Girls: My own rendition of Little Women, by Elsie Mae

  Andi untied the bow, moved aside the paper, and then began reading.

  The story began with four little girls on a ranch, and they all loved something different about the ranch. The girls wish to enter a relay race with their horses but are met with opposition from the town folks, who believe that girls should stay on the sidelines rather than race.

  For not being much of a reader, Andi enjoyed the story very much and didn’t realize that she was being called from downstairs until Melinda came up the attic stairs.

    “Andi?” Melinda called. Then Melinda caught sight of Andi sitting up against the trunk. “Andi! What are you doing?” She asked breathlessly.

  "Reading this girl's work.” Andi stood and looked Melinda straight in the   eye. “Is Elsie another sister I’ve never been told about?” Anger was evident in her gaze.

  "Pick that up and come downstairs.” Melinda huffed. “I guess we need a family meeting.”

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  Melinda and Andi sat on the sofa after gathering the rest of the family and showing them the pages that Andi had retrieved.

  "Elsie was not your sister. She was your aunt, my sister.” Mother said. “She was born only a year before Justin was, and shortly after she was born, our mother died. Elsie needed care, and our father was not fit to do it, so Elsie was sent to us. Your father and I took care of Elsie as if she were our daughter, and we made a big mistake by not telling Elsie she wasn’t our daughter.” Mother wiped moisture away from her eyes.

  "When Elsie was eighteen, we finally told her. She was heartbroken, and, frankly, so was I. Elsie was beautiful and polite; she loved to read and, as you know, write.” Mother said, motioning to the bundle of papers that now sat on the table in the midst of the room.

  "Elsie did something much like Kate would do the year after. Elsie packed her bags, kissed you all goodbye, and rode out. We’ve heard nothing from her ever since.” Mother fell silent.

  The room was thick with silence.

  Somberness entered Justin’s and Melinda’s eyes, while Chad and Mitch were somber, and their eyes were downcast.

  Andi looked at each of her siblings in turn, questions filling her head. “May I keep reading this story?” She asked hopefully.

  "Of course you may. I’m sure Elsie would be honored that you’re enjoying it so much.” Mother smiled weakly.

  Andi nodded her thanks and picked up the bundle, returning upstairs and to her room. Questions still burned inside of her, but the feeling of connecting to Elsie through her story was stronger. Andi settled in to read and was soon again engrossed in the story.

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  Andi put down the final page and shot straight up in bed. The story was unfinished! Andi had become so involved in the story that she felt something was missing inside of her.

  Andi flew out of her room and down the stairs, where everyone was still convening. “Did you ever look for Elsie? Do you know where she is?” Andi asked urgently.

  Justin looked at Mother, then back to Andi. “We didn’t have to look for her. She lives in New York City with Uncle Benjamin and Aunt Lydia. They wired us when Elsie joined them, but Elsie hasn't spoken to us since.”

  "Can I try to reach her? Please?” Andi added.

  "I suppose, but may I ask why?” Mother asked with a puzzled expression on her face.

  "She has unfinished business here."

◘ ◘ ◘ ◘ ◘ ◘ ◘ ◘

  Andi had sent two telegrams, one to Elsie herself and one to Uncle Benjamin and Aunt Lydia, about Elsie. She would now wait. Andi had promised herself that if neither were replied to by the day after tomorrow, she’d try something else. What? She didn’t know, but she’d think of something.

  Elsie had left the story off at a critical point. Andi didn’t know what would happen to the poor girls in the story. When she’d left off, the girls were trying to prove they could race by riding their horses on a treacherous path that involved steep inclines, sheer drop-offs at the side of the trail, and raging rivers that threatened to sweep them away.

  Andi needed Elsie to finish the story, and Andi also needed to meet this girl who could make a horse-loving, non-book-lover of a girl be on the edge of her seat at a story.

  Andi took a break from walking down the street by plopping down on a bench. Elsie is probably about thirty-two. I wonder if she has a family of her own now. Andi thought.

  Andi looked around the busy streets of Fresno as she stood and began walking back down the street. She would go to the end of this street and turn around, hoping the few minutes that had passed since she’d sent the telegrams were enough to get a reply.

  Andi made sure she was walking slowly, a hard thing to do, especially in the February chill. Not that February was cold compared to other states, but Andi wasn’t accustomed to the fifty-degree weather.

  Andi turned the street and began the trek back up the street.

  When Andi reached the train depot, she went inside the office and crossed the room, heading for the teller. “Did anything come in reply to the messages I sent?”

  The teller looked down at the desk. “Yes. Here you are.” He handed the paper to Andi, and she stepped away from the desk.

  The telegram read:

  Tell the family sorry. I arrive 2–24. I will explain. Elsie.

  Andi smiled widely and ran quickly out of the building. She went down to Shasta and stuffed the telegram in a saddle bag. Andi swung up and rode out of town.

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  Andi tied Shasta outside and raced inside to share her news. “Mother! Everyone!” She yelled as she entered the house.

  Mother and Melinda came through the door with puzzled expressions on their faces. “What is it?” Mother asked.

  Andi took a deep breath and held out the telegram.

  Mother quickly read it and looked up. “Oh my! I can’t believe it! Elsie is coming home.”

◘ ◘ ◘ ◘ ◘ ◘ ◘ ◘

  The next week was spent in a flurry preparing for Elsie’s arrival. Andi still couldn’t wrap her head around the fact that Elsie had replied to her telegram, let alone decided to come.

  The Carter family was now dressed in their best, waiting on the train station platform.

  Elsie's train was due any minute, and Andi was bouncing on her toes with excitement.

  A train whistle’s shrill call sounded, making Andi even more excited.

  The train pulled into the station and screeched to a stop. People soon began to flood the platform, and Andi pushed up onto her tiptoes to try to spot Elsie, though she didn’t remember a thing about her.

  Chad touched Andi’s shoulder and motioned to her left. There stood a woman with the softest hazel eyes and golden hair. She took Andi’s breath away.

  Elsie had tears in her eyes as she took in everyone. “I knew I missed you all, but not this much."

  Her soft voice carried over to Andi, and she took a step forward.

  Elsie's eyes met hers, and they locked eyes. “You must be Andrea. Last time I saw you, you were only a year old.” Elsie’s eyes moved over to Chad, Justin, and Mitch. She easily pointed out Mitch, who was the only Carter brother with blonde hair. Chad and Justin had to answer questions only they would know, so she could point out which one was which.

  Melinda and Elsie shared a hug, and then Elsie stepped up to Mother. Tears began to stream down her cheeks. “I’m so sorry, Elizabeth. I really shouldn’t have left."

   Mother, who was likewise crying, pulled Elsie into a hug. “It’s been much too long, Elsie.”

  They pulled out of the hug. “Oh, you know, only fourteen years.” Elsie said it with a laugh.

   Mother laughed along, then looked down at Elsie’s luggage. “Is this everything?” She asked, motioning to a carpetbag and valise that sat on the platform at Elise's

   “Yes.” Elsie said this while drying her eyes with a snow-white handkerchief.

  Chad picked up the luggage while Mother linked arms with Elsie.

  "We have much to catch up on. We’ll go back to the ranch and eat  supper. Then we’ll catch up over coffee and dessert.”

  Andi watched with a wide smile on her face as Elsie and Mother walked down towards the waiting wagon. She walked down behind them, and they all loaded into the wagon, then headed home.

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  Andi settled in the straight-back chair they’d brought into the parlor after supper and looked over to Elsie, who sat on the sofa with Mother.

  "So what would you all like to know first?” Elsie asked after taking a sip of her coffee.

  No one wanted to ask the first question, so Andi piped up. “Can you finish Little Girls?" Andi smiled sheepishly.

  Elsie returned the smile. “You read it? What did you think?”

  Andi leaned forward. “It was great!”

  "And you should know that Andi is not my biggest reader.” Mother put in.

  Elsie laughed softly. “That’s wonderful.” She looked over at Andi. “It’s already finished.”

  Andi's breath caught. “Where is it? What happened? Do you have it with you?” questions shot from Andi, her words tumbling over each other.

   Mother laughed at Andi’s questions. “Andi, perhaps you should slow down.” She gently suggested

  Elsie smiled softly. “It's fine.” She turned her attention to Andi. “I’ll show you after dessert. That is, if you can wait that long.”

◘ ◘ ◘ ◘ ◘ ◘ ◘ ◘

  Elsie and Andi climbed the steps to the attic and went over to the trunk. Elsie ran her hands over the top of the trunk, fondness in her gaze. She opened the lid and ran her hands along the left side.

  She paused and looked up at Andi. “I never wanted anyone to read my writing, so I put them in this trunk, but just to be sure, I hid the endings.” Elsie pushed on the side wall of the trunk, sending a clicking sound into the air. She pulled a sheaf of papers out of the opening, familiar handwriting etched across them. She stood from her kneeling position and handed the papers to Andi.

  "These are my treasures. Enjoy them, but keep them safe."

  Andi nodded, not trusting herself to speak.

  Elsie closed the lid, and they began to go downstairs.

  When Andi reached her room, she closed the door and settled down on the bed. She fingered the worn, yellowed pages and began to read.

◘ ◘ ◘ ◘ ◘ ◘ ◘ ◘

  Elsie left a week later, but not without promising to visit again and write. She had reread her story, along with several others she’d written. Elsie and Andi had stayed up late one night, compiling all the stories and putting them together in a book.

  One that is entitled Attic Treasures.