Sisters | Previous Challenge Entry

how it works

TITLE: Sisters | Previous Challenge Entry
By Wanda Mayhall
08/09/08
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES

Sisters

"Did you say hide and seek?" Mona asked in her slow southern draw. She stopped her wicker rocker and leaned forward. Her hearing aides were turned down.
"No," Mary Lou shouted, "I said watch and see." She smiled, her cheeks glowed with anticipation. These two ladies knew better than to argue with their niece. But, it was their nature to be the boss. After all, they were smarter, because they were older and of course, knew their way around Cedarville better anyone else. Population 1,229 or was it 1,227. Mrs Sington and Chuck Moss died this week. Then, Amy Fisher had given birth night before last, so today, it's 1,228.
"Hide and see, hum" Ruth Ann snorted, "that makes no kind of sense." Mary watched her pump up the porch swing as she busier herself with a crochet hook and a ball of red yarn. She didn't wear a hearing aide. Selective hearing was her problem, Mary had decided.
"I said, watch and see, when you said you wouldn't go to lunch," the young woman repeated clearly, "and you will go!" She stood up quickly, turned and skipped down the sidwalk, "see you tomorrow," she waved, her back to the porch. She was on her way home to a loving husband and two, normal, teenage boys.
The spinsters were her mother's younger sisters and lived in the same house they were born in. They loved old town secrets and hated all newcomers. "It ought to be against the law for those real estate people to sell a piece of property to anyone who wasn't born in George County," they'd say to anyone and everyone who'd listen. Mary thanked God that her mother hadn't been like that.
Mary was the only child on her mothers' side of the family. "Ellie, you're going to ruin that child. Not enough discipline," the sisters would tell her mother.
On their way home, her mother would say, "God knew what he was doing when he decided my sisters didn't need children." Of course, Mary really didn't care as long as her aunts made her oatmeal cookies and chocolate milk. Her mother wasn't raising a dummy. And she, also, knew her mother was aggravated at her sisters know-it-all attitude.
Mona and Ruth Ann lived everyday the same as the day before and the day before that. "That's about to change," Mary muttered to herself. Tomorrow, they're going to lunch. It was planned. She was determined.
Tomorrow, actually begin eight months ago, when Mary found a diary her mother had kept during her early years of marriage. She read an entry saying Ruth Ann had been engaged to Robert Hull.
Mary remembered her mother saying, "if my sisters had found a man to love and whom had loved them back, their life would've been different." So, who was Robert?
A little detective work and Mary had he and his daughter located. They lived in the next county.
"Dad told me after mother died," Joanne said to Mary when they met. "He said she was a pretty little thing."
"Do you know what happen?" Mary had asked.
"No."
"Lets get them together."
"Lets." The plot thickened.

*****

Joanne and her father was at the Diner when Mary and her aunts arrived. They sit at a table for two.
Mary Lou ushered her aunts over to the table. She introducted them to Joanne.
"I'm glad to meet you," Joanne shook hands with each. "Mona and Ruth Mencer, my dad Robert Fuller."
"Ruth?" Robert asked surprised. His gaze intense. His smile brilliant.
"Yes," Ruth answered, "how are you?" Her face softened.
"Aunt Ruth, you sit here," Mary instructed after Joanne stood up.
She looked at Mona, "come," she said, "let's sit over here." She, her aunt and Joanne walked to another table on the other side of the room.
"Was this the hide and seek you were talking about?" Mona asked.
"No, watch and see," Mary answered.
"Well, whatever, I'd say it's about time," the sister smiled. Her face, too, had softened.

*****
As they left, Mary heard Robert ask her Aunt Ruth, "will I see you again?"
"Lunch, Sunday at my house," she suggested.
"I'll be there."
There was a group hug. Each said their goodbyes. Everyone was much happier when they departed, than when they'd arrived.

PREVIOUS ENTRY | NEXT ENTRY
SUBMIT YOUR ENTRY FOR THIS WEEK'S CHALLENGE

The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.

If you died today, are you absolutely certain that you would go to heaven? You can be right now. CLICK HERE

JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.