Forgotten Treasures - Unexpected Encounter

Category: Short Stories | Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2014 1:23 am

Jenny put everything back in the jewelry box, closed the lid and headed to the bathroom to get cleaned up. She fixed a bagel to eat on the way and then picked up the jewelry box as she left the house.

When she got to the driveway leading up to the old woman's home she noticed that the YARD SALE sign was still by the side of the road. She went past the sign and drive down the short dirt road and up the circular drive, parking behind a small, green car that wasn't there before. The house itself wasn't very big. It was made out of cinder blocks and the tan colored walls were covered with pollen from the surrounding canopy of oak trees, making it look older than it really was. The fallen leaves rustled under her feet as she walked up the seldom used pathway to the front door. When she got there she pulled open the old screen door and knocked on the wooden door behind it.

It took a minute or two, but the door finally opened up and a woman in her forties with short black hair hesitantly poked her head around the corner of it, "Yes? May I help you?"

It was obvious that the woman was leery of her so Jenny tried to speak in a reassuring voice, "Hello, my name is Jenny and I would like to speak to the older woman who lives here. She gave me this jewelry box the other day and I have some questions about it."

Jenny was holding the box in her hands and when the woman saw it she rushed out from behind the door, grabbed hold of it and shouted, "How did you get my mother's jewelry box?"

Jenny was caught by surprise, but she held tight to the jewelry box, refusing to let go. There was a struggle between the two of them, but Jenny wasn't about to give it up without a fight. The other woman shouted at her again, her voice crackling with emotion, "How did you get this?"

Jenny answered back, holding tightly to the jewelry box, "Her sister gave it to me!"

The other woman stopped pulling on the box and looked at Jenny with a bewildered look on her face, "What did you say?"

"I said that her sister gave it to me!"

With that remark the other woman let go of the box. Her shoulders slumped slightly forward and tears began to form in her eyes. With a look on her face that Jenny could only describe as defeated the woman spoke again, this time in a hoarse whisper, "My mother doesn't have a sister."

Somewhat confused, Jenny asked, "Was your mother's name Sylvia Daniels?"

The other woman stood there for a few seconds, then wiped the tears from her eyes and stared off into the distance. Then, she turned to face Jenny and spoke in a more reserved and calm voice, "My name is Sarah Jennings. I'm sure you think that I am some kind of crazy woman after what just happened, but if you would just give me a chance, I think that I can explain.

"So, are you saying that Sylvia Daniels was your mother?"

"No, I'm saying that Sylvia Daniels is my mother."

"What do you mean? Is she still alive?"

"She is very much alive. She's inside right now, watching TV. Listen, I can tell that you're a little confused. Trust me, I know how you feel. How about we go inside and talk about this over a cup of coffee? I promise I won't try to take the jewelry box again."

There was something in Sarah's voice that had a calming effect on Jenny. Despite the unexpected attack, Jenny had the overwhelming feeling that it was alright to go with her inside the house. Besides, there were too many unanswered questions to give up now and the fact that Sylvia was still alive added a few more. Jenny smiled and answered with, "I think I would like that."

Last edited: Sun Jun 08, 2014 10:28 am

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