Short Stories

Greatness in Makings

Thin, not so delicate, callused fingers carefully thumbed the cardboard sleeves that held her one true loves. A dreamy smile permanently fixed to her pale, freckled face as the soft steady rhythm of sax and drums filled the small main room. She swayed on her feet, back and forth in fluid motion to the beat, humming to herself in time with the song that played from the speakers fixed next to the register. Everything else could fade away, and leave only her, in this single moment.

She reached back further into the stained black milk crate, aiming to pull out one of her bosses newest finds: early Miles Davis. Laughing as her rounding stomach pressed into the bin, her fingers grasped it and pulled it forward. She moved around the rows of crates filled with odd collections of precious vinyl albums in their old fashioned sleeves, and stopped before the worn brown record player. Technically it was here for people to listen to the albums before they purchased them, but vinyl being what it is, she'd never let someone handle the player here in the store themselves. She bumped off the old record and replaced it, sliding the arm back into place, allowing the needle to carefully hit the vinyl album and letting the store once again be filled with the sweet sound of jazz.

Miles Davis floated from the player, a sound no other form of music could ever match. She smiled to herself as she danced back down the isles tight red curls bobbing on her head the beat she kept, and she place the previous album back in its home. She could almost spend the rest of her life here in this store, with this music. There was nothing else like it in the world.

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

She gasped softly in surprise, hand moving to her swollen stomach. It would seem the small life she was growing inside her also had a fondness for the great Mr. Miles Davis, because every time she put him on the kicking would start. It was almost as though he danced as she did to the beat of the greatest sound in the world. She rubbed her hand over her stomach soothingly, once again humming in time with the song, it wouldn't be long now.

It had been almost ten months since she'd made the life changing decision to help a couple complete their family. And it wasn't that she was regretting her choice to do so because Lionel and Caleb were wonderful people, and she knew that they were going to make wonderful parents. No it was that she was truly going to miss the little guy, who seemed to take on so many of her odd and familiar traits.

She could remember the day they had all signed the surrogacy agreement, and how they'd cried because of the opportunity she was giving them. And lets be honest, she wasn't getting nothing from this either. She was finally going to be able to afford that school she'd been wanting to go to, and study music the way she'd always dreamed of. She sighed, her hand on the still moving toes in her stomach. Yes, but she would definitely miss the dancing.

“Hey Camila!” She turned slowly to welcome the customer into the shop.

“Hey Arty, how have you been? I haven't seen you in a while.”

He smiled at her hopping around the counter. “Yeah, I've been busy at school. Do you have a sec? I need you're opinion on something I'm working on.”

She smiled as small toes moved to the soulful jazz symphony beneath her hand, and she surged forward. “Sure, I've got some time for you Arty.”

Tying the Knot

Jack had finally done it; Jill looked down lovingly at her extended hand, flashing the newest extension to their relationship that was proudly displayed on her left hand. She pondered over what to do first, they could get married on a secluded beach. She'd always dreamed of getting away from the small sleepy town where everyone was known to all and gossip spread like fire on dry brush.

She glanced over at the clock beside the bed, knowing she had to get up tomorrow early in the morning to make her way down to her families small bakery but she was too excited to sleep. How could she possibly turn off all the emotion that desperately wanted to come barreling out of her, exclaiming to the world her dreamy soul!

She lay back in the plush pillows of her twin bed, and looked up at the princess canopy that she'd known most of her life. She couldn't wait to get out of here, and make a fresh start somewhere no one knew them. Jill glanced over to her dresser, her eyes catching on the crown that brought them together that simple day so long ago.

They had been neighbors in the way that kids down the street could be. Jill had been born here, and Jack's family had moved back when his dear grandmother had passed away leaving them the house at the end of the lane. He and Jill had become instant best friends, and often played together, ran away together, and finally falling in love with one another. Their folks liked to say they were destined from the moment they met, but Jill didn't know if she believed in any of that nonsense. But she certainly did believe in their love.

She shook herself, bringing her thoughts back to the present. Jack giving her this ring meant he was ready to finally make their lives complete... They could get their own little place, and finally be happy away from everyone’s questioning eyes. How many times had they come home to gossip on their doors? She didn't dare count; couldn't count; wouldn't count them.

Jill pulled the blankets tighter around herself, wonder what our wedding will be like... She didn't want anything big like all those other girls she went to school with. In fact, just the two of them would be fine with her. She knew Jack would never go for it, he thought she needed everyone to be there, to show off. That's not really what she wanted, just Jack. Just the two of them the way it's always been, she didn't even care if her dress was white. Some would say she certainly couldn't get away with wearing white.

She sighed and turned on the small spiraling light next to her bed, it was just bright enough to cast a romantic glow. She laid back further, snuggling down into the blankets and letting her pale blonde hair fall splaying on the rosey pink pillow. Jill smiled slightly her head tipping to the side as she drifted off into dreams of her future, her wedding, and the beautiful family she was starting with the only man she could ever love. Her best friend.

Beneath the Stairs

     She crept, slowly, spiraling down the cold metal from the jagged stairs digging into her bare feet.   She should not be doing this. It was mad to think she could defend herself against an intruder, but she'd been unable to wake Henry to check on the earth shaking noise that had awoken her.

     Thunk... Thunk.....

     There it went again. She stilled on the stairs, her palm, now sweating gripping the banister hard enough that splintered wood burrowed into her clammy skin. She inhaled deeply conjuring up the courage to continue the decent down into the chilly cellar.

     This was the worst idea ever.

     Thunk... Thunk....

     Someone else should really be doing this.

     Each run dug a little harder into her cold feet, and each step made her shake a little more. She hadn't even had the good sense to grab a flashlight from the kitchen as she'd passed, she was just hoping there was one at the bottom of the stairs where they usually kept it. Or maybe Henry had finally fixed the light down here. Sigh, she could only hope.

     Sadie reached the bottom rung of the spiraling metal stairs, and stood there peering into the darkness. She reached for the wall, hand groping for light. Where was that stupid switch? Her hand brushed over the plate, fingers finding it and pushing it up. Nothing... She flipped it up and down 2 more times before giving up on Henry and his “I'll fix that I swear” speeches. Why did she even bother believing him anymore?

     She shivered, toes finding the cold cement ground. It was freezing down here, she should have put something else on. Tip-toeing around the right side of the stairs, she almost ran completely into the work table that should hold a flashlight. She steadied herself, and began to search the tabletop for it. Several times she'd thought she'd found it, just to realize that what she was holding shouldn't even be in the basement to begin with, or on this table.

     Ah-ha! Finally she gripped it, tightly in her clammy hands. Her thumb found the switch and flipped it, nothing. She turned it back off and shook it a few times, then tried it again. Success! The glow from the flashlight was not very bright, but it helped her to see a little more clearly in the darkened room.

     Thunk... Thunk......

     She gasped spinning on her toes, pointing the light toward the direction of the noise. It was even louder down here. How could Henry be sleeping through this? Sadie shook herself slightly, and tip-toed around the spiraling stairs, casting the beam of light forward.

     She cast the light up higher, it's flickering beam dancing up the wall where the window stood ajar. Why on earth was a window open down here? She rushed forward, hand bracing on the wall as the other reached up to pull down and latch the lock. She would have to have Henry check all of the windows tomorrow, when it was light.

     “Meow... Meow.... Meow...”

     Sadie stopped, turning the light to the back of the stairs, creeping back toward the sound... They didn't have any kitties. The light flashed over a worn tan cardboard box; the sides had been comfortably crushed down, and the blankets inside flowed over the outside of the box in colors of oranges, blues, and greens.

     “Meow...”

     There she stood peering down into the box at 3 small balls of orange, black, gray, and white fluff. They were so small inside the box, cuddling up onto each other trying to keep warm. She reached into the box, letting them rub lovingly against her skin.

     “Honey? Are you down there?”

     She smiled, “Yes, it seems our family just got a little bit bigger.”