Half way there, baby!!

DAY/STORY 15

            Natalie climbed the pull-down ladder that led to her mother’s attic.  Light was pouring in through from the one window across the room overlooking the garage. 

            “Any idea where it might be, Ma?” Natalie called down to her mother.

            “No idea,” she answered.  “It’s in a box.”

            Well, that narrows it down, she thought as she looked around at all of the cardboard boxes stacked one on top of the other overflowing with clothes, photographs, and toys.  Natalie wondered how she was ever going to find her grandmother’s wedding dress in all of this mess.

            “Whatcha doin?” asked Tia, Natalie’s younger sister as she came up the ladder and poked her head in the attic.

            “Looking for GiGi’s dress.”  Natalie walked over to a box that had some pieces of lace coming out the top and thought that would be a good place to start.  “Wanna help?” she asked.

            Tia shrugged as she walked all the way up into the room and then said, “Sure.”

            Natalie pulled out the lace from the box and was disappointed to see it was just some scraps of fabric.  She then pulled that box down and started to go through the one underneath.

            “Look at this,” Natalie said as she turned to her sister holding a dusty pink jewelry box.

            “Oh, my, gosh!” Tia exclaimed as she came over to her.  “I can’t believe Mom kept this!”  She took it from Natalie and opened the lid.  The box started playing a tinkling melody.

            “Remember how much we used to fight over this?”

            “Yeah, look we fought so much the ballerina is gone,” Tia said pointing to the plastic post in the middle where a plastic ballerina used to spin around and around.   Tia closed the jewelry box and then placed it back in the one Natalie had found it in. 

            “Oh, wow, look at this, T.”  Tia looked over and saw Natalie offering her a tattered security blanket.  She took it from her and pressed it to her face.  It was still so soft.

            “It’s the blanket they brought me home from the hospital in,” said Tia.  “Do you remember that day?”

            “Of course I do.  It was the first day I got to see my new baby sister.”  Natalie paused and thought for a moment.  “I had spent the last two nights at the Johnson’s because there was a complication at the hospital.  It wasn’t serious, but I was too little to know what was happening, so I was scared for you and for mom.  I was so happy when they finally came to pick me up and you were there in the car all bundled up like a baguette in your car seat.  You were so precious.”

            Tia smiled and put the blanket on top of the jewelry box and then continued to help look through the mess.

            “How is it going up here?” their mother asked peeking her head up into the attic.

            “Fine,” said Natalie.

            “We found my baby blanket,” added Tia.

            “How lovely.  I’m going to take a walk around the neighborhood before it gets dark and then I’ll come up and help you two, all right?”

            The two girls nodded and watched their mother walk back down the ladder.  Natalie walked to a new box and pulled open the lid.

            “Oh, my, gosh,” she said.  “I found it!”

            Tia walked over as Natalie pulled out the white lace and pearl beaded gown their grandmother had worn on her wedding day nearly 70 years ago. 

            “Natalie, it’s so beautiful,” said Tia touching the sleeves gently with her fingertips.

            “I know.  I can’t believe I found it!”

            “Try it on!”

            Natalie nodded and then quickly pulled her t-shirt over her head.  She stepped into the dress and Tia helped her pull it up and over her shoulders.

            “It’s just like it looks in the picture,” said Natalie looking in a full-length mirror that was leaning against the wall.

            “Oh, no, it won’t zip up all the way.”

            “That’s okay.  I can take it to have it altered.  GiGi was always so petite.”  Natalie turned with the biggest smile on her face and saw a tear rolling down Tia’s face.  “Are you okay?” she asked.

            “Yeah,” Tia nodded and then wiped her face with the back of her hand.  “You just look so beautiful.”  Before Natalie could say anything Tia threw her arms around her and gave her a tight hug.  “I love you, Natalie,” Tia said.

            “I love you too, T,” Natalie replied.  “Thanks for helping me look for the dress.”

            “Thanks for being the best sister.”

            Natalie reached down and squeezed her sister’s hand.  She then took the dress off and put her clothes back on.  She draped the dress over her right arm and then headed down the ladder.  Tia started to follow but then quickly turned and went back and picked up the jewelry box and her blanket and then took them down the ladder with her.

The End