If you haven't already seen the post and the link from earlier, that was a little sneak peek of my "A" story. Now I'm going to post the whole version here:
I begin this story with a grey house that was built in the city of Apa Village, just inside the borders of Arizona. The house was surrounded by trees, a pool, and plenty of space for one little girl to roam around setting her imagination free.
However, this house didn’t always have a happy beginning. When my parents first bought this house, it was surrounded by weeds, overgrown trees and broken windows—just to name a few of the minor setbacks.
As a young girl of eight, I could see the potential in this place. I could see myself climbing trees, swimming in the pool; while playing until my heart’s desire practically exploded. Even though I knew this place was going to take a lot of work, getting the house to its full potential.
There were days I helped take off wallpaper, as well as painted. I picked up broken branches outside, and scrubbed out the pool, while pulling just about any weed that I could get my hands on.
Pretty soon, we saw the house coming to life. I was no longer afraid to be scratched by the scraggily branches, as well as climbing all the trees in the backyard. I was spending every free moment in the presence of pink walls and the outside world.
More often than not, my parents would let me sleep underneath the stars. Not because I was an only child, but I would always find some way out of the house if not. They would usually find me sleeping peacefully on the grass; one arm always cradling my head.
Pretty soon, the grey house came together. I was no longer afraid to be scratched by the scraggily branches, and was climbing trees. I was spending every free moment in the presence of pink walls and the outside world—until it grew dark. Even then, I begged my parents almost every night to let me sleep under the stars.
Often more than not, they would let me. Not because I was an only child, but I would always find some way out of the house. Then my parents would find me sleeping peacefully on the grass; eyes closed, with one arm always cradling my head.
During the summer months especially, I would invite my friends over to the house. No one else had as much passion for nature, as did my best friend Nathalie—who lived just down the street from me.
“You’re so lucky.” She told me one day as we swung back and forth on the swings.
“Why?”
“You don’t have to share with anyone— you have this big backyard that you don’t have to share if you don’t want to.” She shrugged, pausing for a moment. “My brothers and sisters always come into my room when they’re not supposed to . . . they take my toys and break them.”
I began swinging my legs back and forth, to gain some speed. “At least you have someone to play with. Even if they do bug you, at least you have a brother or sister to play with.”
She shrugged again, looking over to the side of the backyard. “Hey…want to swim?”
“I’ll have to ask my dad first.” I kept swinging for a moment, feeling the wind in my hair. “But I bet he will.” With that thought, I pressed my foot into the grass and we walked towards the house.
“It’s really hot.” Nathalie fanned herself with her hand, as if to prove her point.
“Yeah.” Mirroring her actions, I fanned myself as well. “He’s got to let us swim. I think I might die if he doesn’t.”
She stopped suddenly. “I forgot. I’ll have to go home and get my bathing suit, if he does.”
“You can just borrow one of mine. Mom just washed some of my bathing suits a couple days ago.”
The corner of her lips, curled up into a smile, before we both broke into a fit of giggles.”Okay.”
----
It was that evening when things really began to change. I had spent most of the day outside with Nathalie in the pool. We stayed in until our fingers and toes practically shriveled, then laid out on the grass with our towels until we were dry. I walked her home, and then opted to stay in my room and play until dinner time.
When I came down, my mom was straining some noodles in the sink. My dad was stirring something at the oven, and it all smelled delicious. All the extra playing must have made me extra hungry. But I couldn’t stop thinking about what Nathalie has said about her brothers and sister.
“If I had a brother and sister, I would teach them how to climb trees.” I thought carefully, walking into the kitchen.
“What are you thinking about?” My mother asked, interrupting my thoughts as she began setting the table.
I hesitated, wondering if I should tell my parents about wanting a brother and sister. Mom was always busy with her job, and so was dad. “Nathalie was talking about her brothers and sisters again.”
“Oh?” My mother raised her eyebrows in surprise, setting a plate down on the table. “What did they do this time?”
Shrugging, I looked straight into my mother’s eyes. “They always get into her toys.”
“Well, honey, that’s what they always do. Go wash up for dinner . . . it’s almost time to eat.”
As I was near the frame of the door, I paused. “Mom?” My voice came out in a squeak as I swallowed, carefully pondering my next words. The question that had been growing inside me for so long—
“Yes, darling?”
“Why didn’t you and dad have any more kids?”
I watched as dad stopped stirring, as he turned the knob to the stove. Mom, pulled out a chair to the table, as she exchanged a glance with dad. “Sit down, darling girl.”
Your mother and I wanted to have more children after we had you—“
“Yep. We actually tried and tried, but we could never seem to get pregnant.”
Mom nodded along, tears welling up in her eyes. “We actually called you our miracle baby after you were born, because I wasn’t really supposed to get pregnant at all.”
“How come?”
“When I was a teenager, I found out that I had a certain cancer that kept me getting pregnant right away.”
“Oh. But you’re still young, right mommy? Can’t you have another baby?”
“My mother gave me a pained, but reassuring smile. I’m not sure I can.”
Right then, I knew that there was more that my parents weren’t telling me, but I didn’t push it. “I’m going to go wash up.” I hoped off the chair, feeling slightly disappointed.
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