A Cinderella inspired story

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During dinner, my dad pulled my mom to the side and whispered something to her. I could only assume it was good news because she had a huge smile on her face. During the first few minutes of our meal, they were whispering to each other, occasionally looking at me. Finally I couldn’t take not knowing.

“Umm. Could you please tell me what you two have been talking about?” I said.

They looked at each other again. My dad shrugged and my mom rolled her eyes, sighed and turned to face me.

“Well, your father just told me some very exciting news.” She said slowly.

My dad said, “I got some news from one of my colleagues at work today that there will be a junior cotillion in a couple weeks.”

“You will go to the cotillion, learn proper manners, and once you’re old enough, we will find you a good husband and you will get married!” My mom said.

“Please don’t make me do this!” I said beggingly.

“How dare you speak to us like that! We are your parents, and you will do as we say!” My father said.

“But I don’t want to go! If you want what’s best for me, don’t make me go!” I said, crying.

“Go to your room! Your father has done a lot to get you into this!” Shouted my mother.

“I never asked him to get me into this!” I said.

I ran away from the table as fast as I could. Once I reached my room, I slammed the door shut and locked it quickly. I went to my bed, plopped on it, and cried into my pillow knowing I was in for a world of pain tomorrow.

I woke up the next morning, forgetting what happened for a minute. The memories came flooding back. I knew that facing my family would be a disastrous event.

I walked down the stairs as slowly, dreading what was about to come. My parents were in the living room, talking in a hushed tone. My dad was the first to see me. He stood up and my mom followed.

“Since the cotillion is coming up, you will have to start sewing your dress.” My mother said.

“Do all the girls sew their dresses?” I said, regretting it.

“No, but since you don’t think this is important for you why should we waste the money?” She replied.

“Elizabeth, your mother says she has old dresses in the attic. You can use the fabric from those to make your dress.” Said my dad.

“Oh, okay. When should I start?” I said looking at my mom.

“Start once you finish your chores.” My mother replied.I nodded my head.

I finally found the box of dresses. There were four very horrific looking dresses.

Cleaning up, I stepped on what sounded like hollow wood. Curious, I bent down and pulled off the wood planking. To my surprise, it actually came off, I fell back with a thud. I crawled over to the little hole in the floor and found a jewelry box. I opened it, scared I might find something I shouldn’t. It was a necklace, actually a locket. It was golden with swirly designs. Inside was a picture of a woman and baby. I looked closer at the picture and realized how much the baby looked like me at that age. I took out the picture and flipped it over to find tiny writing. It said “Me and Elizabeth, 10-17-38.”

So many thoughts were racing through my head. Is that me in the picture? Who am I with? Why did I find this hidden in the floor of the attic? Was I not supposed to find this? That has to be me, right? October 17, 1938 is my birthday.

My thoughts were disturbed when my parents entered the room.

“What is this?” I said, standing up and holding the locket out.My parents exchanged glances. I hate when they do that.

“Where did you find that?” my mom said angrily.

“In the floor. Who’s is it? Is that me in the picture? Who am I with? Why was it in the floor?” I replied.

My mom looked like she saw a ghost. She smacked my dad on the arm. He got the message.

“Oh, uh why were you looking through the floorboards?” My dad said in a fake strict tone.

“I heard it was hollow and I wanted to know why.” I said flatly.

“Well, that has nothing to do with you so put it back, forget about it, and come downstairs. You don’t need to do anything in here anymore. The attic is clean and you found the dresses. Leave it be, Elizabeth.” My dad said sounding a little tougher.

“It has my birthday and name on it. It has to involve me, and I want to know why.” I said holding out the small photograph.

“Please Elizabeth, just put that back where you found it, and come downstairs. It’s time for dinner.” My dad said in an annoyed tone.

“Fine.” I said.

“Good, thank you.” He replied. I walked over to the hole, put the picture back in the locket, and as I reached to get the jewelry box, I quickly shoved the necklace in my pocket. I put the box in the floor.

I gave him a small smile and nodded. I grabbed the dresses and followed them downstairs.

The next day during school lunch I went to the library. I showed the librarian the photo, asking her is she knew anything about it. I doubted she would know, but I had to start somewhere.

“That looks like Helena Day.” She said.

“Who?” I replied.

“She was a student here. There might be a yearbook somewhere. Give me a minute.” She answered.

I was shocked! I couldn’t believe I found her already. A couple minutes later she came out holding a book. We flipped through it for a couple minutes before finding her. I held the locket up to the book. Yeah, that was her.

“D-do you know how to reach her?” I asked hopeful.

“Last I know is that she went to college.” She said.

“Wow. She went to college? Do you know where?” I replied.

“No I’m so sorry.” She said.

The lunch bell rang.

“Can I check the yearbook out?” I asked.

“Sure.” She said.

“Thank you so much!” I said grinning. I waved goodbye and rushed to class.That night, after my parents fell asleep, I snuck downstairs to find the phone book. I couldn’t find a number any colleges around.

For the next two weeks, I had to work on sewing my dress. When I wasn’t at school or doing homework, I was sewing. I had no free time to look for Helena.

I broke my needle. My only one left.

I said “Mom, I broke my last needle I will be quick, I just need to go to the sewing store and buy some new needles.”

“Fine but if you aren’t back in twenty minutes, beware.” She said.

I got there in five minutes, out of breath. It had to be record. I realized it was Sunday, and not many stores would be open. I looked around at all the stores. The sewing store was closed. I saw that a drug store was open.

It was worth a shot. I rushed through. I ran up to the checkout counter, not watching where I was going. I ran into someone we both fell back.

“Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry!” I said .

“It’s alright dear!” She said.

I looked up. She looked like the lady in the locket. I was staring, jaw dropped.

“Um, are you alright?” She said, smiling a little.

I took my locket off, fumbling with the lock.

“I-is this you?” I said handing the necklace to her.

She took it, Standing up as she did. I got up after her, holding her bag. She gasped and looked at me, then back at the locket.

“Umm, Y-yeah that is me. I have to go.” She said nervously. She took the bag, handed me back the locket and rushed out the door, looking back and giving me a small smile before she left. I ran after her.

“Wait, Helena! Please wait!” I yelled, chasing her down the street. She stopped and looked back at me. She was crying.

“Please tell me why we are together in this picture.” I said looking at the necklace.

“Where did you find it?” she said.

“Um, in my parents attic. Why?” I replied.

“Do your--um--parents know you found it.” She said, twiddling her thumbs.

“Yeah. They freaked out though.” I said tearing up.

“Oh. I don’t think I can tell you then.” She said, looking at her feet.

“Please, I have to know!” I was sobbing now. I fell to me knees, covering my face with my hands as I cried.

“Oh honey, please don’t cry!” Said Helena, coming to my side.

“I, I just can’t b-be with them anymore! It’s killing me, I n-need to know.” I said, crying harder.

She was sitting with me, rubbing my back.

“Okay.” She said with a sigh. “I’m your birth mom. My parents, your grandparents, didn’t want me raising you because I was in college at the time. So they asked my sister and her husband to take you in and raise you. They graciously accepted you.” She said.

“What!?” I said looking at Helena.

“It’s true. I don’t know why your parents didn’t tell you. They were probably nervous you would want to leave or something.” She said with a shrug.

“I do want to leave. I don’t want to go to the cotillion, or sew my dress or get married like they want me to.” I said.

“Please, you just have to go to that cotillion thing!” She said nervously. “They can’t know you met me.”

“Why? Why do I have to go to the cotillion?!” I said.

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Excessive Violence
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"The Locket"

Name: The Locket
Author: Sbowen3

Sbowen3

Elizabeth discovers a hidden locket in her attic that leads her to uncover the truth about her birth mother and challenge her adoptive parents' traditional expectations.

(20 pages)

Privacy level: PUBLIC

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