Chapter 9 Nelli

• I start to rifle through the old musty smelling box of books that had been left on my porch, when I notice a little children’s book. I see the symbol of the Golden Children’s Books printed on it, then a little sticker on the binding indicating that it belongs to the library catches my eye. Examining it closer, the pages are bent back and discolored, but the book is still in suitable condition. My nails peel at the tape as I fidget and try to figure out what to do next. Taking a deep breath, I open the cover to discover that there is a single name on the inside. Nelli Stillson. Looking over the name and tracing it with my fingers I wonder how the book found its way into this box. “Should I return it to the library or to the little girl? Most likely the library has written it off a while ago as missing and bought a new one. So perhaps I will find the little girl’s family and return it to her. Besides, I have been looking for an adventure.” As I get up off the floor of the porch and dust off my sky blue long flowery skirt I feel a sense of purpose, finally. I turn around and out of the corner of my eye I catch the little neighbor boy John spying on me as he runs for the cover of the bushes. “John, you need to be faster if you think I didn’t see that.” I mutter under my breath and smile as I drag the remnants of the box of books into my house. Wiping my dirt caked hands on my skirt a cloud of dust surrounds me and makes me cough dryly. I catch a glimpse of my image in the mirror and shriek. “Good grief! What a mess. I really must clean up. No wonder why poor John ran for it. I look like a ghost.” After laying out a new outfit and taking a shower I stare at myself in the bathroom mirror and notice that I need a haircut and maybe some sun too. My eyes seem to have sunken in a bit from not eating, but I still look good. Two green eyes peer back at me as I brush my long red hair and wish that my mom was still here to talk to. Just three weeks earlier she had passed away quite quickly. No one had expected her to be in the prime of her life and then in one move have it all swept away as the semi slammed into her and stole her vitality away. “I had just talked to her.” That was the only thing I could keep thinking as everyone lead me into the funeral home viewing. Smacking myself in the face, I bring myself back to reality, “However, that was three weeks ago and now I have to move on. I feel completely excited with a sense of hope. After all, things can only look up.” Getting dressed and checking on the internet for the address I see that they only live about an hour away, so I decide to just knock on their door and surprise the little girl with the book. Scanning the skies for the weather, the clouds start to fill in and the warmth of the sun starts to disappear. A storm is coming, and I must hurry if I am going to beat it to the Stillson’s house. As I walk out the door the wind starts to pick up and I smell a hint of rain and ozone in the air. Picking up my pace, I get to the car just before the rain hits. I make sure the water didn’t touch the little child’s book as I put it down and then double check the address on the map. Putting the car in reverse, I look in the review mirror and see John run across the street just before I hit him. I slam on my brakes.