Pictures of the Past
By Silver Fox
I walk slowly up the dusty steps to our home’s attic. The dim lighting causes shadows to dance along the walls, the black forms enchanting me. I suddenly feel a wish to run away, go back down the stairs and go back to the safety of the first floor.
It’s not that I’m scared.....
I sneeze, as I enter the attic. Dust stirs up, making clouds as I walk over to a particularly dusty corner of the small space. I kneel, cursing myself.
Why the hell did my teacher have to assign a stupid Family History project?? I hold my breath, moving some boxes around. I peek inside a few boxes, only to be disappointed with a bunch of junk, like old clothes, a bunch of Great Grandpa’s stupid wind chimes....I pause.
I see that there is a large leather trunk underneath where I had been clearing away things. I can see a light pink cloth caught in the trunk’s top. The cloth looks strangely coarse- but as I reach out to touch it, I find that it’s as soft as silk. Funny, I hadn’t noticed this trunk before- But what did I know? I never came up here anyway.
With some effort, I manage to shove the boxes away. I am rewarded with full access to the huge trunk. The dark green leather hide of the trunk is worn, and a large dull golden lock graces the front. With further speculation, I find that the lock is in the shape of a magnificent dog. It almost looks like some sort of religious relic..
I reach down with my slim hands, and grasp the trunk’s lid. I pull upwards.... It doesn’t budge. I give a groan of frustration. I really wanna see what’s in here!! I look about disappointedly. Nothing around but boxes, marked as old clothes or camping gear, or junk.
I plop down on the trunk’s lid, and sigh. I look straight ahead, and am startled to notice that a large silver key is hanging on the way by a nail impaled into the wall. I stare, noting it’s end where a crest, identical to the dog formed lock of the trunk, is located. I get excited- the key looks like it should fit!!
I hop to my feet and snatch the key. Wasting no time, I put the key into the lock, and turn it. A loud groan, sounding almost like a person dying, creaks out, and a click follows. I gulp, and try to open the trunk again. It does!! I’m so happy that I fail to realize how heavy the lid is- I nearly smash all my fingers in it. Yipping in surprise, I let go, and the lid slams down with a protesting thud.
“Damn it.” I snarl to no one in particular. I open it again, this time successfully. I sit back on my heels when I look inside.
The pink cloth- It was a kimono!!! Curiously, I pluck it out of the trunk. It’s was a coat of some kind, with a simple red string hanging from the front. It doesn’t look like anything special- from what I’d learned in history class, this must have been some sort of peasant outfit. I spy more of the pink silk, and find that it is the pants to the coat. Promising myself to try on this strange outfit, I put the coat and pants aside, setting them on a box.
More strange items are found inside the trunk. A small glass bottle- with a chain attached to it’s top. I shrug, figuring it must be some sort of medicine bottle. I continue rummaging through the trunk, being careful not to break anything.
I find rosary beads- most of the beads are round and blood red, while a few others are shaped like a cat’s fang. I closely examine the fang like beads. It looks like ivory!! I put the necklace with the kimono. I would definitely look at that later. I find more rosary beads, this time they are wrapped about a strange glove. I slip my hand into the glove, and find it’s too big for my hand. I flex my hand, and sigh. It must have belonged to a man or something.
More treasures!! I find a small brown vest- it was made of fur!!! I run my fingers through the silky brown fur, reveling in it’s softness. I wonder what type of animal could have such soft fur. Another thing shocked me. In the very bottom of the trunk, a worn Katana lay. I picked it up, and unsheathed it. The blade was rotting away, and the handle was bound with torn white cloth. The blade seemed to sing in my hand, and I felt a strong sense of power overcome me... It was almost as if all I had to do was wish for it to- I put it back into the trunk. No time for playing swashbucklers right now. I had to find some family history.
JACKPOT! I give a small cry of victory, as I set the katana down to rest in it’s spot inside the trunk. A large photo album is sitting right underneath a few silk scarves. Quickly I shove the cloths aside and scoop up the book...
As I heft the large, album from the trunk, I hear a call.
“Kimera!!! Lunch is ready!!”
“Coming Mom!!” I call back, sighing. I set the book down, beside the kimono and rosary.
“Damn it!! I’m late for work!! Honey, where’s my briefcase?!” My father’s annoyed, yet gentle (He’s careful with his tone around my mom) voice could be heard faintly.
“I think it’s in the parlor, Dear.” My mom’s laugh was heard.
“Ack!! Thanks!”
There’s a pause... I can almost hear them kissing.
“Goodbye honey, I’ll be home later tonight.” My father says after a few moments.
“O-Okay..” My mom sounds breathless.
When I feel it was safe to go downstairs without breaking up a kissing scene, I walk over to the attic stairs and bound down them. Little do I realize, that as I close the attic door, the gust blows hard enough for a photo to fall out of the photo album.....
Silver Fox:*giggle* Wow, my first one shot fic in a long time!! Oh yes- how do you like my pic? *rubs her neck sheepishly* I saw this pic somewhere- I don't know where, but it had lots of writing and crap all over it. I think it was from the Shonen Sunday or something. Soooooo, I revised it. Hope it looks okay- I was trying to make it look like a REALLY old photo. Did I do a good job?
Mail me some comments!!!
