Helga and I walked to the car in silence. I was still trying to take in everything that she had just told me. “Do you want me to drive?” I asked her.
“What? You can drive?”
I laughed. “Of course. You thought you were the only woman in the world who could drive?”
She shook her head. “I keep underestimating you, Adrienne Whitmore.”
“That’s ok. Most people do. So…?”
“I’m ok. I can drive.” We got into the car and I pulled out my notebook. “I did some sketches of the dinosaurs…and Atlantis.”
“You’re still on that Atlantis kick aren’t you? I told you, I don’t think that it’s real.”
“Well, I’m not you. I think that it is.”
“You can’t! I don’t want you even thinking of going there. It’s too dangerous.”
“Archaeology is dangerous. And isn’t being a soldier dangerous too?” I had her there. She didn’t answer me, but sighed in a frustrated tone.
“All right. You won this time,” she finally said.
“Pull over!” I shouted.
The car swerved to the side of the street. Helga looked at me questioningly. “This is where I want to stop,” I said. Helga rolled her eyes and I got out of the car. “You can come with me if you want to,” I told her.
“Where are we going?”
“Just follow me.” Helga shut the car off and locked it up. We walked down the street together. It was a beautiful day, so unlike the stormy day that we’d had yesterday. I noticed a street vendor selling flowers and stopped to buy some.
“What are you doing?”
“Buying flowers. It’s not a crime is it?”
Helga turned away and looked up the street. I gave the man a nickel and in return he gave me a bouquet of daisies. “Thank you,” I told him. He didn’t say anything, but just smiled. “Let’s keep going,” I said to Helga. She followed me up the street. We finally reached our destination. I turned to her. “I’m visiting my mother and father.” Then I entered the graveyard. Helga stayed outside of the gates for a moment, but I went straight in. I hadn’t been able to pay my respects to my parents because of the bad weather, but now I was able to. I found their graves instantly. Side by side…they had been a beautiful couple.
“Your parents?” Helga asked from behind me. I nodded. Then I felt her hand on my shoulder. “I’m very sorry for your loss.”
“And I’m sorry for yours.” I knelt down in front of my parent’s graves and began to divide the daisies. “They were the best parents that anybody could ever have. Father worked for the government. Mother stayed at home. Father always found time to spend with me though he was a busy man. I loved them so much. I still do. They encouraged me to pursue archaeology…they were my world.” I thought silently for a moment. Memories of my parents flooded back to me. My father with his kind brown eyes and deep hearty laugh. My mother with the same red/brown hair as me and a voice like a lark. She was so kind and sang the prettiest lullabies to me when I was a child.
“I know how you feel,” Helga replied softly.
I looked at her. She looked so sad. I stood and faced her. “Have I been making you sad too?” I asked.
“No…I’ve been making myself sad.”
“Well then…” I took one of the daisies and handed it to her. She eyed it and looked up at me. “My mother always told me that a daisy was a symbol of friendship. I want you to have it. I don’t want you to be sad.” She smiled. It was a happy smile, I could tell that she was feeling better. And suddenly she was hugging me tightly.
“Thank you, Adrienne. Don’t you ever change. Always stay kind and compassionate. Always be yourself. Someone is sure to love you someday.” I hugged her back.
After a few minutes, Helga cleared her throat and stood up straight. “Now you come with me. There’s something that I want to show you.” She started down one of the little paths.
I faced my parent’s graves. “I love you both. I’ll visit again soon.” Then I ran to catch up to Helga.