The final bell of the day rang loud and clear as all the teens piled out of the stuffy classroom. I, as usual was the last to leave.
"Have a nice vacation Tracy." Ms.Kemp commented as I walked past her desk. "Oh, and happy birthday too." she added
"Oh thanks!" I said with gratitude
"You're welcome"
I walked down the crowded hallway to my sisters locker as I did everyday, so that she could give me a ride home. As I came to her locker I saw that she had a rather large smile on her face. Maybe because it's spring break. I thought to myself. But never the less I asked
"Kate, what are you so happy about? "
"Oh nothing!" she sighed happily
"Doesn't look like nothing" I commented.
She then reached into her gray leather bag and pulled out a small package. It was wrapped shabbily in silver twenty-fifth anniversary paper. I smiled, Kate couldn't wrap presents for all the money in the world. But that didn't matter because at least she thought enough about me to get me a present
"Now, Tracy this is from me, Josephine and Derek. It took us allot of time and money to find, so you had better appreciate it." she warned
"Allot of time and money?" I repeated
"Yeah, now open it open it!" she said as if the whole sentence was one word.
" 'Kay"
As I peeled away the sparkled wrapping I saw that it was a book. Not just any book, it looked like a old, old book. It looked to be about one hundred and fifty years old. It's binding was made of leather and it's cover was wrapped in crimson satin, that had dried and flaked in areas over the years. On the cover in black ink was printed in fine calligraphy shijintenchisho. It was Chinese. It was a very old copy of my favorite book. I had studied ancient Chinese for years and loved it's rich culture. I wondered how Kate could had ever gotten it. But despite the age of it, it wasn't really anything significant that would be valuable enough to be placed in a museum. Which I guess helped Kate and the others be able to purchase it.
"Kate, how on Earth?" I asked astounded.
.She smiled "We called around for a wile and finally found it in a Hotel somewhere in China. We bargained and bargained with the owner of the hotel who also owned the book, But I guess that didn't matter, we offered him One hundred dollars, in American money and he took the offer like that!" she snapped her fingers.
"Wow! I would never give this up if it was mine!"
"Lets hope not!" she sighed
"Don't worry bout it!" I laughed
I held the book close to my chest as I exited the school. Oh how I loved that story. It was the story of a shrine maiden who was protected by seven warriors called Seishi, who fought for the phoenix god Suzaku. Each Seishi was named after constellation and was identified by a glowing symbol somewhere on their body. In Shijintenchisho the shrine maiden was a girl named Miaka. Miaka fell in love with one of the Seishi. But their love was forbidden. It was the one of the greatest and most touching stories I had ever read.
I had a underground remake of it that I got from my father when he went on a business trip to China three years ago, because he knew how much I loved studying ancient china. That was when I had been studying the actual ancient language for only a year, but I was able to get the main gist of the book. But now I could read it fluently.
As we got into the car Kate spoke up," To tell you the truth I think this is allot better that what mom and dad got you"
"What'd they get me?" I asked
"Just some funky old necklace" she scoffed
"They didn't know what you really wanted s they just got you ant random Chinese thing."
I sighed. That sounded like them. They didn't give a care about anything that had to do with me. I could talk to them for a hour without them even hearing me. Since they both worked full time jobs, I never got to see them either. My mom often pulled all-nighters and my dad always was on business trips and Me and My Older Brother and sisters were often forced to fend for our selves. But that didn't matter we were all old enough, me being fifteen and Kate being eighteen, Josephine being twenty and Derek being nineteen. And plus, we knew no other life.
The white and blue Toyota pulled into the driveway of our cream colored house. I walked out of the car and checked the mail. Bills. No birthday cards. My parents had been in a big fight that split my family apart two years ago, so we didn't talk to our grandparents aunts or uncles much any more. My parents said it was better that way. But perhaps it wasn't.
I walked up the stairs to my house.
"Anything good?" asked Kate
I shook my head, "Nope"
I went into the house and hung up my jacket in the closet. Kate came up behind me holding a small package in her hand
"this is from Ma"
"The necklace?" I asked
"Yeah"
I picked up the package, and began unwrap it. It was surprisingly beautiful. It had large green jade beads and smaller red jade beads. There was also a small gold pendant on it and also a tassel. They were clearly prayer beads, and clearly also very old. It astounded me
"They got it at a Chinese super market eighteen bucks" murmured Kate, clearly trying to prove that her present was better. I agreed though, it was. But something drew me to that necklace. Something that I couldn't quite put my finger on.
I slipped the necklace over my head. the minute the pendant touched my chest, chills were sent down my spine. My vision began to flash bright red, and I began to tremble. Then it stopped.
"Tracy what's wrong!?" pleaded Kate.
I looked around, almost unsure of where I was, my kitchen, still., "Nothing..." I said in a sort of confusion.
Kate looked at me oddly, "Okay then..."
"I'm going out for a walk.." I found it odd that I wanted to go out for a walk, I never did. But I just had this sudden urge to be alone.
"Okay" said Kate sounding unsure.
