A Fire Flower for Amy

                                                             





                                                              “A Fire Flower for Amy”



      Lindsay was enjoying her last weekend before returning to law school. She always watched the fireworks on Labor Day and always at the same place on the beach. Every year this ritual had been the same for her and her family.



      The family had finally stopped coming to the beach and so did she. But this year was different. She decided to return and she came alone. She leaned back against one of the pilings that supported the long pier. It jutted far out into the water where the fireworks were going to be set off.  The night sky held a thousand stars and an enormous full moon.



      Her beach bag held drinks, snacks and a large wooden red cigar box that Grammy had given her younger sister, Amy. The scents of molasses, nutmeg and rum still escaped from the box. It reminded her of her grandfather. She missed him so much.  He and Grammy were two of the most endearing people she had ever known.

   

    When her grandfather became prisoner to his wheelchair, they would sit out on the front porch together. She would constantly plump up his pillow behind his head. She would check the blanket on his lap to make sure he was covered. She would hold and have him inhale his lit cigar. She of course, would try to stifle her choking from lighting it. He would slowly turn to her and whisper, “You’re still my doll baby.”

   

    Small and petite, she would reply in her best southern imitation of a southern bell’s drawl with, “Oh, mercy me! Don’t you let my husband hear you say that, dahlin’.”



    She would then begin to giggle, thinking it was just their secret but it wasn’t. A few times Lindsay had stayed hidden on the side of the porch, watching this scene play out over and over again.  Grammy  would lovingly kiss him on his cheek and pat his hand. This was their ritual, whether permitting, until the day he finally passed.

.     



      Lindsay remembered the time that she and her sisters were punished for staying out past dark.  Disagreeing on most things, her parents began to squabble over whether or not they should be allowed to have their supper. Grammy stepped in, refusing to mind her business and chirped, “Oh, nonsense! These little girls have to eat! I can see taking away their desert. That should be punishment enough, don’t you think?” She stood firm, waiting for their reply. Her parents gave in, knowing they couldn’t make one sound decision between them. They had all sighed with relief.



      After they had all gone to bed, Grammy crept in with Oreo cookies and milk. She whispered, “Don’t say one word, my little dolls. It’s our very own secret. Promise?” A lump formed in Lindsay’s throat and tears slowly slid down her cheeks. God, she missed her!



    There was still time before she had to open the box. Grabbing a bottle of the ice tea she brought, she took a big gulp.  A little too sweet she thought.  She’d rather of had the sun tea that Grammy used to make. Reaching down taking off her sandals, she sank her feet into the wet smooth sand. It felt so cool and soothing. Inhaling the salty night air deeply, she relaxed and closed her eyes.



    Her thoughts began to drift again to past Labor Day Celebrations. Along with the sun tea, Grammy supplied the Oreo cookies and chips. Lindsay missed these gatherings. Her parents were oblivious to whatever they did or said at times like these. They would mumble and bicker between themselves while drinking their beer. Lindsay would watch her two younger sisters, with Grammy at the helm. Grammy would tell her stories about when she was a little girl. Lindsay wondered what kind of memories she would bring to the table with her own family one day. 



    Maggie, the “baby” as she is still called, was always busy looking for sand crabs and shells. Everyone gave into her, no matter what. They would sneak shells behind her, when she wasn’t looking. It kept her from whining and begging. Lindsay and Amy persevered with her, with Grammy’s help, of course.  She was a constant pest, but after all, she was the youngest.



    Amy was busy too, searching for God knows what. Lindsay and her sister were connected at the hip. She never resented Amy following her around or asking her questions. When she couldn’t answer them, Grammy would come to her rescue. Amy was sweet, kind and giving. Always adventurous and wanting to learn, she was a wide-eyed little darling. Even Lindsay’s own friends didn’t mind when she went along with them to the movies, until they got older. No wonder! She never told tales on them and always shared her candy with everyone. She was a good listener and as far as Lindsay was concerned, she was her little angel.



    She remembered the last time Amy was with them, here on the beach, before she was suddenly taken from her.

    “Amy what are you looking for, honey?"

    “Fire flowers, silly. You know that!  If I can catch just one beautiful fire flower, I will take it home and keep it forever,” she would reply in her small squirrelly voice. Her curly blonde head kept nodding like a bobble head doll on a dashboard.



    Lindsay laughed and gave her a warm hug.  Amy was magnetic. She attached herself to the hearts of everyone who knew her.She didn’t understand any of it, but she always played along with Amy’s fantasy.



  “Okay, then. Show me when you find them and I will help you catch them.”

    “Well, you may not be able to see them so easily. Their magical,” Amy whispered. “I have only seen them for a very short while. Then poof! They’re gone.” She threw her arms up, exasperated and her lips came together, forming a pout. Her bottom lip was so far up, Lindsay almost laughed hysterically.   

    “Oh?”

    “Yes and if you can catch just one and always keep it beautiful and sparkly, you will become a fire flower too.”

    “What happens after you become this beautiful flower?”

    “Fire flower,” she corrected me.  She pointed to the over-sized moon. “Then you will go way up there and be with all the other fire flowers, silly.”



    Eyes swelling with tears, she could still hear the screeching of the brakes, when Amy ran out into the street to get her ball. It had happened so fast. One minute she was so alive and the next, she lay lifeless on the ground.



    Lindsay would always wonder if she could have prevented the accident. Grammy of course, reassured her over and over that it wasn’t her fault. Her parents grieved, but Grammy was devastated. She had lost one of her little “dolls.” 



    Grammy only stayed a while longer. A few months later she passed. Lindsay knew Grammy just wanted to be with her grandfather and her “other little doll.” 



    Lindsay picked up the wooden box and clutched it fiercely against her chest. With Amy’s passing, she had left a hole in everyone’s heart. Lindsay knew hers would never heal.



                                                                      ********



      Finally, the first rocket went off and everyone on the beach yelled with delight. Lindsay was brought back to the present.



      The displays were spectacular, lighting up the sky with an array of colors.  Soon the second rocket exploded and Lindsay reached down to grab some chips. Her body jolted backward as she looked down into the wet sand. She couldn’t believe it! The reflection of the falling cascades of color appeared before her eyes. Oh my God, Amy! I should have known! This is why you scooped up the wet sand and quickly put it in your little boxes to bring home.



    Lindsay quickly opened the wooden box. She already knew what was in there, but it held new meaning for her now.  There were some small sea shells, a picture of the family and three small cardboard jewelry boxes. Each box was secured tightly with a rubber band.

 

    She opened one up and saw the beach sand. There were no pretty colors and no sparkles. Lindsay finally understood why Amy would become so upset, after she returned home.  “The magic is gone. The magic is gone… Again! I’ll never have a fire flower and I’ll never be a fire flower,” she would scream. No one ever understood any of it and more importantly, neither did Lindsay. Everyone could only tell her it was okay.  Grammy would apologetically whisper to her, “You’ll find your fire flowers one day, honey. You’ll see.”



    Lindsay took out the picture and the shells and quickly placed them in her beach bag. Her heart pounding, she poured the three smaller boxes of sand back into the larger, red one.



    The Grand Finale began and Lindsay wished Amy could be with her now. She saw the bursts of color and their reflections sparkling in the sand.



    Lindsay quickly scooped up the fire flowers of every color with both hands and placed the wet sand into the box. She cupped one hand and quickly splashed more water into the container. Holding the box high, the wet sand held reflections of all the sparkle cascading down upon the water. While the rockets burst, a cascade of every color of the rainbow spilled downward and seemed to fill the red box. She aimed the fire flowers right toward the waiting moon.  She threw the sand up and away. She knew Amy could see her and all the magic and wonder below. 



    “They’re all for you, Amy. My sweet angel. My beautiful little fire flower.”





1658 Word Count

July Entry for Short Shots



Ps. “A special thank you to all the Judges and their kind reviews and expertise. I learned a lot!”



Janice Weinberger

“Inker”

July 2009