When we returned home and entered our home, I knew that they’d want answers. My grandmother and I went directly to the dining room table, with my grandfather right behind us.
“Alright, Chiara, what happened,” my grandfather bluntly asked as he sat at the dining table. Grandmother sat quietly next to him, a look of concern was plainly painted on her face.
I quietly sat down across from them and stared at the wood grain of the finished table. Though the inn is a great distance from us, in the silence, I can hear the guests, who sound to be obviously drunk, laughing and shouting for more food and “booze”. Footsteps of an alley cat on our roof play through the shouts next. I glanced up at my grandparents, who are patiently waiting for my response. I knew I was going to sound crazy, but they have to know.
I let out a sigh, and looked straight at them, “The truth is…” I started.
Ding-Dong
I looked towards the door, ‘Who could that be,’ I thought, but a small part of me was relieved that I was given a small moment of peace before confessing the events of the cemetery with my grandparents. But just as the relief set in, the remembrance of what the voices said about gifts arriving later today echoed in my ears, and I became nervous all over again.
My grandfather was the one who got up from the table and shuffled over to the door. Grandmother remained at the table with me, her look of concern began to show signs of curiosity when my grandfather opened the door. My nerves were starting to creep up my spine; I don’t know what sort of gifts those spirits had talked about or if they were going to be harmful to my family.
“Delivery” was the only clear statement I heard; the rest was a mixture of grunts and grumbles between my grandfather and the delivery man. Thoughts about who the delivery man really was, or if he was under a spell…wait, could spirits cast spells, or do they just possess people? Either way, my thoughts raced with the possibility that something bad might happen at any moment. The next thing I heard was a “Have a nice day, Sir” and the closing of the door. Grandfather reentered the room carrying a large box; grunting most of the way, lead me to think that the box was heavy and he was too stubborn to have the delivery man carry it for him.
“What is it, dear,” grandmother asked when he “dropped” the box on the table. It must have been heavy because grandfather was slightly out of breath after putting the box on the table. After he caught his breath he pulled off an attached envelope and read the invoice to the two of us:
“‘For showing that kindness still exists in the hearts of strangers, we give a total of three gifts…’”
He started to read as grandmother opened the box and started to pull out its contents.
“‘First, an ivory carved fan…’”
Grandmother pulled out a cloth wrapped fan, and carefully opened it; the guard stick of the fan is a beautiful ivory with carvings of butterflies and flowers, on the leaves is an embroidered cherry blossom branch and falling petals. Grandmother carefully closed the fan and laid it on the cloth it was wrapped in, which looked to be pink silk.
“‘Next, a white floral kimono…’”
Grandmother pulled out another pink silk cloth; however, this one had a deep pink ribbon tied around it. When she untied it and opened the cloth, a beautiful pearl white silk kimono with an arrangement of a vivid floral pattern of different colors. It looked too beautiful to touch, like the slightest prick of the skin against it, would shatter the fabric.
“These are such extravagant gifts,” grandmother said as she set the second gift down.
“Yes, but who sent them? Chiara, do you know,” grandfather asked me. I assume, since these were gifts a young girl would enjoy, that they were sent to me; I realize that to be a possibility, after what those spirits had said. I didn’t respond to her question but kept my gaze on the gifts.
Grandfather cleared his throat and continued, “‘…The final gift…,’” he began but stopped abruptly and stared at the invoice.
Grandmother and I look at grandfather, waiting to hear him announce the final gift to us. But the look of confusion was all we received from him.
“What’s the final gift, dear,” grandmother asked; I guess she was more anxious about the gift than I was, considering how extravagant the first two were.
Grandfather cleared his throat again and finished his statement, “‘...the final gift will arrive shortly. This gift is to be placed either outside of your home or inn as a symbol of protection. Until its arrival, we leave an array of scrolls, containing legends and myths about the gifts...’”
The three of us became very quiet after grandfather read us that portion of the invoice. Grandfather’s confusion looked as though it was growing into excitement; like he wanted to know what the final gift could be more than I did. Grandmother stood up, took the invoice from his hands and looked it over.
“‘…We hope the story about the items holds a certain ring of familiarity to them. And that so too will you come to know the truth hidden in their images. We are eternally grateful for your kindness. Sincerely, two wise monks from the park…’”
That made no sense, how could the monks I just met the other day send these to me? Unless… I gasped, and my grandparents starred at me with concern.
“The cemetery…,” I mumbled under my breath, just barely audible enough that only I could make out what I said. But still, they strained to hear me speak. I began to think about the voices from the cemetery; is it possible that those ghostly figures and voices were the monks I helped?
I shot up from my seat and ran up to my bedroom, locking the door behind me. Soon after I fell to my knees at the door and tried to catch my breath. There’s no way I can tell them now; I helped two monks, who turned out to be spirits, which I met again at the cemetery, well actually they scared me half-to-death thinking that they were evil spirits, and now they’re sending me gifts. Yeah, right… that’s a one way trip to crazy town.
The pounding of my frightened grandparents filled the room, “Chiara! What’s wrong? Chiara, talk to us! Chiara! Chiara....”
Their knocking and calling for me started to upset me. I wanted to scream, cover my ears and weep; I’m so scared. So why did I say, “I’m fine. It’s been a-a long day, and I have school tomorrow. I’m going to bed.”
There was a long pause after my cold statement; were they upset with me for running away? I’m too afraid to open the door or call out to them to find out. Finally…
“Alright, Chiara. You’re right. Goodnight, dear,” grandmother softly spoke through the door.
Following that was a combination of grunts and murmurs from my grandparents as they left me alone. When I heard them go down the stairs, I broke down. I cried and cried, wondering why me. Why is this happening to me? These dreams, those monks, and those gifts; what does it mean? What does any of it mean? I cried for the rest of the night, or at least till I fell asleep next to the door. As I slept, I dreamed of cherry blossoms in the wind, sunlight, and a grassy field. This dream was the calmest dream I have ever had since they started.
Comments (0)
See all