Part 1: Annie's Mother by Michaela Go

"Annie," the mother said warningly, "Put it down, you'll break it."

 

Annie was holding an antique glass and porcelain snow globe. She was 5 years old. Starting kindergarten in 4 months. The globe was pretty. It had a castle inside. Her mom told her inside the castle was a real princess. She didn't want to put it down. She wanted to hold it. She wanted to hold the princess.

 

"Damn it Annie!" the mother repeated crossly, "Give it to me. now."

 

The little girl hobbled with the heavy globe towards the mother and handed it to her. But as little kids often do, she let go of the snow globe a couple of milliseconds too early. Glass, porcelain, water, and glitter flew and splashed everywhere.

 

A mothers hand slapped her daughter across the face.

 

"God damn it. Go to you room."

 

Annie went to her room and shut the door before she started to cry as silently as possible. She was ashamed of crying. She wasn't supposed to ever cry in her house. Not unless she wanted to make the mother even more mad, yelling "shut up shut up SHUT UP. Just shut up." Not unless she wanted to see the mother tear her hair out, swear at the father, and run for the front door slamming the door and not coming back for days. Not unless she wanted to see the father sigh with exasperation and silently lock himself in his room, only coming out to heat up a TV dinner for Annie and himself. They both ate in their respective rooms. Quiet like ghosts.

 

Later that night though, Annie's mom came to her room.

 

"Still awake, honey?"

 

Annie looked up. Her mom saw and walked to her bed.

 

"I'm sorry, honey, for getting so angry. I didn't mean to hit you. Your mommy loves you so much, do you know that? You're my only daughter and my favorite daughter."

 

"Mommy?"

 

"Yes?"

 

"What happened to the princess? The one inside the snow globe? Did she die?"

 

"Oh honey, no she didn't die, she's free now. She was locked inside the castle like Rapunzel, but you freed her."

 

"Oh."

 

Annie's mom lay in bed next to Annie and held her daughter in her arms, stroking her hair as they both fell asleep.

 

Things always went to normal after the explosive bursts of the mom's anger. As soon as her mother came home, her father came out of his room and talked a little more. Her mom would make dinner and they'd eat as a family. Her father still didn't say much, but instead of hiding in his room, he'd read the paper or watch the news in the family room instead. They'd try to enjoy this peace for as long as possible until the next outburst which was always bound to come.

 

But neither father nor daughter anticipated that one day the mother would not come back. 

 

"She was in a car accident," the police told the father.She swerved in front of a rapidly stopping truck. Truck didn't stop in time. Car smashed. She didn't make it. She didn't make it.

 

Her father accepted the news with the same quietness as when the mother had run out before. He saw the police out, arranged the mother's cremation and funeral, accepted the condolences of friends and family, and finally when the rush after the mother's death was over, he sighed with exasperation and went to his room. Annie heard the quiet click of the door as he shut it.