June 22nd 2022
The black Cadillac pulled through the driveway just as the sky was beginning to darken. Pine Creek had changed over the last few summers. It was one of those changes where it wasn’t noticeable at first, there were only little differences. But then, all of a sudden if you looked up, everything had changed. Buddy had endured a harsh winter in the cabinet, which had overstayed its welcome through most of the spring. But something else was off too. The crystal-clear water of the lake had turned greenish with overgrown weeds, and the daffodils that once bloomed all along the porch were now replaced with empty pockets of dried dirt.
Betsy got out of the car, rubbing her tired eyes. Her miniskirt had a little stain on the pocket, and the brooch on the collar of her perfect peach blouse was coming undone. She didn’t seem to care.
“Madeline, come on now; say hello to your grandmother. She’s waiting in her bedroom for you.”
Maddy sat in the car, texting someone. Betsy was starting to regret buying her that phone for Christmas.
“Madeline, now.”
“Fine, Mom, but Jess is having this party later. Can I go tonight and hang out with Grandma tomorrow?”
That tone of hers thought Betsy.
“You most certainly can not. First of all, you’re grounded for getting an F in Spanish. And next, you know your grandmother hasn’t been doing well since the diagnosis. You need to be spending time with her.”
“Ugh, whatever.”
Buddy watched as Maddy dragged herself inside as if she were being sent to her execution.
Around 8 PM the house was completely silent. Buddy heard shuffling by the door before it creaked open very slowly. The door closed and light footsteps padded by. Her body was illuminated only by the milky light of the moon, but Buddy could see that it was Maddy leaving. After a few moments, an old paint-faded truck pulled into the driveway, and Maddy got in. The car pulled down the driveway, disappeared, and then the house was silent once more.
She returned at 1 PM the next day. Maddy walked up the driveway, bag in hand, hair askew, clothes wrinkled and wet. Why were they wet? God knows what that girl had been up to. Betsy sat on the porch, head in her hands. Upon hearing her daughter, she wiped her nose on her sleeve and got up. She spoke as if any of the life she once possessed had been drained out of her.
“Hello Maddy. Where have you been?”
“Mom, I’m so sorry, I wasn’t thinking, I-”
“That doesn’t matter now.”
At that point, Maddy noticed the tears that streaked down her mother’s face.
“Mom, what happened?”
“Your grandmother died last night.”
December 26th 2022
The Joans’ had returned that winter for the funeral. Christmas had passed over like any other day, and the funeral was set to happen the following one—Emily’s birthday. Snow drifted from the dark sky, creating a thin blanket on the ground. The entire world was gray. Buddy was tucked into one of the winter gloves, burrowing deep to keep safe from the cold. Madeline emerged from the house. The wind blew her blonde hair all around, and she pulled up her hood to protect herself. Life’s road had taken some pretty drastic turns for Maddie in the last couple of months. And not good turns. She had made it to more parties than she had classes, and Betsy was threatening to send her to boarding school. Honestly, it didn’t even matter to her. She pulled a cigarette out of her pocket, but couldn’t find her lighter. Looking for something she could use to light the cigarette, she saw the antique cabinet sitting next to the door. She pulled her cold hands out of her pockets and opened it, hoping to find a lighter of some sort. Instead, once she peered inside, she found someone staring back at her.
Maddy froze. “Buddy?” she whispered. Buddy blinked back at her.
Maddy couldn’t move. All at once, the emotions and memories came pouring out of her in the form of tears, and she couldn’t keep it together anymore. She reached into the cabinet, gently picking up Buddy and bringing him to her chest. Holding him close, Maddy whispered, “I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry. Please forgive me. I love you.”