Unexpected Treasure

Sitting at the window watching the snow fall, all the memories begin to come back. Usually, I jump up and find something to do to keep them at bay but today, the house is quiet. The chores are done. There is nothing to do but sit and watch, and so I do. It was the same type of fluffy snow that made you feel as if you are in a dream. As if the snow globe had been shaken and everything was falling into its perfect place.

I remember long ago when I was not the one perched in this window watching the snow but was hunched over my books trying to cram as many facts into my head as possible. My sister, only a couple years younger than my 16 years, was a dreamer. She expected to find a pot of gold at the end of every rainbow. No amount of reality could ever convince her that good fortune and unexpected blessings did not await around every corner.

I, on the other hand, knew that luck and blessings came to those who worked to make them happen.

I was sprawled on the floor with my books and notes studying for yet another AP Bio test. Sister was gazing out the window exclaiming over each snowflake and snow-covered tree. She even found the holes in the snow where the steam came up from the storm grates fascinating. “such perfect round openings in the otherwise unbroken white…”

‘Oh brother’, I thought to myself. ‘She will learn what matters soon enough’ and returned to my studies.

A bit later she said something about seeing something shimmering in the snow.

“Uh huh”, I said absently, repeating facts about cell regeneration in my head. From the corner of my eye I saw her moving. I figured she was going to the kitchen for a snack. This was her other favorite pastime…eating. I rolled my eyes and continued my studies.

Once I made it to the end of the chapter, I called out for her to bring me some of the chips before she ate them all. No response. Usually, she would have made some return quip about my being the one who ate all the chips all the time.

“Fine, I will get them myself, but don’t think I am leaving any for you then.” After a quick trip to the bathroom, I arrived in the kitchen to find it empty. I felt a bit foolish for calling out when she was probably all the way upstairs and did not even hear. As I headed for the pantry, I noticed that her coat was not on its hook and the door was not locked. A quick scan showed me that her boots were not on the mat either. ‘What the heck?’ ‘Now where did she go?’ I asked the room as I opened the back door looked around. I saw footprints in the snow heading toward the front of the house. I call her name. Then again, louder. Then a third time and waited for a response. Nothing. ‘Why are you always doing something stupid?’ I complain to the room as I stoop down to pull on my boots and grab my coat. ‘I swear, if we get in trouble with Mother for this, I am going to beat you up when she is finished with you! You know we are not supposed to leave when Mother and Father are not home!’

I huffed again, pulled my coat closed and headed out the door, following the footsteps. It was colder than it looked. I considered going back for my hat and gloves but kept walking forward.

I got to the front of the house and saw that the footprints were fainter. With no houses or trees to stop the wind, the blowing snow had almost wiped out any trace that my sister had come this way. I called out to her. No answer. Where could she be? The faint tracks led down the sloping hill and I quickened my pace. When I began the descent, I saw a flash of maroon.

Her stupid maroon boots. I warned her not to get them but now I was glad she had chosen such an ostentation color. I called her again. No answer. The boots were not moving. I began to run, yelling her name. In my haste to get down the hill in the snow, my foot tripped over something and I tumbled and rolled to the bottom. I imagined that is what happened to her as well.

Unhurt, I sprung to my feet and continued my dash toward my sister. The blood was still fresh but freezing fast. I yelled for help, knowing, no one was near enough to hear me.

My parents wanted this place because “it’s quiet and we don’t have to worry about loud, dirty, nosy or unkind neighbors”.

I patted my pockets, only to find that my cell phone was not there. I felt Sister’s pockets and, thank God found her phone.

“Nine One One Dispatch, what is your emergency?”…

I shook my head to stop the memory. Why my parents were so fond of the quiet, I would never know.

For this quiet home in this secluded area, they had worked days and nights, weekends and holidays. This much coveted peace had kept them away from each other and us.

After Sister’s fall, Mother made an effort to be home more. For the first six months, she did not go anywhere except to attend to Sister. Sister’s recovery was arduous. Mother was there every step of the way. From doctor visits, home care, in-home tutoring, meals, and medication, she put all her effort into taking care of Sister and Father and me. Father continued to work both his jobs since health insurance was more important than ever.

When it became clear that neither Sister’s hand nor her mind would recover further, the weariness on Mother’s face began to show. She woke later, moved slower and was often silent and irritable. I frequently heard her and Father whisper shouting at each other at night when Father got home from his second job.

The new routine meant that Sister was picked up each morning and went to school until 5:30pm each day. She was a perpetual sixth grader, with limited use of her right hand.

Though my parents did not ask it of me, I decided not to go away to college as planned when the time came. I worked part-time and took morning classes at the local community college a few days each week.

Their faces showed such relief when I told them I would not be going away, that I knew I had made a good decision.

Now, at 30 years old and getting established in my career as a physical therapist, I am glad I went this route. Mother had to go through some counseling with Sister and thankfully realized that several sessions for herself were also in order.

When the worst of the medical debt was paid, Father quit his second job and came home every evening for dinner. At first, it was awkward with us all together around the table. Everyone had so much guilt and shame around Sister’s injuries. Then one day, in typical Sister fashion, she broke right through the thick silence with the truth, “We never used to eat together before I fell. I am glad I went out to find that diamond.” She continued eating as though her words had not opened the path to allow our family to become whole.

Father came to himself first. “What diamond?” he asked.

“I saw something sparkling outside the window when I was watching the snow. I told Sister I was going out to see but she was too busy studying, so she didn’t come.

“I went to where I saw the diamond and it was in a big bag that had a hole in it. That is why I could see it shining.

“There was other stuff inside but there was some plastic around everything. I don’t know what the other stuff was, I only wanted the diamond.

“It wasn’t too heavy so I took it and hid it in my tree fort. When I was coming back, that’s when I fell.”

“What tree fort?” Father asked.

“You know where we had to cut that tree down so it wouldn’t fall on the house? It was all hollow inside.

“The stump is big enough almost for me to fit inside…well, I used to be able to fit inside.

“I want to see if the diamond is still there.”

Sister had mumbled and asked about a diamond when she had been on pain meds years ago, but we assumed that it was the medication making her delirious. With her recovery and adjusting to a new routine, she said no more about the diamond, and we all continued as best as we could with the “new normal”.

“Why don’t we go take a look after dinner?” I said to Sister’s delight.

When dinner was cleared away, the four of us went outside. None of us were keen on letting Sister outside without lots of supervision, even after these many years.

We made our way to the tree stump. Father knelt and peered into the opening.

“Now why didn’t I bring a flashlight?” he mused aloud.

Sister, as always, had her phone and switched on the flashlight.

“There is something here”, Father said. He reached in and pulled out a dilapidated sack. There were several holes in the bag. Inside was a thick plastic sheet that was taped around several items. Father looked around as if checking whether anyone was around to see us. Sister was bouncing up and down, “It’s still here, it’s still here!”

“Let’s take this inside and see what we’ve got.” Father said and began to hustle us back toward the house. Mom grabbed Sister’s good hand while I put my arm around her shoulder on the opposite side and we made our way back to the house.

Inside, Mother motioned for us all to wait in the mud room as she tore a large plastic garbage bag and placed it in the middle of the floor.

“Whatever this is, I don’t want it tracked all over my house.”

The three of us rolled our eyes but dutifully waited until she had the plastic spread over the floor. Father retrieved some scissors and we crowded around to unveil the treasure that had brought our family together both literally and figuratively.

Compared to that feat, whatever they found inside the bag hardly mattered.