My story I just submitted to a contest -Tessa Small

"Can you put this in the attic?" Mom handed me a bag of old clothes. Mom always had a thousand too many projects to complete.

Wanting to help I replied, “Sure.”

 I shuffled upstairs and staggered around hundreds of cardboard boxes. Suddenly my toe caught on to the carpet and I yelped as I stumbled to the ground.

“Are you okay, Hon?” Mom called up to me.

“All good,” I reply. I pulled my self out of the mess of boxes when one box hidden in the heap caught my eye.  I held my breath and reached for it. I had to open it. It was the most beautiful old fashion package. I held my breath and raised the lid. There laid a heap of shredded newspaper. Hiding my disappointment I dug deeper into the box.  My eyes raced through the box and just before I give up I saw a blue corner sticking up. I gently pick it up baffled; it was an old fashion photo. It must have been from my Mom’s age.  Deciding to look at it closer later, I slip it in my pocket and leave the dusty attic.

That night I walked into Mom’s office. I tried to hide my phony smile. “Hi Mom, sorry to interrupt your work. I just have one question,” I say cheerfully. A little too cheerfully.

Just when Mom was about to talk her computer light buzzed. “Uh, sorry Honey, I got an important message,” she frowned turning towards the laptop.

I left the room like it was no ‘biggy’, but inside my heart was racing. I wanted to ask about the photo but instead I would have to figure it out alone.

My mom and I don’t chat together. She has her work; I have my life. And somehow they don’t intersect.

“Hey Honey, snacks on the table. Love you,” Mom smiled as I entered the room.

“-Wait Mom. Umm, can you, uh. Can we talk? I found a photo of you and…”

“Sure, of course.” My mom said reluctantly. She obviously had work to do, but I didn’t care.  We headed for the kitchen. Sitting down I pulled the photo out of my special pocket. When my mom first saw it she gasped.

“I haven’t seen that in years! It’s my class photo, where did you find that?” Mom sighed.

“In the attic,” I force. I am shocked. I honestly forgot my mom was my age.

“Wow. Well, yes I went to school just like you. I had great friends, but when I was in Middle school my family moved-“

“Oh yeah, Uncle Bill and Aunt Susan!” I giggle. “Why did you move?”

We talked for almost an hour and when we were done we promised to keep talking. It was the best feeling in the world.

Some days we would do our own things and others we would cuddle up and chatter. Mom would always find time for me and I would always have time for her.