About The Author: Lizzie enjoys spending time outdoors with her dog and family.
White Rhinos and Wedding Dresses
The sun flushes my face and glistens off the mirror and my dress sparkles.
“You need it tighter,” Mother says.
She grabs my corset and pulls. I scream as she pulls it tight.
“Honey, mind your manners,” Mother replies.
Ms. Hannigan comes from the back with a long white veil.
“Ms. Hannigan the dress it just devine, but Vivian has a tea to get to we can not keep James waiting.”
“Jame’s grandparents have insisted on seeing these two before the wedding.”
As we arrived at home, father met us at the door the reminisce of tear strike his face.
“Daddy what happened?” I say
I feel the panic rising in my chest. Daddy never cries.
“It’s... it’s... my mother,” he sputters,
“My... my… mother she’s gone.”
The tears start running down my face. I run to my room. The wood tiles feel smooth on my feet as I climb out the window. The cool roof tiles touch my back as tear rush down my face. I feel safe. I try to hold back my tears. I feel my heart drop she gone truly gone I sit there for a while feeling sorry for myself till I hear my mother calling for me. I walk down stairs and greet my.
Mother says “put on your tea dress James will be here any minute.”
I run up stairs and put on my lilac dress and my new white gloves. James' grandparents are lovely. Suddenly grandma's lawyer enters the hall. Elizabeth greets him. Elizabeth runs and grabs father from the plantation, As mother talks to the man. When father enters the house and the man is escorted to the study there. In there along while. When they finally exit the study, mother comes over and says “He needs you”
“Huh?” I say in confusion as I enter the study he says, “Vivan your grandmother had this for you, She wrote this right after you were born.”
I hold the letter. It feels warm safe almost. As I come out of the study I see mother is leading James and his grandparents toward the door. I run to say goodbye as he kisses my hand.
“Good night my love,”
As they leave, I run to my room and open my letter. A tear rushes down my face. I hold the letter close to my chest. I feel safe. I open the letter. I try to hold back my tears and pull the hard red wax. I feel my heart drop she gone truly gone a I fell a tear weave down my face and splash on to the letter. I read it aloud.
My Dearest Granddaughter Vivian,
I am on a journey to Kenya. I am visiting an animal reserve. They are celebrating the birth of a baby black rhino. The baby’s name is Rumi. I would love to have you with me my baby girl. I want you to know, I love you very very much. If you are reading this letter, I have moved on to another life> but I want you to have all the experience I am lucky enough to have experienced. I am leaving you $700 to travel to kenya. I know your parents would never let you go if they knew what you were doing. So don't tell you dear mother an father but let them know I love them very very much
All my love,
Your grandma Ruth
This shocks me how could I ever leave my home and my family I loved my family so much. The wedding How could I leave James my love As I fall asleep I realize this maybe a good opportunity. I will be coming back. I can't stop thinking about it so I get out of bed and start packing. “ I going to do this” I whisper. The next day after school I grab the trunk I left in the brush outside of school and I run into town and into the train station I sit at a bench I feel like a brick as all my weight flushes to the bench
“I’m really do this,” I say.
I get the courage and walk up to the ticket counter. I walk on my tip toe and puff up my chest sixteen year olds are not aloud to to buy train tickets. A man opens the window “Aren't you a little young to be buying a train ticket ,”
“No sir “
“Very well them ten dollars please,” As I passover the money a chill runs down my spine.
“All Aboard train 3 to florida!”
Africa:
As I arrive in africa the view a stunning. We pull up to the reserve. At the reserve many people are running around like crazy I get out of the car.
“What is going on?” I ask.
I follow a man he said his name was Oni we run in to a small hut a rhino is lying down on the floor he says this is rumi our sixteen year old rhino Rumi she having a baby. We wait for a while and so did Rumi it was nice I really got to talk to Omi I learn he grew up in the town outside of kenya. Then suddenly there was a baby Eze (Eze meaning king) . weeks went by I spent time watching Eze nurse and take his first steps. We fought pouchures and checked on animals. Omi help me trade my dresses in for pants and a t shirt. This was life I had been wishing to live. As the year was coming to a close to an end I started my planning to go home. The days here in africa passed quickly. They felt long but short and I never want them to end. As I feed Eze his last bottle I feel a tear run down my face. “Ive got to go” I whisper in his ear and I leave the ride to the train station seem so long the bird I had heard so many times seem so quiet. The trees seemed dry and saggy. The grey sky filled the horizon and the savanna. As we are growing nearer to the station I remember I get to see Ma and Daddy and james. I get out of the car and give Me a kiss on the cheek
“Bye my friend,” he say.
I turn away I could not look at his face any longer
“Vivian.”
I hear in the distance I enter the train station. I stand in line waiting for my ticket when I get to the counter I see the ticket master.
“20 dollars miss,” he says
I give him the 20 dollar and sit on a bench with my trunk. The bench feel cool but comforting. I reminisce about the good times. I hear a whistle as I am awakened from my thoughts
“All aboard express train to guinea!”
I get up of the bench and walk over towards the train. I hand the man my ticket right this way miss a man say point to his right side his hand are large and fleshy. As I get to my seat I put my trunk under my seat I opened my picture book. I see my mom and papa they look so happy moms white dress looks stunning and papas tuxedo look so handsome. I cry and cry. “
“Are you alright miss?” the ticket master says as he approached me.
“Yes,” I stammer.
“Are you sure ma'am?”
“I am sure.”
“Ticket please then.”
As I hand him the ticket my heart drops. I realize I can not go back to the life I had. I pick up my trunk run off the train and out of the station. tears run down my face as I am outside the station I drop to my knees and tears weave down my face. A puddle starts growing on the ground I can see my face in the reflection. As I see my face fad in the puddle I realize I need to chose my path. It cannot be chosen for me.