The April Fools Gift

" It's finally my turn " as the evil shone in her green eyes, cast with jealousy and a sadness from deep within. The upward turn of the corner of her wide mouth, her full red lips smiling. She caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror, stopping to pin back a piece of her unruly, thick blonde curls that kept escaping from under the black knit hat she wore. " I will make her pay for what she did"

Now standing under the gaze of only the full moon and a few stars. The moonlight shined through despite the clouds and a thick fog that somehow seemed to compliment Carries mood, thick and heavy, trying desperatley to hide it's devine counterparts for the good and the bad. A black cat jumped from the rose bushes and made her twinge with a startle, crossed her path in a hurry, no doubt to catch something himself. Usually superstitous about such things she felt an odd air of delight instead and shivered, taking a deep refreshing breath, choosing this time to see it as luck. "Nothing will ruin this for me tonight "

walking , only her shadow to be seen, quietly, barely audible footsteps hitting the ground. Remembering with anger, the loud, chilling sirens and the screams that still hurt her ears to even think about, filling the air as bright red and blue flashing lights of the ambulance and police, looked like a movie scene. The people of the neighborhood gathered in shock at the scene that tragic night, when all was lost.

Carrie saw her then, standing by the bench at the small bus stop. laughing and carrying on. Talking on the phone to one of her friends, making plans to get together before she left for college the next day. Almost as though she hadn't a care in the world, and perhaps, at that moment, all was in perfect alignment for her.

Carrie used this moment to scurry as fast as the black cat had, across the road to where Wendy was standing. There, she hid behind a large oak tree that was just big enough to conceal her. Carrie was just far enough away so Wendy couldn't see her in the shadowy darkness and just close enough so that she could see her in the moonlight. The smell of Wendy's spicy sweet scent filled Carries senses and reminded her of her mother. Wendy's blonde curly hair pulled neatly up tonight, made it clear to see the necklace. It's gold shining in the moonlight. The thin chain hanging from Wendy's long slender neck, holding the glistening heart shaped diamond locket. The one she had been given as a gift from her mother the dreadful day of the horrible accident. It was found at the horrific scene on the ground beside her lifeless mother, who just moments before was so filled with love and a bright shining light that everyone adored.

Though it had been a whole year, it was filled with sadness at the loss and contempt for what had happened. It still feels fresh as a deep wound that refused to heal that had instead festered and grew ugly that had only seemed to get deeper. Time passing as slow as a clock whos hands were stuck, not moving, Just the sound of ticking again and again, with nothing to show progression. Carrie had spent the slowly evolving time planning her April fools, with as much cruelty as she felt hers had been taken away along with her necklace. Her mother was on her way home and as a gag gift for April fools, Carrie was given a set of keys to a toy big wheel, the kind you get when you're a child. She asked for a car for graduation as most teenage girls dream of at that age. " Hi mom, hahaha thanks for the gag gift " she had texted her mother, to which her mother replied before getting into the car, "you're welcome, but the real surprise will be when I get home," with a loving smile, looked over at the velvet box that held the necklace in it, "see you soon "

Carrie excitedly started out of the house as she saw her mothers silver Kia taking the turn by the stop sign onto their quiet street and making it's way to thier two story large family home with the black shutters. She waited by the rose bushes that lined both sides of their driveway. She could smell the sweetness in the air as is usual this time of year when everything starts blooming with the promise of summer. That's when she saw Wendy heading out and carelessly chasing the black cat running across the road, just as her mother had been smiling and waving from a few car lengths away, her mother slammed on the breaks and swerved to avoid hitting Wendy when her car was struck by the large red truck, hauling the neighbors garbage away.

Shaking her head back to the reality of the here and now Carrie whispered something just loud enough that Wendy heard her. Carries heart pounded in her chest with the adreniline that filled her veins. she was actually taken aback when Wendy turned to see Carrie standing there. The two girls faced each other almost as if for the first time in a year, each looking at the other, like they had never seen eachother before, their green eyes staring in disbelief, both of them in bewilderment. Carrie screamed " give back my necklace " reaching out to grab the necklace from Wendy's neck, she swung around and stopped Carrie by catching her wrist and holding it to still her.

Wendy with tears in her eyes and a desperate attempt at not making this any worse, removed the necklace with a deep sigh of remorse. Both girls crying now. Wendy was shaking as she handed the necklace to Carrie who clung heavily to the gold and diamond piece.

Wendys voice apologetic, her own guilt, spilling over...... " She was my mother too" and hugged her sister tightly.