Friday, February 10, 2012

Vestiges

I cleaned the bedroom today.
I had been threatening that I would.
Armed with garbage bags, a broom, and sheer will, I pushed open the door.
I scooped up scraps of paper, broken rubber bands, hair clips, and pencil toppers.
I sorted through the stuffed animals- eventually replacing all but a select few.
And then I opened that box. One of many boxes. I expected to throw it away- until I sifted through the contents.
It was an old heart shaped chocolate box from last year. In it were hearts that she had cut out of paper. The hearts had each of our names on them. "Mom" "Dad" "Jonah"... There was a card from her former Sunday school teacher. And down under it all was a cheap, run of the mill valentine. But, the name on it was important.
I smiled as I put it all back into the box. I slid the box into a bin in her closet for safe keeping.
She is almost 11. Soon, the little box will be all that is left of my baby girl.

6 comments:

Gramma 2 Many said...

I thought you were talking about your bedroom at first:)

Anonymous said...

hahaha Gramma has spoken :)

Karyn @ Candarbry Garden said...

I don't go in the rooms.
Until I am terrified there may be some thing else living in there. Boy are they angry when I do.

Karin @ 6ByHisDesign said...

LOL - I thought it was your room too, but I love from a literary standpoint how it becomes evident that it wasn'! Great storytelling!

Frizzy said...

Can you please come help me next? It's always more fun to clean when you have a buddy.

Wondering who the card was from...

Gina said...

The card was from a boy.