The Sand Dollar

THE SAND DOLLAR

By Kathleen Kelley

    Kathy sat on her bed, staring at the walls.  What now, she thought.  Now she was alone.  Her husband had died, children moved away, 50 and she was alone in Kansas City, teeming with life all around her.  It felt like she was alone on a desert isle.  I used to be so busy, doing this and that, making a home for my family.  Where did it all go?  The mystery whirled in her head.

    Then a tiny glimmer began in the recesses of her mind.  Opening the top dresser drawer, she pulled the contents around to find a small white cheap paper jewelry box.  Opening the box, she gasped, expecting the contents to be in pieces by now.  But there it was, a pristine sand dollar the size of a fifty cent piece.  As she removed it from its resting place, she stroked the top of it with the tips of her fingers.  A tear escaped from her misted eyes. She had forgotten, but now when she needed help the most, here it was, safe and sound.

    She closed her eyes to imagine the beach it had come from.  She received the little sand dollar in the mail sent to her by Janice, her childhood best friend.  Janice had moved to California when Kathy was 13 with a tearful goodbye.  Both Kathy and Janice were from abusive homes.  All they had was each other, then Janice had to go.  One day Kathy received this package.  She remembered there was a note under the prize.  She opened her eyes to look under the shell.  Slowly she opened the yellowing paper to read the message.
 
    A smile started on her lips then spread over her face.  The message said, "You are not alone.  We still have each other. Call me when you need me."

    Kathy picked up the phone and made the call.