Memories

Won -- 7/27/05

ID: 896794   (Rated: 13+) Daily Flash Fiction Challenge  Enter your story of 300 words or less. Note new starting time! by arakun the twisted raccoon

         When Clara got back from the cemetery, she went up into the attic. She hunted until she found the small brown box with her name on it; she sat down on an old trunk and opened it. Inside were various items she had collected throughout her childhood. Every one of them held its own treasure of memories, but she was looking for just one. Right now it meant more to her than all the others combined.

         She sorted through the box searching. It had to be here. Yes, there it was, a small plastic horse. She took it out of the box, held it tightly and thought about the day she got it.

         It was her sixth birthday. Her father took her to the carnival and for the whole day she had him all to herself. He let her ride the carrousel. She rode on the white horse with pink feathers on its bridle.

         Later that night as they walked down the midway, she saw a small plastic horse that looked just like the one she rode. It was one of the prizes at the ring toss game. Her father put down his dollar, took the rings and won it for her on the first try.

         It wasn't big or fancy. It probably wasn't even worth the dollar, but right now, on the day of his funeral, just holding it gave her a sense of comfort. Thinking about that happy day twenty-six years ago, let her feel him close to her even now.

         "Clara, where are you?" her mother called from downstairs. "We have guests, dear."

         "Coming, Mother," she answered. She put the horse into her pocket and went down to help her mother.


285 words