Finding the Key

By Marit Fuller
4^th G rad e
Normandale French Immersion School

I’ve lived in this house all my life.  It’s a large brick house with two small windows in the front.  There’s not much of a yard, except for Papa’s daffodils that he planted one year and tends to, and a bird bath that’s never filled with water.

My Papa has lived with us since Granny died and he couldn’t live by himself any longer.  He has his own bedroom.  Across from his room, there’s some stairs that lead to my attic bedroom.  To the right of his room is my parent’s room.  My mom’s name is Doris McBeth (she kept her maiden name) and my father’s name (and we call him father) is William A. Redbird.  He is a former war victim.  He just got back from a tour of duty three weeks ago. 

To the left of Papa’s room is my brother’s room.  My brother’s name is Jonah.  He has straw-colored hair, blue eyes, and freckles.  He has bipolar disorder.  That means that sometimes he is totally happy and talkative and two minutes later he bursts into tears and won’t let anyone talk to him.  He has to take many medications and go to the doctor a lot.

With my mother dreaming of becoming a famous singer and being the mom of a son with bipolar she has little time for me.  But you must be thinking, you have a father that hasn’t seen you for about four years, why doesn’t he spend time with you?

Let me tell you that I have no idea why he doesn’t.

On the weekends he spends his time teaching karate classes at the community center and on weekdays he works at the Jiffy Lube down the street.  He comes home with grease in his hair and then we have to wait for him to take a shower before we can eat dinner because my mom thinks that it is important to have family time. 

I have one best friend.  Her name is Rosa , after Rosa Parks.  First of all she has black skin— that’s why nobody else wanted to be her friend at my school where everyone else’s skin is white.  Her hair is as black as my mother’s coffee and her eyes are chocolate brown.

Rosa loves my mouse.  She thinks Poppy is the cutest thing that ever lived.  She even sewed an itsy leash and collar for Poppy. 

I try to take Poppy on a walk every day, but I have to watch out for Morris, Mrs. Pigsworth’s dog.  When she comes along her high voice screeches, “Eleanor!  Why do you take that imbecile rodent on a walk?” 

I always reply, “She needs her exercise Mrs. P.”

Why do I take Poppy on walks?  Because I know the feeling of being locked in a cage.  Father has told me a million times about being in the war.  “I was locked in a world of hate,” he says with a grave look on his face.  I know my mother feels the feeling.  She has a beautiful voice, yet a family to take care of.  Rosa gets that feeling too.  She is very outgoing, but because of her dark skin everyone in our town tells her to be quiet, to behave.  Then there’s Jonah and I think that Jonah feels that terrible feeling the very most.  Except for when he’s at his private school, he sits in his room reading and dreaming of the author he will become.  I’m sure that he’s memorized every dent in his wall, every animal in his handmade quilt.  Jonah is amazing.  Even though he is a suck up to mom and father, he never complains about having to take a trillion doses of medicine every day.  Jonah copes with having emotions flash.

On July 23 Papa died.  It was a normal July day.  This July was hot, dry, not too humid.  Papa was watering his flowers, then he went inside to take a nap.  He died in his sleep.

I’m glad that he died after doing something he loved.  Now I will take care of his flowers.  To remember him.

After the funeral my family seemed more familyish.  The death of someone we loved showed us how important it was to love each other, while we still had each other.

So one Sunday, I woke up, went downstairs to the red kitchen and saw father sitting at the small table wearing a suit.  I asked, “Where are you going!”

“To church!” He replied.  We haven’t gone to church for four years, so it was pretty exciting.  I dressed in my best clothes.  An orange skirt with pink stripes, a white shirt with a pink flower on it, and green flip flops.  Mom wore a lime green dress with no sleeves, black dots, and for shoes a pair of black sandals.  Jonah wore khaki shorts and a button up red short-sleeved shirt and sandals.  Father wore his suit, even though it was summer. 

Church was great.  They even had cookies after the service!  Then we went swimming and father came in the water! 

August 11^th was the happiest day in the world (or so my mom said).  She had auditioned for a musical and got the part.  Jonah received a new medication that was great and Father got new working hours that work for our family.  I got the family that I have been dreaming of for a while now, and I bought a friend for Poppy. 

I named her Key.