Innocence (Chapter 1. An American Dream Ended)

Chapter 1. An American Dream Ended1

Anna and Eliza Robinson had never been close, as far as sisters go. This is probably because Anna was sensible and mature, while Eliza was flighty and imaginative. The two sisters coexisted and rarely exchanged a word. This was to be expected of such sisters, though. Anna was seventeen. Eliza was four. They were separated by Anna's pressures of growing up and Eliza's innocence of youth. The events of the summer the Robinson family moved into the house by the lake, however, would surely bring them together.2

~~~3

Carolyn Robinson set the last box on the sidewalk and thanked the moving truck driver, though the check she had recently given them was thanks enough. She watched as her husband, Mike, helped the man close the trailer door4

They had moved here because the architecture business in the area was thriving. Mike had been employed as an architect under a land developing firm for fifteen years, and was sick of, as he put it, "lining the streets of suburbia with generic gingerbread houses," and wanted opportunity for more creative freedom. Lake Whittacre gave him just that freedom. Mike had already designed three houses via Internet, and was currently working on four more, with two prospective builders in waiting. Mike was finally happy with his career, and that made Carolyn happy. Her family was beginning to live the American dream.5

Mike waved as the truck drove off into the distance. He then turned to Carolyn and wrapped his arms around her, "Welcome home."6

"Yes," Carolyn said, "And, as the big, hansom, head of the house, I bet you can't wait to start unpacking. Come on!"7

As they turned to go back into the house, Eliza came walking down the stairs, suitcase in one hand, stuffed elephant in the other.8

"And where are you going?" Mike asked.9

"I am going home, Daddy," Eliza responded as she continued walking down the sidewalk.10

"You are home."11

"We live here now, darling," Carolyn explained.12

Eliza stopped walking, turned to her parents, and set her suitcase in the grass "But they don't want us here."13

"Who?" Carolyn asked.14

"The people who live here." She said matter-of-factly, "They told me that we don't belong here."15

"Eliza," Mike tried to be patient, "We bought this house. No one else lives here but us. We are staying here. Now, take your stuff back to your room."16

"No," Eliza wined, "That is where the old grandma is. She scares me."17

"Eliza!" Mike snapped, "Enough of this nonsense! Now, get your stuff up to your room."18

"Mike," Carolyn said defensively, "She is four years old. We have not moved since before she was born. This is new to her, and she has a big imagination. It's just going to take a little time for her to adjust.19

"No Mommy!" Eliza stomped her foot, "It is not my Imagination! I will show you," And she stomped off to her room.20

When they reached the room Eliza hesitantly pushed the door open a slight crack and looked in. She gasped and stepped back, her face ashen, "She's in there," she whispered, "Look."21

Carolyn and Mike looked into the room. The room was as they had left it, "We don't see anything. There is no one here." Carolyn explained.22

"That's because, sometimes, she is invisible," Eliza pointed to the far side of the room near the bay window, "right there, she is looking out the window,"23

They looked again. In front of the window, a white antique rocking chair rocked gently back and forth.24

Carolyn and Mike entered the room, "It's just the wind, Eliza," Carolyn calmly reassured her daughter.25

Mike approached the chair and stopped it from rocking.26

"No, Daddy, stop!" Eliza screamed, "You'll make her angry."27

He picked up the chair, and set it down in front of him. It did not rock, "See, Eliza. Just the wind. Nothing else," He grew stern, "Now, no more stories and unpack your bags,"28

With that both parents left Eliza alone in her room. She looked at the chair. Maybe it was the wind. She turned and looked out the window into the back yard. Then, suddenly afraid she stepped back. The window had been closed the whole time. There could have been no wind. Before she could run to tell her parents, her bedroom door slammed shut with such force it hurt her ears. Terrified, Eliza just closed her eyes and screamed… (to be continued...)