|
Post by nadine on Mar 29, 2008 21:54:21 GMT -5
Nadine was taking time off from practicing her horn for a while. She had been playing for a little over an hour, which was a long time for her. She usually didn't need to practise, but she had never played music so difficult before. She didn't look, but she was sure there was a small ring around her lips from keeping the horn to her face for so long. A 'kiss' she liked to call it.
Why Nadine headed towards the cemetary she didn't know for sure. Maybe because it would be quiet there. Or maybe it was because she had always found graveyards so peaceful. She didn't want to go by her father's grave, but she felt herself go that way, anyway. She would like to think that he is happy that she is continuing to play the instrument he taught her.
Nadine stopped in front of a particulary large tombstone. There were two dozen roses left in front of it that looked maybe a day old. The blooms still looked red and healthy. Seeing the flowers made her think of her dad's funeral when she was thirteen. Without even making a consious effort, Nadine found herself singing "Amazing Grace" and starting to mourn over her father, something she said she would never do. Crying seemed like such a waste of energy. She should just continue to do things that would make him happy. She sang with pure and breathy tone as a single tear fell down her cheek.
|
|
|
Post by margretleroux on Mar 29, 2008 22:19:15 GMT -5
Maggie despised this woman. The woman who forced her to visit the grave of her parents every year. She could think of nothing worse then visiting the graveyard. No one gave a damn about her parents. Though Maggie did not like to swear, she would gladly scream a thousand curses for the sake of those who passed her parents graves without even stopping to think of what it must be like for their child. Of course they wouldn't know that these two lovers had a child because they would not take the time to read the epitaph!
She knelt down in front of her parents grave and pretended to pray for them. Maggie didn't see what praying for them would do- they were already dead for heaven's sake. She shed a tear or two as was expected. But she was not really sad. If her parents really wanted to stay with her, if they really loved her- they could have escaped the undertow. She didn't care that others thought she should be sad, or hurt, or forever scarred because of their sudden and unexpected disappearance. But she wasn't, she was a writer- the tortured soul was for her characters- not her. A few yards over she noticed a teary eyed girl. She would have taken little notice if she had not been playing. Perhaps her loved one had taught her to play. It was then that Maggie felt the smallest twinge of regret that she had received nothing from her father. No special knowledge, no jewelry, not even a jacket or sweater. the only thing that she had obtained from her father was his deep brown eyes and curly hair. And this made Maggie very sad, and this made her feel very pathetic.
|
|
|
Post by nadine on Mar 29, 2008 22:52:34 GMT -5
Nadine suddenly stopped singing when she heard footsteps from behind her. Nadine loved to sing for people, but she thought that maybe this wasn't the best place to be singing. Besides, she only liked to sing when she felt warmed up and beleived the people actually wanted to hear her voice.
Nadine turned around to see a young girl praying at a grave. She saw herself in the girl a little. She is about the same age as Nadine was when her father died. Nadine became very curious about the girl. Who was she mourning over? She imagined her crying for her beloved grandmother who used to spoil her and give her sweets. She knew it was none of her business, but she had almost an uncontrollable urge to ask her what had happened. Instead, Nadine stood staring at her for a while, coming up with different circumstances she may be going through.
|
|
|
Post by margretleroux on Mar 29, 2008 23:31:19 GMT -5
Maggie felt the girl's eyes on her so she quickly turned back around and looked at the graves of her parents. She dragged her finger through the dirt beneath the two stone angels. Maybe they were watching her... Maggie shook her head. 'No Maggie! Don't think that sort of thing!' She told her self. She thought for a moment, then stood up. "I am finished here." Maggie announced to her maid and small group of people who had followed her. The maid took her by the hand and dragged her away from the crowd. "Margret DePaul. You shall not leave this cemetery until you realize the full importance of what your parents gave up for you." Maggie snickered. "Oh I'm so sorry, madame. I did not realize what a great opportunity it was for me, being an orphan." The maid gasped and boxed Maggie's ear, but Maggie didn't stop there. "And how awful it would be having two parents. Who not only watched over me, but cared enough to listen to what I write! Oh what an awful thing that would be! But they seemed to think otherwise." The maid just stared in shock, "And you wanted a teary confession that I needed them and that I just can't survive without them. But no, you got honesty instead. What a pity." Maggie snickered and walked off in another direction. Not noticing that she stopped at every grave to curtsy and that she was walking in the direction of the only other person in the graveyard. Nadine Rousseau. She sat down beside her and folded her legs. "Hello."
|
|
|
Post by nadine on Mar 30, 2008 10:20:20 GMT -5
Nadine stood in shock. That was not exactly what she had imagined the girl to say. She's always been horrible at trying to read people. She kind of admired and respected her honesty, however. Most girls would probably do just what their maid wanted them to.
Nadine looked down at her black shoes and tried to look like she wasn't watching her. How could you not watch that? It was probably the most action that ever happens here. She noticed the girl sitting cross-legged next to her and found herself becoming surprised of her again. "Well... hello" She said awkwardly. "That was... really brave of you to tell them how you really feel." Nadine gave her a smile. She was sure the girl was probably not expecting her to say that.
|
|
|
Post by margretleroux on Mar 30, 2008 10:40:03 GMT -5
Maggie was not expecting Nadine to say that. She wasn't used to receiving complements from others. Especially for disobeying someone. She expected more of a: 'How dare you dishonor your long lost loved ones?' sort of tone. Maggie looked at the grave. RIP David Rousseau Beloved father and husband [/color] "Thanks." Maggie mumbled. The man must have been Nadine's father- they had something they could relate to. She wondered how she had lost him and before she knew it she found herself asking her. "How did he..." She stopped the question there hoping she would understand.
|
|
|
Post by nadine on Mar 30, 2008 10:59:02 GMT -5
Nadine looked back down at her father's grave and sighed. She turned to the girl. "You're welcome. That strength will do you good in the long run. I don't think you can always say what people want to hear. You have to be honest and take up for yourself..." Nadine trailed off as she realized she was beginning to ramble.
"Pass away?" Nadine finished for her. "Heart attack. It was so sudden" She said matter-of-factly. It wasn't that it didn't bother her, but she felt like she had to remain strong. She couldn't beleieve she actually let herself cry before.
|
|
|
Post by margretleroux on Mar 30, 2008 14:15:31 GMT -5
Maggie just nodded. She knew very well that people who had lost a loved one didn't want to hear, 'Oh I'm so sorry' or 'That must be so awful for you!'. In fact, all of Maggie's life, her parents had only been objects of pity. People would walk by and whisper, 'Look at the the poor little orphan girl, oh life must be so hard for her.' But in truth, Maggie's life was fine. And she guessed that this girl didn't spend every moment of her life sobbing over her father's heart attack. "Mine drowned. I was three, at the beach. They had wandered out a bit two deep and a shark bit my mother's ankle and pulled her under. My father jumped in after her and he was caught by the undertow. When the shark let go my mother was caught by it as well." Maggie, refused to just say 'they drowned'. She would tell the whole story, so she would know that Maggie didn't care. Maggie even laughed a little to get out the full effect of her indifference, "I can remember just sitting there, I thought they were playing a game. I sat there all day, until the lifeguard took me to my cousins." Maggie talked as if she was reciting something from a book, trying desperately to listen to her own words.
|
|
|
Post by nadine on Apr 20, 2008 10:05:02 GMT -5
Nadine only looked at the tombstone as she listened. She didn't quite believe her story, it sounded like something from a novel. "That is kind of romantic, isn't it?" she asked, hoping not to offend her, "At least they died together. My mother has been depressed ever since the death of my father."
|
|