A girl always needs a little love by Z. Timol (classic novels for teens txt) 📖

cliff. It was still dark, 3 am. I closed my eyes again but then my stomach grumbled. I'm hungry. I got up and snuck down to the kitchen, I heard grandma's snores when I walked past her room. I switched on the kitchen light and closed the door. This is the worse thing ever. Trying to be quiet when you're in the kitchen, plus I didn't know what there was to eat. I opened the fridge and looked for something and then the cupboards. I ended up with a yoghurt, banana, milk and a few almonds. That ought to do the trick until the morning. I took out a bowl and mixed the yoghurt, banana and almonds together making a kind of mixture. It was really tasty, I think I just invented a new treat. I shall call it 'Yoghurt mix' or 'Almond mix'. Maybe even 'Banana mix'. Or 'BAY mix' ( Banana, almond and yoghurt mix). It will be on the cover of every food magazine. Finishing the last bit of my mix, I drank the milk and washed the dishes. My stomach was satisfied. Back in my room, I went to the toilet and then walked around my room for a while. They say it's not good to sleep directly after you eat, after doing 10 walks around my room, including jumping on the bed, I plopped down on my bed and covered myself. 

 

''Ok Lizzie, you ate, you drank, you digested, now you have to sleep. No nonsense'' I whispered to myself

 

After singing a song that I made up about my mix that's going to be famous, I threw my pillows on the other side of the bed and changed directions so that my feet were by the headboard. I thought about the house. I've been living here for more than 6 years, it's going to be hard leaving. But I can't do anything about it. Plus I'll be leaving Linda and we've gotten on pretty well with Marcus and his dad. And Bob, Lucy. There's one person I won't miss, though, that freaky man. Not that I know him, but he just seems, I don't know, weird maybe. Then there was the packing, the hard part. We had so many things here, some stuff we don't even use. Maybe I could ask grandma is we could have a yard sale. It will be much easier shipping boxes to Durban. Dad liked to store everybody's things here, he said it was a 'favour' for them. But they never came back for it. I need to get rid of that stuff, maybe I should call those people and ask them if they still need their things. We put labels on each of the packages that are stored in the store room so it won't be too hard returning the stuff. We'll see. Atleast Linda will be here to help and maybe Marcus. I turned on my stomach and closed my eyes.

 

After a while, I was fast asleep.

Unkown

I was running as fast as I could, then I stopped. I was in a huge field filled with birds and cats. I looked around and spotted a door in the middle of the field, walking towards it, I tried to open it but it was locked. I took out the picture of the boy from my jacket hat and threw it on the floor. After a while, the door made a funny noise and then opened very fast. After stepping in, I found myself in a strange room. Half of the room was bright with colors and the other half was dark, falling down on the floor, right in the middle of the room, I started crying. I was falling and falling. Suddenly I felt a hand on my shoulder, I looked up and saw Tyler, we were in an elevator sitting on a chair. The lift went higher and higher, it never stopped moving. He hugged me so tight, I couldn't breathe. But then I felt terrible pain, I couldn't figure out which part of my body the pain was but I started screeching, I pulled away from Tyler, but only this time, it wasn't Tyler. It was....

 

*********

 

I opened my eyes in shock, still feeling the pain, but then it quickly disappeared. I didn't see who that man was. And Tyler was there and that boy in the picture. I woke up and went to my box, taking out the picture to look at it. I just felt like, like, it was gone or something. It was already 2 pm. I stretched out, I almost fell on my back. I was hungry, so maybe I'll shower after I eat. After brushing my teeth, I headed downstairs. Just before I could take the last step, I heard voices coming from the living room. Well, on second thought, maybe I should take a shower first. Skipping steps, I hurried to the bathroom.

 

GRANDMA'S POV

 

It was a wonderful morning, I took a shower and made my bed. After I got ready, I went to check in on Lizzie. She was still fast asleep. I decided to leave her, the poor girl must be really tired. I got the newspaper from the front door and settled down with my cup of tea and peanut butter toast. I flipped through the news, giving my silent opinion on all the situations going on. I read the sports part as well, I was never a fan of sports, but my husband would love to read through it. I still remember how he would sit with his cup of tea in front of the TV and watch. The way he would scream at the screen, I would tell him that the players can't hear him, but he never listened. Then he'd have a long chat with his friends about the match. It was like the whole match was repeated again but in words. But I never bothered, it was a pleasure just watching him get worked up about soccer or cricket. And when he's team would loose he would be upset and then I'd go to him and tell him 'The only team and star I route for, is you'. He'd laugh and tell me that I'm the best, his life, his sunshine. Even after years and years of being with him, I used to still blush or my would still race whenever he smiled or looked into my eyes. We had our fairytale, not like the ones in books, but a real wonderful one. He was strong. Even as I watched him become older and weaker, he never failed to flatter me, never failed to be strong with whatever he had. He would bring me red roses every Saturday. We would go for long walks and chat for hours on end. Then on the last day of his life. In the hospital, he held my hand and stroked my cheek. He stared at me and said 'You are the most beautiful person I have ever seen. Please don't ever think I'm gone forever, I will always be in your heart, I will always listen to your late night stories, I will be there to support you till the end''. He's voice was so soft, so crispy. I cried and cried, I could hear the machine going slower and slower. He took my hand 'If I have the choice to breath or love you, I would use my last breath to say that I love you. Addison dear, I love you'. And he was gone. No amount of crying or sleepless nights could bring him back. But I always know that he's with me, in my heart. Ding Dong, the door bell rang. I got up hurriedly, not wanting Lizzie to wake up. 

 

''Who's there?'' I asked

''It's me, Linda''

''Oh how wonderful to see you'' I said hugging her

''You too grandma. Is Lizzie still sleeping?'' she asked

''Yes she is, and I don't want to wake her up just yet, let her wake herself''

''Oh, of course, she must be really tired. Look, it's Marcus and his dad'' she said

 

Their car just parked in the driveway and we waved to them. I looked at Linda, she seemed excited at their arrival. I see someone has fallen in love. We greeted them and I took them all to the lounge.

 

''Would you like something to drink? Eat?'' I asked

''Oh no thank you, I have to get going. Open up the shop. My boy Marcus can stay over and help'' Mr.Mathew said

''Is Lizzie still sleeping?'' Marcus asked

''Yes she is. I'm sure she'll wake up in a while''

''Come on in for just a few moments. Have a glass of juice or something before you go''

''Oh ok, if you insist''

 

I walked them to the lounge and we all sat down. We talked about how Lizzie was managing and what the doctor said. I got up to get something to drink for us all.

 

''Grandma, why don't you sit? I'll go get something to drink'' Linda said

''Oh you're wonderful Linda'' I smiled

''I'll come too'' Marcus said

 

I could see Linda trying to stop herself from blushing. I was once just like her. They went off to the kitchen leaving Mathew and I sitting in silence.

 

''Lizzie is very lucky to have such a friend'' he said

''Oh yes she is. They've been friends for such a long time now. My granddaughter adores her''

''Is she feeling alright? Lizzie, I mean''

''Oh yes, she seemed fine. She's trying to stay strong. She's always been the type of person who hides all the pain and puts on a happy face''

''It must be really hard for her. I mean losing both her parents and a sibling at the same time, that is just too much for a young girl. But it's such a relief that she has you, that support with her.''

''Well, I'm trying my best. She's got to start handling things independently. One day I won't be around. What is she going to do?''

''Are there any other relatives around?'' he asked

''Well not really. We really don't keep much contact with each other, you know, family drama. She does have an aunt living in Capetown. They couldn't make it for the funeral. But we did tell them the news''

''Ah, is this your daughter?''

 

I tried to keep the tears from flowing when he mentioned my daughter.

 

''No, it's her mother's older sister. They had a family fight and she got married and moved out few months before the passing of Caroline's parents''

''So Lizzie's mom was an orphan herself?''

''Yes that's right. We were neighbors. We took her into our care and made her a part of our family. Over time she and my son fell in love and got married. She was a real darling.''

''It must have been really hard. Poor girls''

 

We sat in silence for a few moments, then Linda and Marcus came back with the drinks and a bowl of chips. We sat and talked about everything and anything. I thought I heard footsteps on the stairs but when I went to check, there was nobody there. I wonder how long till Lizzie wakes up. She must be really exhausted, can't blame the poor girl.

 

I really hope it gets easier.