1

survivors

Leigh was grief-stricken. No matter what others said, her sadness was only amplified. The obligatory: “They’re in a better place”, “The Lord moves in mysterious ways”, “They were called home.” and her least favorite “God needed them to be with Him”.

Well, maybe, just maybe, she needed grandma to be with her. Wasn’t God supposed to be this omnipotent being that could create his own people if He needed them? Why did He have to take her grandma?

Hurt and anger plagued her. She sat sobbing in her big pink satin pillow.

Her younger sister Coral was the silent type. Her emotions stayed inside safely hidden behind a thumb and tattered blanket. She quietly stared at the television while the rest of her family grieved in their own ways.

It was Warren, their father, who showed his emotions like Leigh. He wore them on his sleeve, and always had a hard time keeping them under control. It was his mother after all.

“Pull it together, Warren.” their mother Kathryn tried to calm him, “The kids need you, they need us to be strong for them.”

His sobs subsided and he looked up at his wife. “Sorry.”

“It’s okay,” she ran her fingers through her hair. “I’m just worried about Coral and Leigh. I can’t get Coral to talk to me.”

“Well, that’s just Coral. She deals in her own way. Leigh has been so inquisitive since everything happened.”

“Really?” Kathryn looked surprised and somewhat hurt that she didn’t know this. Leigh hadn’t said much of anything to her since the funeral.

“Yeah. She asked so many questions, and I wasn’t sure where they were all coming from. She’s always had the intellect of a 32 year old since she was 6…but some of those questions threw me for a loop.”

“Like what?”

“Well, the usual where does Nana go when she’s dead? Um…Will we ever see Nana again…”

“What were the odd ones?”

“She wanted to know who was going to keep the bridge now that Nana was gone.”

“What???”

“Yeah…when I asked her what she meant she just shrugged and said ‘I don’t know’. She also asked me what Alora Mandraga means.”

“Alora Mandraga? What is that?”

“I don’t have a clue. She said she heard my mother talk about it in a dream.”

Kathryn poured a cup of coffee and gave it to Warren. “Honey, I know this may be bad timing to ask this but…”

He finishes before she can get it out, “….when are we going to go through her stuff?”

She nodded ashamed for even thinking of something this early.

“Can you let her get cold in the ground first!!” he yelled.

“Warren!” she jumped, “the kids are in the next…”

“Mom?” came Leigh’s quiet voice around the corner, “Dad?”

It was Warren who put on the mask of shame this time.

“It’s okay, honey.” Kathryn soothed, “dad’s just really upset.”

Leigh ran into her father’s arms both to comfort him and herself at the same time.

“Can we go to nanna’s cabin?” she begged between sobs.

Warren sighed, “Probably not till spring, Leigh, the snow has covered the access road to grandma’s and they’ve probably closed it because of grandma being…..gone.”

“But, dad,” she pleaded. “we just have to go out there! We just have to!”

“Why so adamant about this, honey?”

“I don’t know….” She sniffed, “…I just think that’s what nana would want.”

Warren looked at his wife and then at his daughter, “The first melt that comes around we’ll go up for the weekend, okay?”

Unsatisfied but too exhausted to push the matter further, she nodded her head and walked out into the living room.

Reviews

[Jonathan De Elvira]

"Wasn’t God supposed to be this omnipotent being that could create his own people if He needed them? Why did He have to take her grandma?"....duuuuude...

This was a great opening for a book bro...keep it up, I like tension in this story, I like the intensity qualities in this chapter...
very good...oh, Coral kinda cool and creepy by the way...

[Quinn Blackburn]

Realistic responses, especially to the "odd" comments of Leigh. parents in such a situation would most likely gloss over and forget what they don't understand. Great introduction to these players. I am most curious about Coral. A little foreshadowing and plenty interest peaked here! The only suggestion I could really make here is to break up the text a little more with an extra space between. Looking forward to seeing where it goes! :o)

[Michael of Gilead]

I'm adamant about reading the next chapter

[Crowley]

Nice start man...dialogue is believable, the interaction smooth and natural, and a great peek into what appears to be a fantastic ride ahead....nice work my friend.

[David W Moore III]

I hate the God needs them line. Sure, make the kid blame God for the bad things. Oh well. Nice start a little foreshadowing. Seems like it's going to be a bit mysterious. Smooth flow

[Ruth]

There is something really touching to this chapter love :)
The dialogue in this is delightful love, if I may use that term lol Great work!
xx

[boyinblue]

very gripping, I envy your style.
Will keep reading. Good stuff.

[Bubo]

“She wanted to know who was going to keep the bridge now that Nana was gone.”
“What???”
“Yeah…when I asked her what she meant she just shrugged and said ‘I don’t know’. She also asked me what Alora Mandraga means.”
“Alora Mandraga? What is that?”
“I don’t have a clue. She said she heard my mother talk about it in a dream.”

Great introduction to the family.......and the links in with the first chapter....already you can feel the build up............well done!

[Robin]

you are a thoughtful storyteller ~

[.]

oh I want to know more...gimme more Bradley..your narrative is excellent and this keeps the reader interested, loved it..