July 4
Item # 22 – Button Box
Allie, I know you thought I was a nut for keeping the strange odds and ends when we had to move. In my bureau is one of those things. I have an old wooden cigar box covered with buttons. Mom made it for Grandma when she was a little girl. Inside is a tube of glue. Over the years, buttons have fallen off and I glue them back on. Now it’s your turn.
***
My college years were filled with dark, desperate days. I felt like I was born old. I didn’t have time for parties, drinking or smoking. I was busy working during the day, going to school at night and taking care of Allie in between. So when Allie and Charlie told me they had something for the nausea, excuse me if I didn’t quite get it.
Allie came in grinning. Charlie closed the bedroom door.
“Have we got something for you,” she almost sang.
“Shhhh,” Charlie reprimanded, “I don’t want Logan to know.”
“He won’t. We’ll just call them “cigarettes”.”
Allie handed me a homemade cigarette.
“I don’t smoke,” I protested.
What idiots? Here I am puking my guts out and they want me to start smoking.
“These aren’t regular cigarettes. These are special cigarettes. They’ll help with the nausea,” Allie said, pulling a home rolled cigarette out.
At this point I was ready to try anything.
So I sat up, leaning against the headboard, my bowl handy just in case.
“Here, I’ll show you how,” Allie volunteered, grinning.
You couldn’t wipe the grin off of Allie’s face if you wanted to. Charlie looked sheepish and shrugged.
Those little “cigarettes” as we call them have turned out to be a life saver, literally. I was losing fifteen pounds a week and since using them, I only loose a few pounds. I’ve actually had some weeks when I haven’t lost any weight.
Oooh interesting, I
LikeLike
Oooh interesting I wonder why she has nausea at first I thought maybe she was pregnant but then she was smoking so maybe not. Thanks for following my blog btw it’s great to find fellow fiction writers on wordpress. I followed back, looking forward to your updates 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jo has cancer. Thanks Dee
LikeLike
Oh wow I wouldn’t have guessed that, poor Jo. Anytime 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person