THE LITTLE BLACK BOOK

THE LITTLE BLACK BOOK

As she searched through the belongings of her recently deceased grandmother, she remembered playing in this old attic with her “mawmaw”. There had always been interesting things in this attic, including old clothes that she loved to dress up in, and jewelry as well. Paula smiled a rather sad smile as she walked over to the old trunk where all those fabulous clothes were still kept. She opened it, hearing the creak of the old hinges on the back. She pulled out the long, yellow dress she used to love so dearly and held it up in front of her as she looked in the old mirror that still stood at the end of the room. Oh, she could not wear that dress anymore for she was not quite so slim as she had been when she was a teen. Her grandma had let her wear that dress to her prom. It was definitely different than anything anyone else had worn with its silky layers and puffy sleeves, but she did not care. She folded the dress back into the trunk carefully and closed it.

Paula went back to the old box she had been going through. She had to sort through some things, important papers and insurance policies that were there. As she looked through them, she found a little black book. She smiled at the thought of her grandmother having a little black book. She opened it and found that it was not an address book at all, but it looked more like a small diary or just something that her grandma wrote notes in. She smiled as she read some of it as her mawmaw had written about how she missed her husband. Paula could not help but cry as she could feel the love her grandma had for her grandpa. She remembered her grandpa vaguely because he had passed when she was still young, but she remembered him standing tall in his Navy uniform.

As Paula turned to the last page in the book, she noticed it was a note to her. To my dearest Paula. You have been my treasure and a friend when I needed one the most. For you, my dear, I have left a treasure, and you’ll find the key in the old jewelry box in the trunk of old clothes. The key is in an envelope in the bottom, and the information you need. I do hope this gift will help you get a good start. Love, Grandma

Paula sat there a moment just staring at the note wondering what it could mean, but she went over to the trunk and opened it once again. She moved the dresses and took out the jewelry box. Just where her grandma had said, there was an envelope which contained a key, and a card with a safety deposit box number. She had not known her grandma had a safety deposit box. A gift? Treasure? She could not imagine what it could be, but she would rather have her grandma than a treasure.

When she had finished going through the policies and got everything she needed for the lawyers and the funeral home, she left the attic and went out to her car. She looked at the key and decided she would go to the bank and see what was there. As she entered the bank, it brought back more memories as her grandmother had always used this bank and she remembered coming there with her, but she did not remember seeing a safety deposit box. She was directed to the box and took it out to inspect the contents. She opened the box, and inside was a bag, and she realized it was one of the bags she had sewn years ago and had even sewn jewels and beads onto it. She touched the smooth jewels and smiled, but she opened the bag to find money. She was shocked that her grandma could have that much money locked in a safety deposit box. She thought she must have saved it up for years. Her grandma was not a rich lady. There was also a note in the bag. Paula, I may not have been rich in wealth, but you made me the richest woman in the world.

Paula sat there and wept for a moment. Oh, how she wished she could hug her grandma just one more time…and tell her what a treasure she was.