Treasure In The Stars

The heat hung thick in the air as Sam’s shoes flipped against the ground on her way to the mailbox. The relentless sun had continued for weeks, burning everything from flowers to skin, and adding to her misery. She pulled the red stamped past due notices from the box and made her way back to the dilapidated house. It might have been pretty a while ago but time had worn it down, much like it’s owner Sue Donovan. Sue was nearly 90 now and unable to communicate since stroke had taken her speech and curled her fingers. She’d spent her life as a wealthy spinster but medical bills had taken their toll on her fortunes. “She still has more than us”, thought Sam as the screen door smacked closed behind her. Dad had left them with nothing but debt and if it wasn’t for Miss Sue, they’d be homeless now.

She found a can of tomato soup in the cupboard and drank half of it cold, not wanting to add heat to the sweltering temperature. She grabbed a spoon and made her way up the stairs. Sue’s window was open and she sat in a rocker near it, turning to look as Sam entered. “We are going to call this gazpacho Miss Sue. I thought we could pretend today that we are in the south of Spain.” As she spoon fed the lady, she talked to her of matadors and beautiful beaches and together they escaped their perspective hells for a moment.

Sam knew that Momma would be upset when she came home from her jobs to an empty pantry. She’d go to the market after she got money from the pawn store but first she had to find something of value that they hadn’t already sold. Most of the rooms were bare so she made her way to the attic. There were lifetimes piled up in old chests, so she began to dig. By the time she reached the second box she had forgotten her task, admiring the faded lace gowns and satin slippers. As she reached the bottom, she saw a small black notebook, completely out of place against the dresses. Only one page had two lines delicately written on it; Ursa Major down, Orion's belt reversed. She examined it for further clues, but finding nothing, placed it in her pocket. The very bottom of the box held her salvation, a golden hair pin, that she took to sale.

The rest of the evening Sam was so occupied by the broker, shopping, and taking care of Miss Sue that she barely had time to think about her attic adventure or what treasure the notebook led to. But that night as she collapsed in the bed, exhausted from carrying the weight of the world, she looked up to the stars, hoping that she would find the answer to the riddle in the constellations.

The oppressive heat was Sam’s alarm clock and as she blinked against the glaring light before recalling the notebook. She had decided to go to the library and look up star charts, resolved to find its solution. Her mind was so focused on the mystery that she almost ran into Momma.“Sue isn’t doing well today, baby. I’m going to need your help to keep an eye on her.” Sam didn’t give a second thought to her plans but hastened upstairs to her friend. “Are you playing possum?” She said jokingly as she entered Sue’s room but her mood dropped when she saw Sue’s drawn skin and how shallow her breathing was. She waited to see if the old lady would acknowledge her then slipped out of the door as tears overwhelmed her eyes.

She sat down on the stairs and broke down in despair. She reached up for the handrail to pull herself up, weak from grief and the relentless heat, when she noticed that the Big Dipper had been carved on the underside of it. “Take Ursa Major down” she whispered to herself as she slid down the stairs. Further examination revealed 3 knots in the wood of a tread scratched together about halfway down the stairs. She stared up at the handrail carving and then softly ran her finger over the knots. Could it really be that easy? She started at the top and counted stairs like stars, seven down for Ursa Major then turned and walked back up the three for Orion’s Belt. There was a loud creak as she stepped on the last stair, one that had always been there but she had always ignored. Now it was the most interesting sound in the world.

She dropped to her knees just below it and pulled at the noisy board. It gave way and Sam retrieved a metal box, caked in dust and cobwebs. Her hands were shaking as she gingerly opened it to find a collection of envelopes. It was letters from a man named James to … Sue. The letters detailed a forbidden love, one of a boy being forced into war and a girl being forced into an arranged marriage. They were planning to run away together and travel the world. It was a beautiful story of hope and passion, but fate broke it all in a cruel twist. The last letter was from the United States Marines and explained how James had gone missing in action. His commander had sent Sue some things that he knew James would want her to have. Sam poured out the envelope contents onto the stairs. There was a black and white picture of a young beautiful Sue laughing on the lap of a handsome Lieutenant, a small diamond ring, and a few papers wrapped in a rubber band. Sam’s heart broke looking at the broken promises so she turned to the papers. James had bought savings bonds for Sue in the faith that it would someday finance their dreams. Sam heart raced as she realized she was holding at least $20,000.

Sam grabbed the items and ran into Miss Sue’s room. Before she could even speak, she saw Momma crying and her heart sank. Miss Sue was lying too still and her chest moved slowly, like each breath was a great battle. Sam sat down on the bed next her and took Sue’s hand. She placed the picture and the ring in it and carefully curled the ladies wrinkled fingers around them. She leaned forward to hug her one last time and whispered into her ear, “James is waiting for you.” Sue gave a small smile as she took her last breath.

The day they buried Miss Sue was the hottest day of the year, and by its end Sam felt nothing short of wilted and broken. Momma quit her job the next day and packed their bond money into a duffel bag minus two tickets to Spain. Sam heard the screen door slam behind her for the last time as she climbed in the taxi. She pulled the photograph of Sue and James out of her pocket, her reminder that life wouldn’t wait. For the first time in too long, Sam smiled with hope as the rain began to fall.