Memory Documentation

chapter eleven | documenting this beautiful, sorrowful day

"But I must," she said, looking up. "I must make these wishes before we go back to the orphanage." She took another coin out, this time a penny, and tossed it in.

"But why? What are you wishing for?"

Miss Sylvia gave me another smile. "For all of you to be adopted, of course. A coin for each girl. Here, this one can be for you, honey." She took out another penny, held it over the fountain, said "I wish that little Darcy can find a home that will accept her and love her for the rest of her days," and tossed the little coin in.

My heart swelled. That gesture was enough to make me forget that she was still being ridiculous in coming out here to do this today of all days. "Oh, Miss Sylvi, that's so nice of you. Thank you. Thank you for taking care of us, and for taking us in." A feeling of hope surged through my veins, triggering a tight, excited feeling in my chest. It unraveled as soon as it formed. I looked down at the coin that was supposed to be mine. "But what if nobody wants me? I don't think I'd be a very good daughter."

Miss Sylvia made a tsk sound and shook her head. "Remember what I told you, dear. Thoughts lie. Thoughts can be false. Just because you think that does not mean it is true. In fact, some lucky couple will surely love to have you in their family."

"But..." I glanced down at the fountain's base. There were a couple of coins there, ranging from nickels to quarters and even a pressed-souvenir penny. "How will the wishes come true if the fountain is frozen? It's not in the water."

"Leave that to me, Miss!"

I jumped, whipping my head to the side to see a... waiter? Well, he sure looked like a waiter. Black slacks, black shoes, black vest, white long sleeve. The only nontraditional thing was the horrendous bowtie he was wearing. It was so colorful and patterned and really insulting to look at.

"Who –"

"Don't worry." The waiter – with no name tag, may I add – hopped into the fountain's base, somehow miraculously not slipping on the sheet of ice at all, and grandly produced a whisk from his back pocket. "I'll just chip at the ice so that the coins can fall in! Then the wishes will come true."

I stared at him, wide-eyed and dumbfounded. He can't be serious. "You're going to... chip at the ice... with a whisk?"

"Certainly," he responded, then dropped to his knees and proceeded to stab at the sheet of ice. I winced.

"C'mon, Miss Sylvi." I took hold of Miss Sylvia's wrist. "He's crazy. Let's leave him."

She tore away from my grasp, shaking her head. "He's not crazy. He's right!"

"What?" I cried incredulously, looking between her and the waiter still stabbing at the ice with no luck.

Miss Sylvia smiled and took my hands in hers. "This will be perfect, Darcy. We can help him dig and then I can pour all the coins in. Then, you'll all get adopted. Even Jessica! My wish will come true."

Before I had to process and come up with a rebuttal, Miss Sylvia was down on her knees in the fountain's base, somehow possessing a second whisk to hack at the ice with. I watched the two of them, so dumbfounded that it took me a minute to realize that my umbrella was gone, and in my hands was a whisk of my own.

"Perfect!" the waiter cried when he noticed. "You can help us."

"I don't think so," I muttered, shaking my head. Especially since mine looked like it was made out of silicone.

Click.

"Reece!" I heard someone say.

Click. Click.