It's been around five years since my mother passed. I continue to miss her, but not like how I did for the first two years... I've also read some of the journal pages for my past birthdays and some other things...
I think about her a lot still, but not in sadness... I worked very hard to get where I am when it comes to my mourning about my mother's death... I have also visited our bench a lot, I try to at least once a month just to tell her everything that's been going on.
It's December 12th I have continued as my mother told me to, I'll be fifteen tomorrow... It's been weird without Father around. I've been calling him father for the past four years, I think he deserves the title because he has been an excellent father figure to me. He says that he's always seen me as one of his daughters the entire time I've known him...
I can't wait to see what the rest of my life holds for me. I hope I'm making Mama proud...
I was warmly tucked under my quilt when I heard the door to Jo, Beth, and I's room open. The floorboards creaked and I heard whispers coming closer, was I in a dream? I must have been half-awake...
All of a sudden I felt a soft hand play with my hair, "Meg, can't we just yell at her to get up?" Jo asked.
"No, today is her special day! We shall gently wake her up..." Meg softly said as she continued to play with my hair and whispered my name.
No more than three seconds later Jo groaned and said, "This is no use!" and jumped on top of me, I screeched as I felt her weight. I sat up to see Beth and Amy giggling at the end of my bed, Meg smirking at my bedside, and Jo lying on top of me. "Happy Birthday my darling, Eliza!" Jo said with a wide mischievous smile.
I laughed and said, "Well, that was a very surprising, 'good morning'!"
The girls laughed and Beth said, "Hannah has been slaving over the stove to make your favorite breakfast! We mustn't keep her waiting! "
My eyes widened and I asked with excitement, "French Toast?"
Meg smiled and said, "We even have syrup!"
"And strawberries!" Amy added.
"Ler her get up, Jo. " Beth said, she sighed and got off of me.
I pushed my covers off and stood up in my nightdress as Jo walked over to the chair in our room. She grabbed my shawl and handed it to me, then they all went in for a group hug. I truly love these girls, they are my sisters, and I wouldn't have it any other way...
Jo groaned and said, "Let's go!" We all laughed and Meg, Beth, and Amy went downstairs.
I went to our vanity to brush my hair. "Let me freshen up, I'll be right down. "
"I guess my roaring stomach can wait for you..." Jo said as she rolled her eyes with a smile. A few seconds later I put the brush down and she came towards me. "Happy Birthday, Eliza. " Jo said as we hugged once again. I hugged her back and she pulled away with her hands on my shoulders. "I can't believe you're all grown up! My darling, Eliza, already fifteen..."
"Oh, stop it! You sound like father!" I said with a giggle as I swatted her arm.
Jo dragged me by the hand to the dining room table. There was a plate of steaming french toast with a bowl of syrup and some sliced strawberries on another plate. Meg sat a jug of milk next to the eggs and Amy was setting the table. Hannah had come into the room with a plate of bacon and placed it on the table.
"Oh! Happy Birthday, Eliza!" Hannah said as she walked over to me with her arms out, she bear-hugged me.
"How come you never hug me, Hannah?" Jo asked with her arms crossed and a smirk.
"You never clean the dishes or help me in the kitchen. " Hannah snarkily said as Jo gasped, the others and I giggled while Jo gave me a look.
Just as I noticed Marmee wasn't in the room, she walked in the side door with a small box in her hands. "Good Morning, Marmee!" The girls and I said in unison as she closed the door.
"Good morning girls!" She placed the box on another small table by the door then took off her coat and hat. Marmee looked around the room then her eyes landed on me, she walked over to me and hugged me. "Happy Birthday, dear!"
"Thank you, Marmee. Where were you?" I asked out of curiosity.
"I had to fetch something in town for you, it is your birthday after all. " She said as she pulled away and rubbed my arms.
"Oh, Marmee! You didn't have to do that! " I exclaimed.
"Oh, nonsense! Let's eat!"
We all pulled back our chairs and sat down, of course, the food was delicious. The toast was perfectly moist and the syrup was so sweet, syrup is a luxury that we sometimes divulge. While we ate we talked about fond memories about us when we were little, like how I fell into the lake when I was twelve because I tried to pet a duck. Then Jo jumped in after me, and all of the girls ended up jumping in to swim with us, Father just laughed while Marmee and Hannah were furious, but we all laugh about it now.
A few hours later, I had on my favorite dress, It was a pale purple color with ruffles and lace at the bottom, and I had pastel yellow tights on under it that you could see if you looked down. My long brown hair was braided neatly, thanks to Meg.
We all sat around the fireplace as it snowed outside. I had my kitten, Oliver, sitting on my lap while I was knitting. Our cat who usually stays outside had kittens a few months ago. Oliver was a black and white cat with bright blue eyes, he was mostly black but his rear end, paws, some small spots on his back, and one side of his face were white. I was hand-raising him because he was the runt of the litter, he even slept with me sometimes so he could stay warm.
The other kittens were playing on the floor and Beth was playing a cheery tune on her piano. Marmee walked in with her box that now had a bright yellow ribbon wrapped around it, Jo then came down the stairs with three more small boxes that were wrapped in newspaper and had different color bows on them. They set them in front of me while I was sitting on the floor.
I gasped and said, "Oh, I thought we agreed on no gifts!"
"Well we all somewhat ignored that, but don't worry, it's nothing that stretched the bank. " Marmee said with a laugh as everyone either sat on the floor or the sofa and armchairs. I handed Oliver and my beginnings of a pale blue sweater for him over to Marmee as she sat on her chair.
"Go ahead and open them! But do mine first!" Jo said as she pointed to the one with the blue bow.
"Of course!" I said with a smile, I carefully tore off the newspaper to see a rectangular box. I opened it and there was a handmade book inside, a stiff piece of linin made the cover and it read, "Eliza's Collection of Poems. Written By: Jo March" I gasped as I opened the book, there was a poem on every page, there must have been a hundred of them total! "Jo! Oh, it's lovely! Is this what you've been doing in the middle of the night?" I asked in awe, the girls looked at me and Beth said.
"Jo! You never told us about this!" Beth exclaimed.
"As a matter of fact, I have! I've been working on it since your last birthday, read the first one!" Jo said excitedly. I cleared my throat as I read the first one aloud.
"Eliza,
Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
Oliver is wholesome,
And so are you.
Orchids are white,
Lillys rare,
The grass is soft,
"Oh, Jo! It's beautiful! Thank you!" I said as my heart nearly burst with sisterly love.
"Jo! That was impressive!" Meg said with her mouth agape. Jo sat next to me on the floor and we hugged.
She then leaned her head on my shoulder as Beth handed me the box with a red bow and said, "Mine isn't much, but I thought you would like it. You told me once how much you love the smell."
I smiled, "Beth, anything you get me I know I will surely love." Amy and Jo looked confused as I unwrapped the box and opened it, it was a bundle of dried lavender. I smiled and took a whiff of it. "Beth, you remembered! It smells delightful, I'll hang this above my bed so I can smell it as I fall asleep! Thank you!".
Beth looked pleased as she clasped her hands and said, "Of course, you said you missed the smell of it because it used to grow in your back garden!" I smiled as I took one last whiff.
"Oh! Do mine next!" Amy said as she pointed to the one with the green bow. I grabbed the box and unwrapped it to see a painting of Oliver, he was sitting on the windowsill that was in the living room. Oliver's body was very disproportioned and the windowsill had a deep curve in it but I loved it.
Jo stifled a laugh but I slapped her hand and said, "Amy, it's truly amazing! I love the colors of the flowers!" I pointed to the flowers that were outside the window of the painting. "And Oliver looks so handsome! Thank you, Amy." I said with a smile as I pointed at him. The real Oliver meowed and we all giggled.
"See! At least someone appreciates my art!" Amy said exasperated, I giggled as I grabbed the medium-sized box Marmee had brought home.
I opened the lid to see three large bundles of yarn. My mouth was agape as I took them out, one was a beautiful sage green, one was a navy blue, and one was a bright purple. I gasped at the purple one and I said, "Oh, Marmee, Thank you! These are beautiful shades, but they must have cost a fortune !"
"Oh, hush! I know you'll make great use out of it. Purple would be a dashing color on Oliver too." She said with a smile and a slight giggle, the girls and I laughed and I put the yarn and all of the gifts I had received in the box.
Everyone looked over at Meg and then back at me before she spoke, "Here's mine, I've been practicing and I decided to finally make my first piece! I know I should have asked but I hope you don't mind that I used a piece of your mother's torn bonnet for it." She said as she pulled a thin square box with a thin orange ribbon from under the sofa and handed it to me.
"Oh, I don't mind. I hoped I could find a use for it anyway, it was her favorite one before it ripped." I said as I unwrapped the ribbon and opened the box. There was a thin piece of wrapping paper that had two flaps covering what was inside. I peeled them away to see a folded handkerchief that was made out of my mother's baby blue, bonnet. I gasped with tears in my eyes as I gently pulled it out and unfolded it so I could fully see. There was an added white lace trim around it but I noticed something on one of the corners, It had a replica of my mother's signature that she used to end every letter, "Love Mama, <3", embroidered in the corner. I held my hand over my mouth as tears ran down my face. Everyone stared at me with a look of concern.
"Oh, Eliza! I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to make you cry, I just thought-" Meg began to say apologetically but I interrupted her.
"No, Meg. It's perfect, it's absolutely perfect... Her signature looks like she wrote it! I love it, thank you." I said with a smile as I giggled softly. I stood up so Meg and I could hug, I quietly whispered in her ear, "You always give the most heartfelt gifts." We giggled as everyone else stood up with us. We let go and she wiped tears of her own. I then went around the room and hugged everyone else. "Thank you, Everyone. This has been the best birthday I've had in a while."
After we all hugged I said, "And speaking of my mother, I think I should pay her a visit."
Marmee stood and asked, "May I come with you?" I was a little shocked because she hadn't come with me in a year to two.
"Of course."
I went upstairs to grab my journal because I knew that my mother had written something about my birthday. She wrote me a little something for me until I turned twenty, you can imagine that the journal was quite thick in size. I looked inside the hatbox it was in to check the dates on some of the letters. They were sorted into bundles, Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy's were in a bundle. My future sutor has three, and Marmee and Father each have two. I checked the letters and I was pleasantly surprised to see one of Marmee's had today's date on it... I brought it with me for her to read while we were at my former home.
After a good ten-minute walk in the snow, we made it to my old house...
Marmee decided to wait for me to finish with my mother first before she came back with me. I walked back to the back garden and wiped the snow off of the bench before I sat down...
"Hey, Mama, today is my fifteenth birthday! I'm having a great day, we ate french toast for breakfast and even though I thought we agreed on no gifts this year, they got me some anyway. Beth gave me a bundle of lavender because I missed the smell of it growing here, Amy painted Oliver, Jo wrote me a book of poems, and Meg used your torn hat to sew a handkerchief. She even made a replica of your signature on the corner, I cried like a baby because of how perfect it was... I've never thanked you for trusting the Marchs to take me in, they are truly a blessing and an amazing family to be a part of. Your judgment never fails... Oh, I hope you're watching over Father while he's at the war... I'll go ahead and read your note for me..." I said as I opened the journal to the page that was titled, 'Your 15th Birthday!' I smiled as I read the page.
Page 24
My Dear Eliza,
My goodness! My little girl is fifteen, I can't believe it! I already know how grown-up you will be at this age...
I trust that you celebrated your birthday, I hope you enjoyed it. Did Hannah make french toast as I used to on your birthday? I hope she did, it was your favorite after all! I wonder what presents you got, I know they were very thoughtful though, I've heard that most of their gifts are homemade!
This also marks five years since my passing, I really hope you're doing well my dear. I know it's been a long journey that you've ho through, but I know that by now you're continuing with your life. You've always been my strong little girl!
Things are going to change soon too, you will be entering womanhood and adulthood, (don't worry, I have notes on those topics too). You will be going through mental and physical changes that can be confusing at times, but I trust that Marmee and the girls will help you along the way...
I also assume that your interest in boys has become more of a thought in your head. Guard your heart and trust your gut. You will know when the right one comes along, remember, don't change for anyone, especially a boy... There is someone out there for you!
I know some of this was probably embarrassing to read, but I figured it's time that you know...
I hope that you enjoyed your special day, my sweet girl! I'm so proud of you...
Love, Mama <3
I smiled as I read the note, she mentioned how things were going to change, and boys would be more of an interest. I've never given them the time of day, most of the ones I've met were at school but they were mean to me because my real mother died. That's why I don't attend school anymore and stay at home with Marmee and Beth...
I called Marmee and she peeped out of the corner to sit next to me. She sat down and looked around the garden, the ground was covered in a layer of snow and the trees were bare...
"I haven't really asked you this in a while, Eliza... How are you holding up, with your mother and with Father being gone?"
I looked at the sky. "Well, I miss my mother of course. It's still strange to have holidays and birthdays without her here. And where Father is concerned, I'm just praying he's safe wherever he is..."
I looked at her, she nodded and said. "That's to be expected... This will be the second holiday that Father won't be here. It's also strange for him to not be around..." She said with a weak smile. After a few moments, I remembered the letter my mother had for her. I pulled it out of my coat pocket and handed it to her, she read the date for it.
"This is one of the two she had for you, Marmee." I said as she broke the seal, my mother hand-wrote all the letters herself... Marmee held it out for both of us to read it.
Dear Margret,
I'm sorry if you can't read this well, you already know how shaky my hands were when we wrote the notes together!
Today is my daughter's fifteenth birthday, it's also just around five years since my passing. I trust that you've been taking good care of my, Eliza. I'm thankful that you and Robert offered to take her in after I passed, she would be in an orphanage if it wasn't for your kind hearts. I know that you and your family have been great for her, I'm happy that she won't go through life alone...
I've never told anyone this before, but the night before I told Eliza that I wanted to move to Concord, I had a dream. In my dream, I was shown that I would get sick again, and this time, I wouldn't survive it. A place that I can only describe as exact to Concord, was where I needed to be, where my daughter needed to be... I felt as though this town was where I needed to be for my daughter to have the best life she could after I left this earth... But there was something else too, I saw a family, a family like your own. In my dream, there was an overwhelming feeling that my daughter was meant to be with that family once I was gone... I had completely forgotten about the family until you asked to adopt her. That's when I knew that my dream about all of this, was referring to Concord, Massachusets, and your own family... I know it sounds outrageous but I swear it's true... I hope you believe me when I say that you and Robert have been a true blessing for me and Eliza.
I thank you for everything you have done and what you will continue to do. I wouldn't want my daughter to be with any other family and I wouldn't want her to have any other motherly figure for her. I'm happy and thankful she has you in her life... I know you have continued to raise her well as I did... Please continue to watch over my dear, Eliza. I also ask one more thing, would you be the one to give her away when she gets married? I would normally be the one to do it but due to the circumstances I will not be able to, and I wouldn't want anyone else to do it...
Thank you and I truly adore you for everything you've done and will continue to do for, Eliza,
Love, Fiona :)
(P.S. Your final letter is supposed to be read when you're up in age... I'll leave you to decide when the time is right...)
Marmee had a fountain of tears rolling down her face as she whispered, "Of course, Fiona..." She wiped her eyes and looked over at me who also had tears streaming down my face. She smiled and hugged me. "Oh, my sweet girl, your mother is truly an angel. " Marmee said as we hugged.
I nodded, "She is, isn't she?"
After a few moments of us embracing each other, we let go and she said, "We should head back before it gets too dark." I nodded as we stood up.
I looked at the garden and
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