Vickie Lynne Sargent-Kler

A Moleskine called Molly

The dust drifted in the air like snow flurries on a late fall day, harbingers of harsher times to come. John surveyed the attic that had served the dual purpose of storage and study in his parent’s house. One half jam-packed with boxes and the other held a desk, filing cabinet, bookshelves, and a well-used recliner. Accumulated layers of dirt proved how long it had been since anyone had sorted out this space. No matter how committed he had been to clean, something would always distract him. Time had caught up with John; and now there was no backing out. The auctioneer was arriving in two days. John promised his sister he would handle the clean-up of their childhood home. Preparing for the sale should be a piece of cake compared to the daily care Pam had taken of their Mother and Father. In fact, John had dumped everything on Pam’s shoulders as their parents had gotten older. Taking responsibility of this was the least he could do.