Sisi's Perfect Story

“Look at them, they’re all so beautiful. I don’t see why anyone would choose me when they could have one of them,” the little black book sighed as she eyed the others.

The little black book, or Beebe as she was called, was positioned in the lower corner of a rather large bookshelf in a rather small bookstore. She was among a myriad of other notebooks for sale, all of whom had assorted styles and colors. There were the classics, of which Beebe was one, that came in many sizes and colors besides little and black. Beebe became good friends with Daisy, a bright pink, somewhat large notebook with a heavy southern accent and boisterous personality. Daisy was very proud of herself and was known to shout out at least once per day, “I’m a classic, baby!”

There were certain personal journals who were very passionate about their life’s work; usually trying to turn the conversation to whatever subject they happened to be about. Like Bordeaux, who was always discussing which wine paired best with which meal as he hiccupped his way through most conversations. Or Scarlet, who liked to present Bordeaux with one of her delicious recipes to pair a wine with. Some of the notebooks on the shelf were unique travel guides to cities far away. Beebe loved listening to Francois as he described the adventures that could be had in Paris while showing off his detailed maps of the beautiful city. “You must go to Paris, my dear friend, happiness awaits you there,” Francois would tell Beebe.

Beebe also loved hearing the stories and admiring the artwork of the limited-edition notebooks that were never around for very long, but who were quite entertaining. “I am my own muse. I paint my own reality,” the Frida Kahlo collection expressed to Beebe one afternoon. Beebe was in awe of this particular art-filled collection and she thought to herself, “I really don’t see why anyone would choose me.”

One day, while Beebe and Daisy were meeting some new characters that joined the limited-editions, a mother and daughter came in. “Choose any one you like,” said the mother. It was Sisi’s eighteenth birthday and all she wanted was a brand new notebook of her choosing that wasn’t spiraled, partially used, or just a random pile of papers stapled together. She was used to all of those but she really wanted something special.

“How about this one? It’s so pretty!” exclaimed Sisi’s mom as she picked up Daisy and admired her bright pink color.

“Hmm, not really what I was looking for,” Sisi sighed while looking over the colorful display of notebooks.

And then she saw it. The little black book positioned in the lower corner of that rather large bookshelf in that rather small bookstore stood out to Sisi like a full moon against a dark sky. The other notebooks simply faded into the background. Beebe looked at Sisi with equal adoration. Stunned and full of excitement, she waved goodbye to her friends.

“Good luck, honey pie!” shouted Daisy.

“Au Revoir, my dear friend!” cried out Francois.

“Keep life delicious!” advised Scarlet.

“Free your true self!” expressed the Frida Kahlo collection.

“Hiccup,” uttered Bordeaux as he raised his wine glass and toasted Beebe.

Sisi Wilde (Sisi being short for Sunshine Daydream Starfire) was part of a rather large family who lived in a rather small house. She used to have a nice sized bedroom in this small house but it had to get split in two to make another room for her youngest brother, Samson Rainbow Sundog. This was five years after Sisi’s parents had triplet boys who were now ten and certainly lived up to the family name. These Wilde triplets were creatively named Mighty Quinn Moonglow, Cosmic Charlie Moonlight and Bobby McGee Moonbeam. All four brothers brought Sisi endless days of fun, love, and joy but also endless days of insanity, conflicts, and undefinable odors. So, because of her parents loving each other so much that they ended up having these five children, Sisi was left with a tiny little bedroom in a very full and very busy house.

Sisi’s parents were quite a colorful and active couple who, when they were young and on Grateful Dead tour, changed their names from Amy and Guy to Harmony and Sky. But even though they inherited many special attributes from their free-flowing tour days, they were regularly known to say, “We’re not hippies, we’re just alternative.” Sisi thought her parent’s “alternative” comeback was kind of odd. “Alternative from what?” she’d say to herself, “From normal? What’s normal, anyway?”

Wasn’t having a yoga instructing mother who was regularly found bending in all sorts of positions around any corner of the house wearing outfits that displayed words like “Yogini Mama” or “Yogasmic You” normal? Wasn’t having a father who was a long haired, tree hugging, guitar picking organic farmer who loved discussing the composition and benefits of his compost pile normal? Wasn’t the fact that every summer solstice Sisi’s family and friends celebrated the first day of summer by dancing, singing and howling around a bonfire normal?

It certainly was to Sisi! And she loved all of it. She loved being part of this Wilde bunch, as they were called on numerous occasions, with their celestial dead head names and “alternative” ways. Beebe also loved this new Wilde family that she became a part of. They reminded her of the lively characters she left at the bookstore and she felt right at home. But, although Sisi loved her family, she would sometimes get overwhelmed and imagined a space with more privacy and less commotion for her and Beebe. Beebe liked to imagine that too.

Sisi cherished holding the little black book and feeling the soft leather cover on her skin. She’d run her fingers along the curved edges and snap the elastic closure creating a very pleasant and satisfying sound. And when she wrote in her new companion, Sisi would twirl the ribbon bookmark through her fingers as she glided her writing instrument across the ivory pages. Beebe reveled in her and Sisi’s time together. As Sisi wrote, Beebe imagined and the two went on adventure after adventure together. Beebe thought Sisi was an amazing story teller and could barely wait until the next tale was added to her pages.

Not everything Sisi shared with Beebe was a fictitious tale, though. Sometimes she wrote about the dreams and worries that guided her future. Dreams like becoming a famous journalist or fiction writer or even both! And worries like where and how she was going to live when she started college in the fall. Her parents said she was more than welcome to stay living at home since the school was close by. She did love the land she grew up on and was inspired by its peaceful beauty every day. But inside the house was a different story, always full of Wilde distractions. The idea of staying in that tiny little room within that very full and very busy house while trying to become a successful writer seemed impossible to Sisi. And when Sisi expressed her worries like this, Beebe worried too and wished she could help.

Sisi thought about renting an apartment but her part-time job wouldn’t cover all her expenses. Getting a full-time job while in college seemed overwhelming and already caused anxiety when she even thought about it. If she did feel her anxiety rising, Sisi would hear her mother’s voice in her head, “Take a deep breath, imagine peacefulness and do a little mind yoga.” These suggestions usually did help. The first two calmed her down while the last one conjured up silly images of brains trying to do the downward dog. This always made her laugh, and made Beebe laugh too when Sisi drew the images on one of her pages.

Sisi also had the option of renting a house with friends but this brought back her mother’s words “breathe, peacefulness, downward dog brain” because when imaging this living scenario, Sisi knew it might be just as distracting as the Wilde home, if not more. So Sisi continued to dream and to worry about her future, wishing for a solution. The only wish Beebe had was just to be able to help Sisi. And one day, she got her wish. Sisi had left her computer open to a page that caught Beebe's attention. It was a writing contest where the winner received $20,000. “That would definitely help Sisi! I know she can do this!” Beebe thought excitedly to herself. She then decided to give Sisi a little push to enter. She skimmed through her pages and found the perfect story.

Sisi sat back down and read about the writing contest, again. She thought about entering this contest before, a few times, but couldn’t gather the courage. She stared at the screen and said, “Winning $20,000 sure would be nice right now. But I doubt I’d win. I really don’t see why anyone would choose me. What story would I enter anyway?”

When she heard Sisi, Beebe knew it was the right time to give her that push. Beebe blew open her pages to the story that she had chosen. Sisi didn’t notice, she just made some comment about it being windy out. So, Beebe blew her pages frantically back and forth leaving herself open to the same story. Sisi looked at the book, but once again made a comment about the wind. This time, while Sisi was still looking, Beebe blew her pages back and forth then stopped at the story. Sisi just stared. Beebe did it again. Sisi looked bewildered and said, “Hmm, mysterious.” Beebe blew her pages back and forth one more time.

Now Sisi, because of her “alternative” background and belief in the unknown, decided to take this as a sign from the wind and entered the story Beebe had chosen. As she was leaving her bedroom, she went to close the window. It was already closed. Sisi looked back at Beebe. “Very mysterious,” she thought.

About a month after Sisi entered the contest, she received an unexpected call. She had won the $20,000! She was so surprised and happy, tears streamed down her face and onto Beebe. Beebe soaked in the tears and thought proudly, “I knew you could do it.”

Sisi laid on her bed looking out at her new view and thought about all that had happened over the past few weeks. It took some time to figure out what she wanted to do with the money she had won. Sisi said no to renting an apartment. She said no to sharing a house with friends. And she definitely said no to staying in that tiny little room within that very full and very busy house. What Sisi did say yes to was a home of her own on a piece of land that she loved, close to-- but not with-- her family and all their supportive, Wilde ways.

Sisi Wilde bought herself a tiny house on wheels and put a down payment on a new truck. She parked her new home on the property she grew up on, a nice distance from the family she loved.

It was perfect.

It was peaceful.

It was mobile and easily relocated with her new truck, just in case.

It was hers and exactly what she dreamed of.

Sisi looked down at Beebe knowing that somehow this mysterious little black book helped her win that contest. She opened the book to the next blank page.

“Thanks, little friend, are you ready for more adventures?”

Beebe blew her pages back and forth.