The Little Black Book

Janet always heard the rumors, but she didn’t believe it until the day she finally came up on it herself. Sitting in her moms top drawer was the book that her grandma had always whispered about. Her mom always told her that this book did not exist, but she lied because the book sat amongst the papers pushed to the back of the drawer, cover worn and weathered. Janet slowly opened the little black book, and started reading through the pages. The names of her ancestors on her mom side over 4 generations was in the book. Her grandmother Adrian, great grandmother and those before her was listed. She quickly spotted the names of her mom, her sisters, and her brothers, but oddly she could not find her name. She wanted to ask your mother why her name not in this little black book, but she did not want to let her know that she had snooped and found it. What was the big secret being kept in this book. Was it that she did not actually belong to this family, because her name was nowhere to be found? Janet was highly upset and disgusted that her mom would keep such a secret from her. Is this why they always treated her different like she was some type of stepchild? Is that why she always felt unloved? Is that why her sisters never took her places?All of those negative thoughts raced through Janets mind. She contemplated all the reasons why her name was not in the Little black book and decided to go visit her grandmother. Her grandmother had always been honest with her after all she’s the one that mentioned the black book in the first place. Was she trying to hint to her what was really going on within the family? Janet had to find out.

Early the next morning Janet found herself walking down the street to her grandmothers small home more than 10 blocks away. It seemed like the walk took forever to get there,but she finally arrived with many thoughts racing through her mind. Clutched tightly under her sweater was the little black book. As she knocked on her grandmothers door a small squeaky voice summoned her to come in. Janet slowly walked into the living room and sat across from her grandmother. The sun beamed through the window on her grandmothers face highlighting frown lines of concerned across her forehead. “What is it baby?”, her grandmother asked. Janet slowly and nervously slid the book from under her sweater. “I found the black book grandma”, as she hesitantly pulled it out. “I’m not in the book grandma. I couldn’t find myself nowhere in it. Why is that grandma? What are you hiding from me?”Janet asked. The grandma slowly put her head down and shook it back-and-forth. I told your mom to tell you”, she whispered. “I did!, I told her to tell you! You’re almost 18 she should’ve told you!”. “Tell me what grandma?”, Janet asked. “She should’ve told you that you’re not her biological child. She adopted you at the age of six months. You belong to her best friend Lacy who was brutally murdered! She should’ve told you!”, the grandmother cried out. Janet was in disbelief. “Grandma this can’t be true!!! Please tell me this cannot be true??”. Janet snatched the book and ran 10 blocks until she finally reach her own home. Still clutching the book tightly she walked directly into her mothers room. She needed to know the truth. She needed to know why her mom held the secret of the little black book all these years. As she walked into her mothers room her mom laid on the bed barely awoke she tossed the book on to the bed. As her mom looked at the book she looked back at Janet and just lowered her eyes. “Is it true mom?” Janet cried out. “Is it true,you’re not my mother?!”. “ No Janet I’m not your mother”, she stuttered. “I adopted you, you was my best friends child, and she was murdered. I was your godmother, and I adopted you as my own. I was going to tell you when you turned 18!”. Her mom slowly went into the drawer, and pulled out a white envelope. This is yours, and it has your mom’s pictures in it. I didn’t want it to happen like this! You was not supposed to find out like this!”, her mother cried out. Janet slowly opened the envelope,and pulled out the pictures of a beautiful young woman. Her red hair was just like fire, and her blue eyes sparkled like sapphires. It all started to make sense now. She now understood why she looked it’s so different with freckles, blue eyes, and red hair while everyone else had brown curly locks. Looking at the pictures it was like looking at a mirror reflection of herself. Her mom slowly passed her another envelope. “This is for you too”, she said. “Your mom wanted you to have it”. Janet slowly open the envelope. “Oh my gosh!”,she cried out. “This is so much money!”. “It’s actually $20,000” , her mom stated. She left it for you in her will. I’ve been holding onto it. I wanted to give it to you on your birthday next week when you turn 18, and that’s why I had it. I was gonna tell you then. I am so sorry you found out this way! All I ever wanted to do was love and protect you. Your father actually murdered your mother, and then killed himself. I did not want to expose you to that. You was too young to have to deal with that, but I love you so much, and I want you to know I will always be your mother. That’s the way she wanted it”. “But you lied to me!”,Janet cried out. “You should’ve never lied to me!” She cried. “I’m leaving! and I won’t be back!”. Janet quickly walked to her room and threw a few things into a duffel bag. Tightly grasping the envelope with a beautiful mom’s pictures in it she slowly walked out the door for the last time.