Day 19 - Sweater
#18 of Orctober 2020
Fifth story of the third batch of Orctober prompts, and, this one holds a special place in my heart, one one hand due to its wholesomeness and on the other hand due to how close it reflects some of my childhood memories. I hope you can enjoy them.
This one is also part of a series of short stories based on prompts given by Dnddentist . Remember to leave your comments below and to vote if you liked this story.
The pattering of the rain on the tin roof filled the room, cold chill of the air seeping into my bones. The stark gray light of the day passed through the windows and cast a grim glow over everything. Faded pink walls were decorated with pictures of times long gone, forever captured in yellow and black. A softcreak came from the door as it opened and revealed the shape of my granddaughter, a tray with two cups in her hands. I sent a quick smile her way but didn't stop moving the long needles in my hands, weaving the ocean blue yarn into a new form.
The cups clacked as Clarissa set the tray down of a nearby table, white trails of smoke raising from the dark liquid inside.
"Sorry it took so long grandma, I couldn't find the matches." she said with a shy smile on her verdant green face.
"Don't worry dear, I have trouble finding those matches myself all the time." I told her with a soft voice, my heart fluttering when her tusks framed a wide smile.She looks just like his mother.
Clarissa took a seat in the sofa across mine, her slim body sinking into the dark purple cushions. My old heart burned with joy whenever I looked at her, so different from the child she had been and yet, she still had some of that energy of youth in her eyes. She was taller now, close to the one hundred and eighty five meters of her mother but without her girth. Black wavy hair adorned her hair, just like her father. A snow white blouse covered her torso, pink roses doting the fields of white. Her black jeans rode low on her lips, the rough fabric a far cry of what I had worn at her age.
"Everyone dresses like this now," she said when she saw my roaming eyes, her arms crossing over her chest.
I gave her a polite smile, more amused than upset by her reaction. "Well, you should bring this 'Everyone' here, I'd love to know more about them."
That got a laugh out of her, the melodic sound echoing in the room like it used to so long ago.
"Grandma, that's not what I meant. It's just, this is the fashion. You know, like those puffy dresses you showed me once."
"Those were not meant for respectable young women to use."
"But you were the one wearing them!" she said with excitement, her finger pointing to a picture in the wall. I didn't need to turn to know which one it was, the layout of this room as familiar to me as my own body.
"I never said I was a respectable young woman. Your great grandfather sure complained about that a lot." I shot back with a hint of mischief in my tone before I set aside my work.
"He did? Did he do anything about it?"
"Oh no, he loved to complain but he also loved to see me happy," I said, my voice growing softer and wistful. "Things were different in those days, our values, our morals, our freedoms, they weren't as many as they are today. Everyone thought your great grandfather was strange back then, allowing his only daughter to dress as she pleased."
"Wait, you couldn't dress like you wanted?" Her eyes grew wide like platters, her hands clutching the borders of her blouse.
"No, you couldn't, unless your father said you could and mine did." I shared a conspiratorial look with her, a soft laugh raising from my chest. "He said I should learn how to stand on my own two feet and he always stood by that, whether it was clothes, marriage or life. I, of course, took advantage of that, much to my friends' shock."
"And your mom didn't say anything about that?"
"No, my mom was always more focused on her research than with what I wore. Though, form time to time, she would throwa few remarks of improvements I could make to my dresses and she was almost always right."
"Almost always?"
I took the cup in my hands, the warmth from the ceramic breathing back life into my aching fingers. I took a sip from the dark liquid before I said, "Unlike what men like to think, we're not always right. The same applied to my mom."
Clarissa gave me a quick nod before her own hands went for her cup. A hiss left her lips when her fingers touched the ceramic, a grimace appearing on her face. She didn't let that stop her, much like her mother, and soon she was taking her first sip of tea. Her shoulders sagging while a soft hum left her throat.
"I hope things are going well with your university." I said after a couple of minutes of silent drinking.
"Huh? Ah yes, it's going well. A lot of hard work and sleepless nights, but that's part of the experience I guess." resignation clung to her voice, the brown bag under her eyes betraying her tiredness.
"Hmm... I see, just remember to pace yourself. It will be all for nothing if you study until you're dead."
"I will grandma, don't worry."
"Nope, can't do. I'm your grandma, I will always worry about you and I will also spoil you." I said with a firm tone, bringing another laugh out of her.
"You don't have to grandma." she said, her cheeks tinting red.
"Oh, but I will. For one, I'm doing this lovely pink sweater just for you. Perfect to keep you warm in cold night and to pick up handsome young men--"
"Grandma!"
"Well, it can also be for beautiful young women, it is very versatile."
Clarissa hid her face behind her hands, her tea cup dancing dangerously on her lap. I couldn't hold back the laugh that came from me. The phantom of another orc in the same position danced before my eyes, the sound of that embarrassed voice ringing in my ears.
"Why did you say that? Grandmas are not supposed to say that."
"Well, when have I ever done things like other people?"