The Way Home - a short story #3

"That night, in our childhood memories, my sister taught me a lesson I would never forget"

When I was 19, I had to leave home. I was terrified, but it was a challenge I had to face head-on no matter how badly I wanted to stay. And it wasn't only home that i had to leave. It was college that I loved so much, friends that I was so passionate about and family that took it much more hardly than I did. There's a depth there that would tell another story someday.

It had not been easy so I was so happy that after 3 years, I was going back to celebrate my sister's birthday with my family. Her 18th birthday. Wow. I said to myself. Time was fast. Recently, I saw pictures of her wearing high-heels with a nice dress on. She was no longer the 3 years old that I used to drag with me to play with. She was a young lady now and I am proud of her.

For most of you, there is nothing too special about a sister's birthday especially if you see each other every day in the same house. It was not the case for people and big sisters like me. I love my sister, my family but more than that, I miss home everyday that I had been away from it.

Now I am in his boat, and I can hardly wait. The weather is nice, the sunshine was playing so nicely with the ocean's waters that I cannot help but feel nostalgic. I close my eyes and remember one twilight in my hometown when I was a little girl that decided to try her adventurous streak on her little sister. My sister Faith, was a little over 3 years old and I was 8. It was getting dark and an oldie cousin came to our house bringing an empty plastic biscuit can. It was red and bright and when I saw it, I clapped my hands in sheer glee because an idea was playing in my child mind. Mama was busy cooking dinner downstairs when I checked and I ran to my sister who was sitting and being good girl like mama told her to. "Hey, come. We will play a game together." I whispered the rest to her and she looked at me with her weird, wide and intelligent eyes. I held my breath, but thank God she nooded! You see, even when we were little, you will almost never be able to fool my sister who was born with a sharp mind that works so intelligently to this day.

We gathered our favorite toys and stuffed it in that big red plastic can. We were ready to go out of the house and play "run-away-from-home." When we were at the door, she suddenly let go of my hand and ran to get her little blanket. That thumb sucking lovable little baby. "Oh alright." I said annoyed. She began sucking but held my hand and I carried our can of toys. It was early ion the evening already and people were looking at us, somehow amused and surprised about two little girls walking the streets like it was a big whole playground all for themselves. I was smiling and laughing the whole time. We turned and turned on another street again intil we found ourselves near the highway with cars and trucks passing noisily. I noticed my sister starting to hum and when I looked at her eyes, it was getting drowsy and has the danger of closing anytime soon. She already complained, her pudgy little hands tugging at my skirt, "ate where are we going now, I'm hungry. Let's go home." I warned her, "if you sleep, I'll leave you here on the road, Faith." I smiled at her because I was afraid she would cry. I let her sit on the can but I never let go of her hand. After a few minutes, I told her we would walk slowly back home.

That's exactly what we did. It was dark and we were little girls and we turned and passed about three different streets that I wasn't really sure where to turn to get us home. I sighed but continued walking. Then I finally saw a light coming from a street lamp that I remembered was close to our house. I turned, following the light on the street light and saw it. There, at the side of the street with other humble houses was our little house with its light coming out of our pretty window. I turned to look down on my sleepy cute little sister and smiled. "Faith, we're home," I told her. Inside my mother was close to panicking until she saw me go through the door, dragging my little sister and holding the red can with toys. She ran to hug us both. "Oh where have you been! I was so worried." I bowed my head and looked at her from underneath my eyelashes.. and smiled sheepishly. "Well, mama, Faith and I played run-away-from-home. I just wanted to know how it was. I saw it in the movies." I was holding my skirt, playing with the hem of it and wondering how much scolding I'm about to get. But my mother had both me and my sister shocked. She looked at us from one to another, hugged my sister and laughed. She had a hard time stopping and my sister stopped sucking her thumb, clearly dumbfounded.

"Oh you naughty little girl!" she told me.

"What if you got lost." And I was even more shooked when my 3 years old sister told her clearly, "Oh we were never far momma." Holding her blanket, she added and smiled, "we found the wat home easily."

That night, in our childhood memories, my sister taught me a lesson I would never forget.

"That whatever happens, whichever path you choose to take, in the long run, you would still find yourself going back to the way and the road that leads you...HOME."