MICHIGAN americasutra Once upon a time there were two girls who lived in Michigan. Their names were Sally and Susan. Susan came from a rich family while Sally’s parents were poor. But despite being different the two girls were best friends. Sometimes the girls envied the other’s life. “Your parents are great,” Susan would say to Sally, “I would give all my things to have parents like them.” “You don’t know what you are saying,” Sally would reply. “I’d change with you any day.” One weekend Susan invited Sally to go on a boat trip on Lake Michigan. They were alone in a small boat having a lot of fun when a terrible accident happened. Susan and Sally’s boat caught on fire and Susan died. When Sally woke up, she was in a white room, covered with bandages. Susan’s mom was sitting beside her bed as she opened her eyes. When Susan’s mother discovered that Sally was awake she said, “Oh my poor Susan. What a horrible accident you had. You got burned badly. You’ve been sleeping for three weeks. What a luck you are awake!” Sally tried to speak and say, “I’m not Susan, I’m Sally,” but the words would not come. Later, when she was alone in the hospital Sally could not understand why everyone thought she was Susan. What a strange mistake it was. After a while, Sally began to think that it was also a lucky one. Somehow this was a chance to fulfill her wish. She decided to go on being Susan and enjoy all of the things she had always dreamed of. As Sally got better, Susan’s parents spent less and less time at the hospital but it did not matter. Sally ordered all kind of things like video games, a clown to perform in her hospital room, special slippers, and an electric toothbrush that played music. It was wonderful to have money. After a while Sally was well enough to leave the hospital and go home. Susan’s parents took her back to the villa. Sally loved it. She spent every night in a different room and the days in the swimming pool. She ordered special meals from the cook and went on long drives in the limousine. Nevertheless, feelings of loneliness began to grow in her. She missed Susan and she missed her parents. One evening after dinner Sally went to Susan’s parents and asked them, “Can we do something together tomorrow? Let’s make a picnic at the beach.” “We don’t have time for that,” they answered. “There is an important meeting tomorrow. We have to be prepared. Please leave us alone.” Sally went away and started crying. Her dad had always come up with new ideas of what the family could do together. Of course, they had no car to drive to the beach but they would do whatever they had to do to get there, laughing all the way. She walked to Susan’s parents’ room and opened the door. They were disturbed. “We have to read through all these papers by tomorrow darling. Please leave us alone,” Susan’s father said. These words were like a fist punching Sally’s heart. “Why can’t you be with me just a little? Why don’t you care? I could have died in that accident and you wouldn’t miss me at all,” Sally said. “Of course we would miss you honey,” Susan’s mother said. “But you are alive. We can still see you. For now these things are just more important.” “You are wrong!” Sally cried. “I am Sally! Susan is dead! You’ve missed it all!” Sally fell to the ground and began to cry like never before in her whole life. Susan’s parents were shocked. The mother looked closer and closer. All of a sudden she started to cry too. She bent down and hugged Sally. The father looked like a statue. He threw all the papers from the table. He took the phone and called Sally’s parents. When Sally’s parents came to the villa they were overjoyed. They could not believe their daughter was still alive. They did not leave her side for a single moment. Sally was happier than she had been in a the months since the accident. But Susan’s parents were sad. Sally’s parents opened their hearts easily and tried to help Susan’s parents deal with the loss that had come to them so unexpectedly. A.D.
Posted on: Thu, 25 Dec 2014 13:28:38 +0000