TREASURED NOTEBOOK

by PearlAnn SnowStar

Samantha was in her chamber, sitting on her bed. She noticed herself in the mirror on her dresser.

“Can’t believe I made it to forty!”

She laughed. Reaching under her bed, she pulled out a blue bin. She took the lid off and began to remove various items. A necklace, some books, a stuffed rabbit, and more things. She sorted them with great care until there were a few stacks around her.

She noticed the last item at the bottom. Carefully, she took out an old black composition notebook that was inside a sealed plastic bag. Unsealing the bag, she took out the notebook.

“More than twenty years have passed, my friend.”

Opening up the book with great tenderness, she read the brief message written on the inside of the cover. It brought back memories.

* * *

Samantha was excited. Vincent and Catherine had brought some mail meant for Below. Patiently, she waited with the others in the Library as Father called out the names and the person came up to receive their mail.

“Samantha.” 

It got quiet. Samantha walked up to Father.

Catherine smiled. “This came to our address, not any other Helper.”

Samantha knew what that meant. Swallowing, she took the letter.

“Are you going to read it?” Kipper called out.

Samantha shrugged. “Could be another rejection.”

Catherine softly said, “Or an acceptance?”

Closing her eyes, Samantha opened the letter. Saying a silent prayer, she opened her eyes and pulled out the letter. When she read it quietly, she couldn’t believe what she read.

“Samantha, what does it say?” Father inquired.

She screamed. “I was accepted! I was accepted!” As others cheered, she couldn’t stop jumping up and down.

“We knew you could do it.” Vincent smiled. “You just had to find the right school.”

“Well, it was her third choice; the other two rejected a great doctor.”

She turned to see Michael standing at the entrance.

“I did it. I did it.” Samantha felt so proud.

Everyone started to congratulate her. 

“Have to go Above,” Kipper said to her. “You ready?”

“Of course she is,” Mary proudly said. “And she won’t be alone. She’ll be staying with a Helper.”

Samantha took a deep breath as she looked around the chamber. She held her letter as she said, “I can’t believe it, really can’t.”

Vincent said, “I’m proud of you, Samantha.”

Catherine, who was next to Vincent, walked up to her. Giving her a hug, she said, “Congratulations, Samantha.”

“Well,” William called out, “it’s time to celebrate!”

* * *

Later that day, Samantha went to her chamber. She had to pack things up and be ready for tomorrow.

“Samantha?”

She looked up to see Catherine at the entrance. She was holding a small gift-wrapped package.

“Catherine, come in.”

Catherine walked up to her and embraced her. Samantha could feel a tear or two sliding down her cheeks.

“Scared?” Catherine gently asked.

Samantha just nodded her head. She took a deep breath and composed herself. “I just realized that I’ll have a lot of learning to do.”

“I know.”

“Now that I’ve got in, with your help, I’m realizing that maybe I can’t do this.”

Catherine grinned. “Of course, you can.”

Catherine handed her the gift. “I wanted to give you something special.”

Samantha smiled. “Thank you. You really didn’t have to. You already helped me so much.”

“I’m so happy that I could help you. I want you to always come to me if you need anything. Still, I wanted to give you this. I know you will need it. After all, I have a lot of them around, and they are helpful.”

Samantha carefully opened up the gift. It was a small black composition notebook.

“Thank you. I’m going to need one of these.”

“It can easily fit into your purse.” Catherine smiled. “Now, we’re going to go shopping after you settle in Above. We need to get some outfits, more notebooks, and any other items you may need.”

“I think I will be fine. Mrs. Duffy was so nice to let me stay in her extra bedroom. And I can work at her boutique after school. Plus, I have Dr. Peter’s and your phone numbers. Oh, yes, Michael said he can help me out with any questions about college life.” Samantha paused, then continued, “I’m so glad Mrs. Duffy suggested her place. She’s only a few blocks away from the school.”

“Yes,” Catherine looked at her. “I was surprised you didn’t want to stay in the dorm.”

Samantha shook her head. “Not now, maybe later? I’ll feel more comfortable staying with Mrs. Duffy. She’ll help me get used to the ways of Above.”

Samantha hugged Catherine.

“Just wanted to say, thank you so much, Catherine. I’m going to be fine. I think.”

* * *

The day that she moved into that extra bedroom was a busy one. Many people helped her carry boxes and set up things.

When night came, Samantha was tired. She took out the notebook and opened it. Inside the front cover was a special message from Catherine.

“Composition book for Samantha, who is attending college.

Dearest Samantha,

Use this notebook for any ideas and thoughts you have, besides any appointments.

Learn from your mistakes and don’t give up. There will be tough times and also good times. I believe you will achieve your dream of being a doctor. I believe this with all my heart. You are very strong and capable. But most importantly, you must believe you can do it. Believe in yourself.

Looking forward to calling you Doctor Samantha.

Love,

Catherine.”

* * *

Now here she was, many years later. Looking at the message inside the front cover.

Samantha felt her eyes getting moist. Carefully turning the pages, she looked at the notes. There were also appointments scheduled. She wiped away the few tears that fell.

Another memory.

* * *

It was toward the end of the second year. Samantha didn’t feel like going on. She barely made it home without crying. Getting off the bus, she ran as fast as she could. Once she was inside the building, she started to run upstairs to the apartment.

“Samantha? Is that you?” Mrs. Duffy called from the downstairs boutique.

She tried to quickly wipe away the tears. The door next to the stairs opened. Mrs. Duffy, an older plump lady with chocolate skin and red hair tinged with gray, stood there.

She couldn’t speak. Mrs. Duffy walked up to her and hugged her.

“I’m all right.” She sobbed. “Really. Who’s watching the shop?”

“Don’t you mind about the shop. I have Marilinda watching. Saw you come in here crying. Now tell me, girl, what is wrong?”

Mrs. Duffy guided her to the door. As they walked in, Samantha managed to compose herself.

“Mrs. Duffy, I just…just…can’t do it anymore.”

“Nonsense. One bad day and you’re going to give up? Not on my watch!”

Samantha looked at her.

They were inside a small office that was behind the boutique. Mrs. Duffy guided Samantha to a small stool, then she sat in the only chair by the tiny desk.

“Now. What happened? Those college boys a bothering you agin?”

Samantha shook her head. “It’s everything. This second year is so hard. My friend Beth, who I thought was my friend…She said that since I won’t join her sorority, she told me that we can’t be friends anymore. But I like living where I do now. And I don’t want to join a sorority, especially after what Rebbie told me.”

“Which is what?”

“How they have hazings. That one girl nearly got raped by a guy from a fraternity because of the hazing. It was some kind of ‘how much can you drink’ thing. I was shocked that Beth was going to quit being my friend. So I told her what Rebbie told me.” Samantha looked at Mrs. Duffy. “I really thought Beth was a nice person. You know what she said about Rebbie?”

“No, what?”

“That Rebbie being a Black…” Samantha took a deep breath. “I can’t say the word she used. It’s…bad. But she said that she better be quiet or the professors would have her kicked out for spreading rumors.”

“Was it a rumor?”

“NO! I even heard about it when some other girls in one of my classes were talking about it.”

“What happened to the young lady who nearly got attacked?”

“I heard she was made to leave school as she wasn’t the type of student they wanted.” Samantha shook her head. “It wasn’t her fault. And now Beth told me, after saying she wasn’t going to be my friend any longer, that it was for the best. Since I’m not upper class anyway.”

Samantha started crying. “Then I have a test coming up, and I’m so scared of failing.”

Mrs. Duffy calmly said, “You just need to think things out. I think it was brave of you not to cave in to Beth. And, yes, it hurts to have someone you trusted to be a friend, wasn’t. You’ll find new friends. Like maybe Rebbie.”

Samantha wiped away the tears. “I like Rebbie, and I think she wants to be my friend, too. But she’s keeping her distance. She told me it’s because she was told not to associate with white girls.”

Mrs. Duffy shook her head. “I’ve been through all that. Especially since my mother was Black and my father was a red-haired Irishman. It’s tough to see so much hate from people. I know how hurt I have felt from what others say. But you’ve got to be true to your heart, no matter how hard. You must always follow your heart.”

Samantha looked at her. She started to smile.

“What?” Mrs. Duffy asked.

“That’s what a good friend and my teacher used to say.”

Mrs. Duffy smiled. “Take the night off of work.”

“But…”

“You need it. And one day isn’t going to hurt, ‘cause you,” Mrs. Duffy pointed a finger at her, “always make it up.”

“That’s because I am saving for a computer.”

“Well, see!” Mrs. Duffy got up. “Go upstairs. Think about things. Follow your heart. Tomorrow is another day.” She winked. “Maybe study some more for that test.”

Samantha nodded and got up.

“Thank you.”

Mrs. Duffy just shook her hand. “Better see how Marilinda is handling things.”

Samantha walked out of the office and up the stairs. Taking her key out, she opened the door and walked into the apartment. Heading to her bedroom, she plopped on her bed. What was she going to do?

She opened a drawer in the dresser next to her bed. There was the notebook Catherine had given her. It was lying in the corner.

“Hadn’t looked at you for a few months.”

She picked it up. She opened it and looked at the note Catherine had written in the notebook.

Suddenly, she realized something. “There will be tough times.” She looked up. “Believe in yourself. I’m strong, capable. I’m not going to let a couple of bad days bring me down. I can pass that test. I can.”

She held the notebook close to her. She whispered, “Thank you, Catherine.”

* * *

Samantha hugged the notebook.

“You’re a keeper. Who’d ever thought?”

“Samantha?”

She stood up. “Come in.”

Charles, who looked so much like his father, Vincent, walked in. “I wanted to see if you needed my help. At lunch, you told me that before the Council meeting, you needed to do a bit of cleaning.”

She nodded.  “I just paused for a moment.” She looked at the items on the bed, clutching the notebook close to her. “I’m going to miss these items, but if you can grab the recycle bin I have in the closet, we can put the items that are on my bed in it. I’ll first see if anyone here Below would like to take them.”

He nodded and walked over to the closet, removing the bin. He went over to her and gently placed the items on the bed in the bin. She carefully placed the notebook on top of the dresser so she could assist him.

After a few moments, her bed was cleared off.

“What’s that on the dresser?” he inquired.

“That is going to be with me until I die. It was from your mom.”

He smiled. “I have quite a few things from both Mom and Dad that are keepers, too.”

He picked up the bin and noticed her grin.

“I’m like Hercules.”

She laughed. “Me, I would need someone to help me carry it. I didn’t think I had that much stuff.”

“Oh, Dad said to remind you that Susan needs her vaccine shot. She didn’t want to go Above.”

“Oh, right. Yes, I believe I have some here Below in the clinic, but I’ll check and get back with your dad. Susan reminds me of her father, Mouse. Keeping to herself, fascinated with gizmos.”

He chuckled. “Oh, and speaking of Mouse, he has another idea for another stair lift here Below.”

“Of course he does. Teresa told me. She and Mouse. I didn’t see that coming! I should also check and see if I have enough emergency supplies on hand. The last time Mouse worked on a lift, which was for the winding staircase, he had cut his hand so badly that it needed stitches.”

He nodded. “I’m glad he agreed to use a harness for that project. And he let some people help him. When he cut himself, he took a step back right off the stairs. I hate to think what would have happened if he were alone or didn’t wear that harness.”

“Luckily, that time he listened to us about the safety measures.”

She reached for the notebook.

“I’ll put this back into the blue bin. It should be safe there.”

“I’ll put this in the recycle spot we have. I’ll let the others know so they can see if they want anything. See you later, Samantha.”

As he walked out of the chamber, she placed the notebook back into the plastic bag. Placing the item back into the bin, she said, “You’ll be all alone now. But maybe later you might have company.”

She covered the bin, then pushed it under her bed.

“Well, Samantha, the day is not over yet.”

She started to walk out of her chamber, then paused, as she glanced at her image in the mirror.

“Yes, I am strong and capable. I believe in me.” She giggled. “Plus, I’m one hell of a great doctor and good-looking woman.”

Still giggling, she skipped out of her chamber.