Days past locked away, until the day of the test came by, and Laney wondered if it was even worth leaving her room.
“Laney, get out of that room and go help your mother! And don’t even think about leaving to take that stupid test. Once you’re David's wife, there will be no need to keep that useless information locked away in yourself anyhow!” Father shouted from downstairs, slamming the door behind him as he left to God knows where.
Laney’s eyes had become red and puffy from the endless tears welling up in her eyes, and for the first time in 15 years, she actually didn’t do any housework. Then, when all seemed lost, there it was. At the doorway of her father’s room, with Franny snoring like a bull on her mattress, was yet another shiny golden coin. Laney thought she had been dreaming, but like on
her darkest days, another coin shined down her path, like a beacon of light amongst the blackness.
“I can’t cower away here any longer, I have to go take that test!” Laney repeated to herself. If that one day was to ever come,
she couldn’t back down now.
Despite her courage though, she knew, Franny is going to lock me away forever if she finds out.
Just then, as if the coin burned in her pocket at the exact time, a woman whom she had seen sometimes by the house down the street, was strolling on the sidewalk. A lightbulb functioned above her, ready to be lit when she walked down to say hello.
“Hi. I’m so sorry for bothering you so early in the day,
but can you please assist me?
The old woman smiled, as her eyes crinkled in the sunlight.
“What seems to be the matter?”
“You see, I have to go take a very important test, but my mother cannot find out. Could you please tell Franny that I helped you in some way. It would mean so much!”
“Oh but of course. Please child, go take your test, and I hope you succeed for whatever it is for!” The woman replied, her voice dripping with honey from a maple tree.
“Thank you so much!” Laney finished, as she ran off, a new skip in her step as she made her way to the school.