Wednesday, April 15, 2020

WEP - Antigue Vase - Best Intentions




BEST INTENTIONS



Angela took the vase out of the package she’d just received in the post and cursed. “All I wanted was the necklace. Instead, all I get is a stupid vase!”


“Quit bellyaching. Nana didn’t have to leave you anything. All you did was clean her house. Velda was her daughter. Of course, Nana’s going to leave her jewelry to family.”


“I know, but Velda doesn’t deserve it. I did more for her mother than she ever did. I just don’t understand. Nana told me that one day I’d be rich. Then she’d wink. You just wait, she’d say. You just wait.” Angela sighed. “It doesn’t make sense.”



“Oh, for heaven’s sake, maybe someday you will be rich. Nana was the poorest woman on the block. Despite all those rumors. All poor Velda got was her jewelry and a measly $5000, life insurance payment. From what I was told, she had to use that to cover the funeral costs.”



“Yeah, but that necklace has to be worth something.”



“I heard it’s cubic zirconia, worth maybe a couple hundred.”



Angela sighed. “Oh well at least I have something to remember Nana by.” She picked up the vase and examined it. “Nana doted over the silly thing, reminding me every day to dust it ever so carefully. She refused to put flowers in it.”



“What are you going to do with it?” Betty asked.



“Last month, I sent a letter to one of those antique houses in New York. I sent pictures of all the sides, including the bottom, and I was hoping they’d write back and tell me it’s worth a mint. But instead, I think they just had a good laugh. So, I’ll keep it here on the bookshelf with Nana’s picture."


Betty picked it up and shook it. "What’s inside? It sounds like there’s something in there.”


“Nana said it was a love letter from her husband. The one and the only letter he wrote to her before he was killed in the war. That’s why she wouldn’t allow water for flowers.”


“How sweet. You want to get some tweezers and see if we can’t fish it out?”


“No. I find it kind of romantic. I even shoved a picture of both Nana and Harry inside. Now they’ll always be together.”


Angela put the vase on the top shelf. “As ugly as it is, it still means something." She checked her hair in the mirror. "Damn, now I wish I hadn’t agreed to that double shift tonight.”


“Better get going. Maybe some guy will give you a million-dollar tip?” She laughed and swatted Angela's butt when she walked by. “Go get em, sis!”


A week later, Angela burst through the door of her room to find her sister poking something metal into the vase. “What in the world are you doing?”

Betty jumped and dropped the vase to the floor. It shattered, but amongst the debris were dozens of folded pieces of paper.


“No!” Angela screamed, falling to her knees.


“It’s okay, Angela. Look,” Betty said as she unfolded the bills. They’re hundreds. Must be $3,000 here. Can you believe it? $3,000! Good riddance old vase, you're rich!”


Angela sank deeper into herself. White as a sheet, she groaned. “How?”


“Sorry, sis. I just had to read Nana's letter. I had a dream about it last night. So I thought I’d fish it out. I didn’t mean to drop the damn thing. But sis, $3,000! You’d never have known it was there!”



Angela handed Betty the letter she’d been holding then put her head in her hands and started sobbing.



Betty took the letter and read it. “Dear Ms. Finney: Your lovely vase bears the mark of the Qianlong Emperor who ruled from 1736 to 1796. We’d have to see the vase in person to make sure it isn’t a replica, but the colors and the appearance have all of us excited."



Betty swallowed, "If you’re interested in placing it in an auction…” Betty’s voice trailed off as the tears began to fall, but she continued in a whisper, “And if it’s original, it could be worth millions.”



“Holy shit!” She threw her arms around her sister. “Forgive me…”

 ***


My inspiration for this story.




700 Words

Yolanda Renée © 2020

***



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45 comments:

Elephant's Child said...

I grew up hearing 'The road to hell is paved with good intentions'. What a stunning illustration of that phrase (with a side order of curiousity killed the cat).
I am not sure I would easily forgive Betty.
What a great entry to the antique vase challenge.

Denise Covey said...

Oh my what regrets these sisters will share in the years ahead. Some people only care about easy money. $3,000 instead of millions. I hope Betty's happy!
Loved it!

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Renee - oh gosh yes I've read that sort of story and seen them around and in fact nearly followed your story route ... but well done - great read ... quizzy relatives, and what a terrible end for the poor vase - let alone Angela, who's lost a fortune ... Betty - will never live happily ever after ... loved reading it - Hilary ...

Pat Garcia said...

Hi,
Curiosity and impatience usually robs us of a fortunate. If that was an an antique vase from Qianlong Emperor, which I bet it was, she has just lost her millions due to her sister's curiosity. That's heartbreaking.
Excellent story. I enjoyed it.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat G

Jemi Fraser said...

Oh no!!!! Can't even imagine the rift that's going to cause between the sisters! Great story :)

Sanhita Mukherjee said...

I knew it... :) ..... Stung by curiosity I finished in a breath.
Sanhita Mukherjee.

Ornery Owl of Naughty Netherworld Press and Readers Roost said...

Agh! I fear I would have to find a hiding place for Betty's body after I strangled the life from her! A very impactful piece.

Karuna said...

Wow, a great post! I could feel my stomach sink as the vase fell to the floor. The march of time moves forward allowing no way to go back and leaving fates and relationships changed forever. Well done. Thanks for sharing!

Olga Godim said...

Oh, I love this one. Such a twisted ending. An antique vase worth millions - that must be everyone's dream. Too bad the curious sister broke it.

Toi Thomas said...

Wow, what a twist of luck. I think it might be a running theme, at least it is in my story. This was funny, but kind of sad too. Not only is she out of millions, but also the momento of her departed friend. That's terrible... In a good way. Really enjoyed this.

Mason Canyon said...

Love the story. I don't think there will be any peace between those two for awhile.

L.G. Keltner said...

Ouch! That loss has to hurt! Her sister had the best of intentions, but the results were disastrous. Well done!

Yolanda Renée said...

I did too. I doubt that forgiveness will come anytime soon. :) Thanks, Sue!

Yolanda Renée said...

I do too, but I'm sure Angela will be moaning her loss for quite a while. LOL

Yolanda Renée said...

Thank you!

Yolanda Renée said...

Thanks, Hilary. Everyone dreams of finding that one antique that'll make them rich. I couldn't resist!

Yolanda Renée said...

I researched antique vases and was shocked at the prices some of them bring. If only! LOL

Yolanda Renée said...

I know it'll be between them forever.

Yolanda Renée said...

LOL, I'm glad you enjoyed it!

Yolanda Renée said...

LOL, poor Betty. Hopefully they invest the $3000 and makes millions! :)

Yolanda Renée said...

Thank you, Karuna! Easy come, easy go!

Yolanda Renée said...

I couldn't resist. LOL

Yolanda Renée said...

Twists are the most fun! Thanks, Toi!

Yolanda Renée said...

Not for a long while!

Yolanda Renée said...

Thank you, Laura! It was a fun write!

Rebecca M. Douglass said...

Ouch! Nasty little twist there at the end--you have a mean streak :D Nicely done, though. The sisters are just greedy enough to make me not feel too bad about it.

Yolanda Renée said...

I'm glad you enjoyed it!. Thanks, Rebecca!

J Lenni Dorner said...

Freaking sisters! "This is why we can't have nice things."
Good story. Man, sacrificing millions for a few thousand bucks... what a metaphor.

Elizabeth Seckman said...

Having something so valuable by accident would be awesome. Great story!

Yolanda Renée said...

LOL, thanks J. My sister won't appreciate this one. :)

Yolanda Renée said...

Thanks, Elizabeth.

Donna Hanton said...

Argh! I think I would've killed the sister if it'd been me! Lol! Probably not, but it would cause a rift.Families, hey...

Edix said...

Great twist! Would love to hear some of the letters he wrote. Nice job with dialogue and pacing.

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Yolanda Renée said...

LOL, me too. Families, the best!

Yolanda Renée said...

Ah, curiosity, it did get the better of her.

Kalpana said...

Sisters! Always interfering. Tragic story though. The build up of tension was masterful. But then, that's your speciality! Wonderful story.

Yolanda Renée said...

Thanks, Kalpana. I try.

Roland Clarke said...

What a bitter-sweet tale, Renee. You pulled on my emotions and then dashed my expectations - well, the impatient sister did. I could see this happening. Good research yields amazing inspiration. Those antique vase prices set me wondering about forgeries...and Sparkle.

Roland Clarke said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Yolanda Renée said...

I was given the name Yolanda Renee, but my mother asked everyone to call me Renee, I'm used to it. LOL I'm glad I've sparked an idea... :)

Jemima Pett said...

What a great twist!! Nicely done, and well written.

cleemckenzie said...

Well, that was heart-stopping! I'm not sure what I'd do my sister in that situation. Great job, Yolanda.

Anstice Brown said...

Oh no! I would have been heartbroken enough about the loss of something that meant so much to my Nan, without knowing the monetary value. I often wonder what it must feel like to come so close to recieving a fortune only to lose out somehow-like those poor people who lose the winning lottery ticket. I really enjoyed the dramatic flare to your writing. It kept me on the edge of my seat all the way through. Great job.

Nilanjana Bose said...

Okay, I think this would make a splendid prelude to a murder story - sister gets strangled by person or persons unknown. Body found surrounded by shattered vase worth millions.

Excellent flashes both this and the doorstop, great suspense, drama and spookiness quotient!