Grandma's Mustard Cardigan

Haze of dust motes danced round the attic. The boxes and other items that were packed into the attic was covered in dust and cobwebs hanged from the ceiling. Amy’s hands were placed on her waist as she looked round the small space. Her grandma's last wish to Amy was that she should clean the attic and take anything of value she saw. Amy wondered what could be of value in the dustfilled attic, but she was determined to clean the attic anyway, since she would be moving into her Grandma's house by the end of the week. Her grandma had bequeathed the house to her, which was a blessing to Amy as it was near her workplace.

Amy set about cleaning. She removed the boxes from their pile and spread them on the floor. She dusted off an old recliner chair, then sat on it before opening the first box. The first box was filled with old trinkets amd jewelries that only old people wore now. Luckily, they were in good shape and didn't need cleaning. Amy didn't see herself wearing them but she was going to preserve it in memory of hee grandmother. The next box held books in it. DIY books, cooking recipe books and a little journal. The journal was brown and the cover was tattered. Amy turned the journal in her hands, pondering on whether to go through it or not. She wondered what secrets it held. Finally, her curious mind got the best of her and she decided to see how her grandmother had written about her life.

An old polaroid picture was tacked on the first page. Grandma was sitting on the floor in front of a large oak tree. Grandma looked 18. Her hair was packed in a ponytail and she wore one of the jewelries Amy had found in the first box. She was also wearing a knitted cardigan. The cardigan was huge and almost covered grandma's knees. It had a huge wraparound scarf knitted around the neck which Grandma tucked round her neck. Grandma's head was thrown back in carefree laughter. She looked extremely beautiful in the picture and the camera captured the essence of her beauty. Amy thought just then that if Grandma had asked anything of her, she would have done it. Underneath, Grandma had scribbled in her cursive handwriting, “Got cranky old Mr Morton to take a picture of me. I think today's so good.”

Amy knew who cranky old Mr Morton was. He lived down the street and rarely spoke to anyone. His mouth was always tugged into a frown and it was like he hated people. He only loved nature, which was why a camera was always slung round his neck to take pictures of nature. So, it must have been a miracle for her grandma to get him to take a picture of her. Amy flipped to the next page. Here, Grandma wrote an entry.

“November 3rd, 1981
Life’s been so nice lately. People keep being nice and doing nice stuff for me. Today, Mrs Wei Lin saw me passing her cookies and treats store. I stopped to inhale the scent of freshly baked cookies but I didn't have any money on me. I was about to walk on, when the door opened and Mrs Wei Lin stepped out with a box in her hand. I couldn't believe it when she handed the box to me saying she had seen me outside her store and had decided to gift me a box of cookies. I couldn't even reject it. She wouldn't let me. Could it be the mustard cardigan Grandma passed on to me?"

Amy breathed in and out, then flipped to the next page. It was another picture of her grandma still wearing the knitted cardigan. This time, she was holding a cute white dog on her laps, an easy smile playing on her lips. Below was written, “A gift from Mr Lesley, the pet store owner.”

Amy flipped through the pages until she saw something that caught her attention. Her grandma had written, “But one day, the cardigan leaves for a while. When you come to rely on it, it leaves you to forge your path without it.” Amy didn't understand, so she put the journal to the side to ponder on later. She kept wondering where the cardigan Grandma wore in the pictures was. Amy kept cleaning and dusting, then she came across the last box in the pile. It was yellow in colour and wasn't covered in dust like the rest. Amy lifted it onto her laps and opened the cover. In it laid the sardigan her grandma wore. It looked brand new and was neatly folded. Amy lifted the box and stepped out of the attic to her grandma's room. There, she removed the cardigan gently from the box and held it to her front, as she stood in front of a mirror. The cardigan looked beautiful and Amy decided she would start wearing it just like her grandma did. She looked at the time, it was almost 6, time for her shift at the town’s diner. Amy knew it would be cold outside, so she tugged on the cardigan and swiped her bag that was sitting on the bed.

---

As Amy headed to the diner, she noticed that people had been throwing smiles at her. A nod here, a wave there, a smile here. Amy couldn't understand it. Amy always thought she was invisible, like a wallpaper. People rarely took notice of her, in school, at work, anywhere. She had gone through life without attention and she seemed unmemorable. So, she couldn't understand why there was attention on her, all of a sudden. She got to the diner and dropped her bag behind the counter. There were no customers. It seemed like the evening was going to be a drag. She removed the apron that was hanging on a hook and tied it around her waist. Then she went to the backroom where the kitchen was to say hi to her boss and other employees. She knew her boss, Mr Doughie would be making the fries while Kate, Donald and Taye would be busy making hamburgers, doughnuts and ice cream. Her job was behind the counter, serving the snacks to customers.

“Good evening, boss. Hi, guys.” She greeted.

They all looked up from their different chores and stared at her without saying anything.

“What? Have I got something on my face?” She asked.

Mr Doughie cleared his throat before speaking, “Amy… you look different today.”

“You look beautiful. Like, extraordinarily.” Donald added. Kate nodded in support.

“Are you using makeup or something? What's the secret?” Kate rushed towards her, turning her face this way and that. Amy couldn’t say a word. She was astonished at the sudden attention she was receiving from her co-workers. Normally, they would have just greeted her and continued with their various activities.

“Well, I guess it's probably the organic face cream I'm using or something.” She chuckled nervously. Someone opened the door in a hurry and stepped through. It was Taye. “What are you guys doing?? We’ve got lots of customers seated, waiting for their orders to be taken.”

“You're kidding. I just came in. There was no one.” Amy countered. Taye looked at her. She raised an eyebrow in surprise, then said, “Wow, Amy. Why do you suddenly look like the most prettiest girl I have ever seen. I could date you.” Taye smiled then continued, “Guys, we need to get to work.” Amy couldn't get the blush creeping on her cheeks off.

---

For the next three days that Amy wore the cardigan, she got lots of gifts and nice compliments from people, even strangers. Amy realized that the cardigan somehow had a power. It had a hold on people and got them to do nice things for the wearer of it. It also made the wearer look very beautiful. It would explain why Taye had suddenly started flirting with her and paying attention to her. Amy came to rely on the cardigan and she started wearing it everyday. Taye asked her out and Amy was giddy. She accepted and they started dating. On one of their dates, they had gone to the cinema and they were seeing, “The Box”. During a break, Taye held Amy’s hand, then asked.

“ Why do you always wear this cardigan?”

Amy cleared her throat before answering, “It was my grandmother's. She passed it on to me.”

“Well, I think the cardigan looks nice and I understand you wanting to hold on to something of your grandma’s. But I would love to see you in other clothes.” Taye commented. Amy withdrew her hand from Taye’s and kept mute.

“What's wrong, babe?” Taye asked, as she noticed Amy's withdrawal.

“Nothing. I think the movie’s about to start.” Amy replied.

---

Then one day, Amy's worst nightmare came to reality. Coffee spilled on the cardigan, so she sent it to the dry cleaner. Somehow, it got missing at the drycleaner’s. Amy received compensation for it but it somehow didn't.ake up for the value the cardigan had. She cried and begged the drycleaner to find it, but he couldn't. Amy thought just then that she had also lost value. She returned home and refused to go to work or see anybody. She had food and what she needed delivered to her doorstep. She refused to pick Taye's calls. Taye showed up at her door the next three days. Amy tried to close the door on Taye but Taye pushed her way in.

“Why, babe? Why have you been refusing my calls? Why haven't you come in for work? Did something happen?” Taye asked in a rush.

Amy turned her face to the side and refused to look at Taye. “I just needed to take some time off.”

Taye came close to Amy and held her face gently in her hands. Amy searched Taye’s eyes for any hint of disappointment. Maybe, she didn't look beautiful to her again. But there was just sadness in Taye’s eyes.

“What happened?” Taye asked her. Then Amy burst into tears. “I lost the cardigan. I did. And now, I have lost my value. I don't think I am beautiful anymore.”

“What do you mean?” Taye said as she tried to wipe the tears rolling down Amy’s cheeks.

“The cardigan makes me beautiful. It makes people nicer to me. I'm sure it was what made you like me. And without it, I'm unmemorable. I'm not sure you would like me now.”

“No, Amy. I don't think so. Maybe the cardigan did have it's power. But I think it made you more confident instead. Amy, you used to make yourself into a wallflower. Like, you always wanted to be invisible. I have liked you, since I first saw you in that diner. But it's like you were more interested in the ground. You rarely spoke to any of us. You were folded in on yourself and somehow, maybe people thought you wanted to be left alone. Like, you weren't interested in human conmections. But the day you wore the cardigan, you said more than hi and good evening to us. You even countered me when I said we had customers. You somehow started glowing. That's why I could actually make a move. I love you, Amy. And not because of the cardigan. You are beautiful, with or without it. And your worth is not based on it. Okay?? I love you.”

Amy sniffled. “You do?”

“Yes, I do. And no cardigan would change that.” Taye chuckled, then pulled Amy into her arms.

Amy realized then that what Taye said was true. She realized that since she wore the cardigan, she was the one who smiled at people first. She waved at people and gave compliments and in doing that, people were nicer to her. Amy had never truly given people the time of day. Somehow, she was lacking in self confidence and her self esteem was low. She rarely spoke to people, rarely made friends and always pushed people away. So, she had turned herself to a wallflower. Somehow, she had dulled herself and relegated herself to the background. But the cardigan had brought her out of her shell. The cardigan’s power was to bring out confidence in it's wearer. To make the wearer think more of herself. To make the wearer glow and shine. But, it needed the wearer to realize that her worth was not based on it. And that's why it left. That's what Grandma had written. “It leaves you to forge your path without it.”
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