Southern Girl Summer

She grew up in the North. She was raised like a princess in New York. Her friends all lived in the countryside of the state. In the summers, she spent her time with them in their fancy mansions and the beach. However, this year her father went to Italy for business. Her mother was teaching English in Spain in the same year. As a result, she was going down to Alabama for the summer.

Anna Farmiga stared out the window of the taxi. She would be staying with her mother’s relatives for the summer. The young lady sighed as she sat back. I don’t even know these people, she thought. Anna turned back to the driver.

“How much longer until we get there?” she asked.

“We should be at the mansion in no time,” the middle-aged driver said. Anna sighed and rolled her eyes.

“You’re not from here, are you darling?” he asked.

“No,” the girl of sixteen said, folding her arms across her chest. She didn’t look as he looked at her through the rear-view window.

“You don’t look so happy,” the driver said.

“I don’t even know these people,” she said. “My dad sent me to stay with mama’s family this summer.”

“Excuse me, but may I ask what your mother’s family’s name is?”

“Montgomery family.”

The driver whistled behind the wheel. “Wow, you come from rich blood.” Anna tried to smile, but it dropped back into no emotion. Instead, she started to play with her bright blonde hair.

“What are they like?” she asked, humoring the chatty driver.

“Really nice,” the middle-aged man said. “I drive Miss Dorthey into town every Wednesday.”

“Who’s Miss Dorthey?”

“Your grandma, I believe. She lives with her daughter, Heather, Margo, and her daughter, Savannah.”

“Wait, are all those people mom’s family?”

The driver laughed. “No, Margo is the assisted help to Miss Dorthey. Your grandmother can’t really move around much like she used to. So she has to have assisted care around the clock.”

“Oh.”

The taxi pulled up to an iron gate.

“We’re here,” the driver said. “Welcome to Montgomery Plantation.” Anna looked out the window to see a giant white house on a hill. To a normal person, it would amaze them to see such a big fancy house in the middle of the countryside. Anna, on the other hand, was used to seeing this sort of thing.

“I shall help you with your bags, miss,” the driver said.

“Thank you,” the young girl said. She unlocked the door and slid out of the cab. “How do I let them know I’m here?”

“Push the button on the gate,” the driver said. Anna walked over and pressed the small, silver button she found on the gate.

“Hello?” she said. “Grandma, are you there? It’s me, Anna. Your granddaughter. I just made it to the house.”

“Anna, is that really you?” an old lady’s voice crackled on the other end.

“Yes!” Anna shouted.

“Okay, dear,” the old lady said. “Margo! Unlock the gate!” Anna packed up as the gate opened. The driver stood beside her with her luggage in hand. After they walked up to the house, Anna paid the driver for the fare and extra for carrying her luggage. The Princess of New York turned and rang the doorbell. A woman with a deep tan poked her head outside.

“Hi, can I help you?” she said with a heavy Southern accent. Anna stood straight and smoothed out her white and red-flower print dress.

“Uh… is grandma in?” she asked. The tanned woman broke into a huge smile.

“She’s back in room,” she said. “Follow me.” Margo and Anna got the luggage and walked into that giant, fancy house. They found a woman with bright blonde hair sitting in the dining room filing her nails. Her black jeans, white halter top, and curls made her look like model on a 70’s fashion magazine. Anna narrowed her eyes as she walked into the elegant red room.

“Mama?” she asked. The woman with blonde her paused and turned her head. Anna slowly shook her head.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” she said. The skinny blonde eyed the sixteen-year-old girl up and down.

“You Anna?” she asked. The girl slowly nodded her head.

“Hm, you’re much skinnier than I imagined,” the blonde woman said.

“Nikki, please,” an old lady said. “Take it easy on the child.” Anna, Nikki, and the tan woman looked up to see an old woman rolling down the hall with a girl about Anna’s age, maybe a little bit older, at her side. The tan woman pushed back her bangs.

“Miss. Dorthey, what are you doing out of bed?” she asked. “You should be resting.” The old woman’s laughter sounded like a croaking frog. Her chest heaved in her light purple gown. She had on her jewels while her hair and make-up was done up.

“I’m fine right now, Margo,” the old lady said. “I had Savannah here help me out of bed and doll me up. I had to meet my granddaughter.” Her Southern belle charm floated around the room as she talked. Anna could feel her teeth starting to rot out.

“H-H-Hi,” she said.

“I don’t believe we have met,” her grandmother said. “I am your grandma, Dorthey. This young lady next to me is Savannah.” The girl standing next to her, waved.

“Hi,” she mumbled.

“Speak up when you talk, girl,” the old lady said. Savannah looked down at her feet.

“You have to forgive her,” Margo said. “She’s really shy.” Anna turned behind her. The tan woman in the red shirt rubbed the back of her head.

“I’m her mother, Margo,” she said.

“Nice to meet you,” Anna said. The blonde woman flipped back her hair.

“I am your aunt, Nikki,” she said. Her slender niece smiled awkwardly and waved. These are my Mama’s people, she thought.

“Come give your grandma a hug,” Dorthey said. “I’m not going to hurt you.” She held out her bone-skinny arms. Anna lowered her shoulders and walked over to the Southern belle in her wheelchair. It didn’t take her long to settle into her grandmother’s arms.

“You’re going to like it here on the plantation,” Dorthey whispered in her ear. “I promise you that.” Anna wasn’t sure how to take this, but she decided to at least give her mother’s family, Alabama, and the South a try for the summer.

Pretty Blue Summer