Family History

Two sisters clean out the family homestead. 300 words

Family History

“Look at this! I found it in the attic, ” Alma said to her sister, Elle.
“What on earth is that old thing?” she replied with a huge sneeze.
“It’s a family bible.”
“How archaic! Who’d want that?”
“Families always had one in the old days. It was where all the births and deaths were recorded.”
Elle tried to take it from Alma, but just about dropped it when it proved to be heavy. Alma quickly supported it so it wouldn’t fall. Despite its weight, it was fragile.
“Do you want it? I sure don’t,” Elle complained.
“I certainly do want it, it may fill in some gaps in the family tree I’m working on,” Alma said.
Before her only sister could change her mind, Alma tucked it into the box of keepsakes she had set aside for herself.
“So, I guess we’re done, except to the estate sale and skip pickup,” Elle said dusting off her hands.
They each took the items they’d chosen to keep. Alma noticed that Elle had ten boxes to her one.
“But then she has a big condo with rooms to fill,” Alma reminded herself.
They sat over coffee and planned the garage sale. Flyers were Alma’s job. Elle would be pricing.
“When should we do it?” Elle asked.
“Next weekend, then after we can get anything that doesn’t sell into the skip collector and call the company,” Alma suggested.
She winced. The thought of trashing so much of what was in their family homestead hurt her heart. But truly, most were beyond saving and in no shape to be sold.
Finally, the sisters parted. Alma carried her box out to her Volkswagen carefully. She could hardly wait to dip into that Bible!
She drove away, sad for the end of an era.