My grandmother was an eccentric old lady. Her house was
filled with all kinds of crazy things. For example she had a taxidermy squirrel
dressed in a tuxedo. His name was Herbert.
But the one thing that really intrigued me as a kid was these thirteen teacups that she had lined up. They were all numbered too, with each number uniquely and delicately painted on.
One day I asked my grandma about them.
“Grandma, why do you have these?” I asked. Out of the things my grandmother owned, these were the things that peeked my interest.
“Samantha do not touch those! They are very delicate.” Was all she said to me. Over the years I would bring up the question and I would always got the same response no matter what age I was.
But today I am staring at a box with my name on it, and my Grandma’s Will rests in my hands.
But the one thing that really intrigued me as a kid was these thirteen teacups that she had lined up. They were all numbered too, with each number uniquely and delicately painted on.
One day I asked my grandma about them.
“Grandma, why do you have these?” I asked. Out of the things my grandmother owned, these were the things that peeked my interest.
“Samantha do not touch those! They are very delicate.” Was all she said to me. Over the years I would bring up the question and I would always got the same response no matter what age I was.
But today I am staring at a box with my name on it, and my Grandma’s Will rests in my hands.
“Samantha as you know these teacups are very special to me. I know that you will take great care of them. But you have to make me a promise. The first Friday the 13th that these cups are in your possession you must start a tradition. You must drink a special kind of tea in the first cup on midnight the first Friday the 13th that you have these. Then the next time you must do the same, but with cup number two. So on and so forth. Now you may be wondering why I am asking you do this and what it all means. But I promise you that if you do this, you will start to notice changes in your life. Changes that are amazing and unbelievable. Please Samantha I know you will not let me down. I love you so much my darling little girl.”
I stare
at the paper, reading the paragraph over and over. It makes absolutely no sense
what so ever. But yet my curiosity gets the best of me.
I grab the box and lug it up the stairs to my crappy little apartment. I carefully set the box down and open the door. I peer down at the box with my name on it, excited to open it and investigate.
When I get inside I set the box down on my tiny kitchen table and open it very carefully. On the top of the box is a piece of paper with a ‘tea’ recipe for Moonbrew Tea. It’s the weird tea that I apparently have to drink out of each cup. I go down the list reading each ingredient. There are cloves and peppermint, cinnamon and licorice root and orange peelings. It sounds like a strong flavored brew, but delicious as well.
I carefully grab the first cup I see that’s wrapped in bubble wrap. Taking my time I carefully unfold it to find one of my favorites. It’s the number 6 cup, with its dark midnight blue and swirling gold design. I stare at it for a moment as the nostalgia of the item washes over me.
I remember days when I would visit my grandma and my eyes would always drift to this cup.
I sigh before setting the cup down. I can’t help but miss my grandma as I go through each and every cup, remembering the designs and wishing I knew what they meant.
After I unpack all the cups I go to my calendar to find when the next Friday the 13th will be. Goosebumps travel up and down my arms when I see that the next Friday the 13th is next Friday.
I get that weird feeling in the pit of my stomach when something weird and unexplainable happens, and all I know is I can’t wait to find out what this all means.
I grab the box and lug it up the stairs to my crappy little apartment. I carefully set the box down and open the door. I peer down at the box with my name on it, excited to open it and investigate.
When I get inside I set the box down on my tiny kitchen table and open it very carefully. On the top of the box is a piece of paper with a ‘tea’ recipe for Moonbrew Tea. It’s the weird tea that I apparently have to drink out of each cup. I go down the list reading each ingredient. There are cloves and peppermint, cinnamon and licorice root and orange peelings. It sounds like a strong flavored brew, but delicious as well.
I carefully grab the first cup I see that’s wrapped in bubble wrap. Taking my time I carefully unfold it to find one of my favorites. It’s the number 6 cup, with its dark midnight blue and swirling gold design. I stare at it for a moment as the nostalgia of the item washes over me.
I remember days when I would visit my grandma and my eyes would always drift to this cup.
I sigh before setting the cup down. I can’t help but miss my grandma as I go through each and every cup, remembering the designs and wishing I knew what they meant.
After I unpack all the cups I go to my calendar to find when the next Friday the 13th will be. Goosebumps travel up and down my arms when I see that the next Friday the 13th is next Friday.
I get that weird feeling in the pit of my stomach when something weird and unexplainable happens, and all I know is I can’t wait to find out what this all means.
-The first Friday-
I am giddy the whole day at work,
just watching the clock and waiting till I can go home. The ingredients for the
tea are all waiting for me at home along with the first tea cup.
“You are acting weirder than usual today. Must be because it’s the 13th.” My coworker jokes.
I smile at her. “Yeah well you know it’s a weird day.” I say.
“It’s only weird if you make it weird.” She says. At that exact moment the power goes out in the office.
“You are acting weirder than usual today. Must be because it’s the 13th.” My coworker jokes.
I smile at her. “Yeah well you know it’s a weird day.” I say.
“It’s only weird if you make it weird.” She says. At that exact moment the power goes out in the office.
They send us home for the day, unable to fix the power problem. I am so excited that I practically speed on my way home.
I get everything set up for that night, hoping that something magical will happen. The first cup sits on my table with a bright number one painted on the side. As the clock ticks closer and closer to midnight I begin brewing up the tea. The wonderfully spicy smell fills my whole apartment and I smile as it already begins to soothe me. I bring my old tea pot over to the table and fill the tea cup. My grandmother never said anything about a special chant, or anything else I had to do while drinking the tea. I put on my favorite Fleet Foxes album and sit back and relax in the chair.
I take a sip of tea just as the clock strikes twelve, waiting for something to happen.
I take a couple more sips of the tea, which tastes delicious, and I look around my apartment. I’m expecting something amazing and wonderful to happen, but nothing does. So I just keep sipping my tea and listening to my music. Maybe this whole thing is a silly game my grandma made up to trick me, but even if it is I don’t mind because I’m suddenly the most relaxed I’ve ever been.
The next morning I wake up well
rested and happy. The sun barely peeks in through my curtains.
I get out of bed and open the curtains to find a one hundred dollar bill stuck to my window, flapping in the wind. My spine tingles as I stare at the bill. A small gasp escapes me before I open the window and quickly grab the money. I stare at it dumbfounded as if it must be fake. But it looks like it’s the real thing and I hold it close to my chest smiling. The first cup of tea has done its job and I can’t wait to see what the next twelve cups brings me.
I get out of bed and open the curtains to find a one hundred dollar bill stuck to my window, flapping in the wind. My spine tingles as I stare at the bill. A small gasp escapes me before I open the window and quickly grab the money. I stare at it dumbfounded as if it must be fake. But it looks like it’s the real thing and I hold it close to my chest smiling. The first cup of tea has done its job and I can’t wait to see what the next twelve cups brings me.
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