March Sisters Madness

Estelle was bringing Aunt March’s usual breakfast when she came upon her corpse. There, the elderly woman lay, grey and cold to the touch. Her eyes wide open with a cast over them, mouth parted. She looked as if she was about to tell the young woman off for disturbing her slumber.

It took Estelle a near moment to jump into action after being frozen there for what seemed like an eternity. The young maid ran to the nearest phone and dialled the number of the emergency services, who arrived almost thirty minutes later.

It would be revealed that Aunt March died no length after retiring for the night of what they confirmed to be of a heart attack. She had only just celebrated her 90th birthday.

When word had got out to her only living relative in the area, her nephew Robert March, a reverend living in a three story, three bedroom house known as The Orchid in the middle of the quaint little town of Concord, Massachusetts. The Orchid’s resisdents consist of Robert, his wife of over thirty years, Margaret and their third daughter, young Elizabeth, whom they affectionately call Beth.

Beth is a young woman who, at twenty-six, had just finished her final round of chemotherapy and is currently in remission after battling Leukaemia since she was thirteen years of age. She is the only one out of her three siblings still living with her parents.

About a ten minute drive from where they live, sits a yellow cottage adjacent to a field of wildflowers is Robert and Margaret’s eldest daughter also named Margaret, but whom everyone calls Meg so that no confusion is to be made.

At the age of thirty, Meg lives with her loving husband of a decade, John Brooke, a professor of psychology at a local community college and their fraternal twins, Daisy and Demi. Daisy is the more extroverted of the two, while Demi is quieter. Both are coming up to their thirteenth birthday.

Recently, Demi has started to present more feminine, which, while gaining the support of their parents, their peers and teachers at school are a bit slower at accepting. However, that doesn’t stop their dear sister from sorting it out, much to the twins’ parents chagrin, as young Daisy has just been suspended from school after causing a fight with her sibling’s bully.

At this present moment, Daisy is currently getting chastised by her parents;

“What were you thinking?” Exclaims Meg, while she is releaved her child’s bully is finally being dealt with after many months of complaints her and John have made to the school about it, Meg is, however, upset her other child is being punished.

“I wasn’t. I just couldn’t take it anymore, Mom. You and I both know that the school isn’t going to do a thing about it.” Was Daisy’s reply, she continued saying “So I took matters into my own hands and—” she was cut off by Demi, who walked into the kitchen area to get themselves a glass of apple juice.

“Beat the shit out of Chastity Lynn.”

“Demi!“, “Language!” Both John and Meg yelled at the same time.

“What?” Demi shrugged, “It’s true, though. I’m pretty sure she has to get a new nose now that Daisy mangled it.”

“You mangled,” Meg paused, taking a deep breath. The Lynn family are well off, not as well off as the Laurences and Aunt March, but they make enough to be an avid member of the community. There is no doubt that Abigail Lynn, Chastity’s mother, is going to drain every last drop of John and Meg’s income to pay for her daughter’s new nose.

After a brief pause for the family of four to collect themselves and resume the conversation, John’s phone rings. Not initially wanting to answer it, he took a quick glance and saw it was his Father-In-Law. John found it strange as Robert almost never calls, and even when he seldom does, it’s always Meg.

He picks up the phone and turns to Meg, “It’s your father.”

Meg gives her husband a confused look, “Why is he calling you?”

John shrugs, “Beats me. Should I answer?”

Meg nods and looks at her twins, pointing at them. “We will discuss this later. Go get the table ready for dinner.”

Daisy lets a huff of breath and gets up from the kitchen island stool. She turns to her sibling and gestures them to follow her.

Before following their sister to get all the requirements for dinner, Demi gives their parents a light smile, to which both return.

John answers the phone when the preteens leave, “Hello Robert, what a weird suprise to see you call—” John gets cut off by Robert on the other line.

“Aunt March is dead.”

¤

Jo wakes up to the sun spilling through her bedroom window. For the past year, she has been staying at a shared living space with two women and three men. The house is owned by a middle-aged woman by the name of Grace Kirke. There, Jo spends her weekday mornings teaching Grace’s homeschooled children, two girls, Kitty aged 12, and Molly, aged 14. During her evenings, she attends night classes at a local college, studying English Literature and History. She initially didn’t want to take history upon her arrival, but something, or rather, someone changed her mind.

That someone is her fellow housemate and history professor, Dr. Freida Bhaer. Originally from Hamburg, she later moved to Berlin to pursue a career in education in her early twenties. When earning both her bachelor and masters degrees, she travelled to America, New York, specifically where she earned her phd. She achieved this all before turning 30.

Deciding to extend her stay in America rather than returning to her home country, Freida took a job at a local community college closer to her lodgings. She has been teaching history there for almost five years now.

When Jo first arrived, she felt icy towards the elder woman, often butting heads. Jo had made the mistake of asking her for advice on a novella she was writing, after learning the professor had taken creative writing classes during her college years, to which after reading said story, Frieda said just three words Jo loathed hearing;

“It’s not good.”

“What do you know about writing anyway? You’re just a silly little history professor.” Was what Jo burst out with after minutes of silence between the two.

“You asked this silly little professor what I thought of your writing, I told you my thoughts, and because they’re negative, they don’t count?” Was Freida’s retort.

Jo had left in a huff after that.

This had sent her into a tiny spiral, either exchanging harsh words with Frieda or just flat out ignoring her.

After about a week of her dramatics, Jo had knocked on Frieda’s bedroom door, bearing apology hot chocolate. The two talked for hours, only stopping once they realised the sun had risen.

During their conversation, Frieda asked if Jo would consider joining a couple of her lectures, “To help with your stories.” Is what the elder suggested. Jo had accepted and started attending them.

Grace, after hearing that Jo will be attending her history classes in the morning and her literature ones in the evening, both her and Jo agreed to teach the girls’ school work on Sunday morning, which delighted the two as they get six out of the seven days off, which both lets them explore other activities such as soccar for Kitty, ballet for Molly, and swimming for both.

Stretching herself to wake up, letting out a little groan, Jo got up and ready for the day. It’s Sunday, so she has to prepare for the classes for the girls. Afer freshing up in the bathroom, a soft knock came upon the door.

“I’m finishing up there now, be just a minute!” Jo exclaimed.

“It’s only me.” Came a reply. The voice is smooth and thick. Jo knew that voice, the same voice that had been part of her every waking moment and nightly dreamings.

Opening the door and seeing the object of her desires is Freida. Looking as she had just gotten out of bed, still in her pyjamas and her curly brown hair a mess.

“It’s all yours!” Jo gestures to the bathroom.

Freida chuckles, “Thank you, Josephine.” And brushes past her, the two lightly grazing their hands.

After Freida closes the door, Jo lets out a sigh and leans against the wall by the door. She despies being called by Josephine, specifically Aunt March. However, when Freida says it, it makes her come to realise and appreciate what all those poets write about.

“Jo!” Came a yell from down the stairs.

“Coming!”

Just as Jo was about to head into the kitchen where the classes take place, her phone lets out a ringtone. Taking it out of her back pocket, she raises an eyebrow at the caller ID

Beth Calling...

Jo answers, “Beth, is everything alright?”

“Hi Jo. I’ve come with news.” How Jo misses the sound of her sister’s voice.

“Good or bad?”

“Depends on how you react.” Beth pauses, letting out a deep breath, “Aunt March is dead.”

¤

Amy has been living in England with her husband, Fred Vaughn, for the last six months. The two met when they were both teens, Fred visiting Laurie, the March family’s neighbour and friend, as the two were old boarding school buddies, and their parents and grandparents were family friends. Amy had noticed Fred had taken an interest in her, but she paid him no mind as, at the time, she was madly in love with Laurie. Though you could say she still is.

They met again a few years ago, when Amy was studying in Paris and staying with Aunt March, who owned a little apartment in the city. The two began chatting and going on dates and developed a sexual relationship at first. However, feelings began to blossom, and Fred had asked Amy one night after they had sex to be his girlfriend. Amy said yes, after slight hesitation, but masked it as shock.

He proposed to her two years later, and the two married in his hometown in England, where they now reside.

To outside perspective, the two seemed happy and in love. However, the relationship was anything but. It was as if a light switched, and Fred changed from doting and loving boyfriend to hostile and controling husband.

It started light at first, Fred making “suggestions” that Amy should focus on her work at home and leave her job as an art curator at a museum near their home. Amy laughed at first. “I quite like it there.” She had said, turning to Fred, but he wasn’t laughing. It was like his eyes became black all of a sudden. But in the blink of an eye, they went back to normal. “It was only a suggestion.” Was what he replied.

Looking back on it now, Amy was glad she didn’t take up on his offer because still to this day, he all but demands she quit and become a housewife.

Then, the topic of children came up. Not even the day after they wed, Fred asked when she was going to take her IUD out so that they could start a family.

“We’re only twenty-four, Freddie. We still have time.” She sweetly said to him that night.

“Oh, don’t be so spoiled, Amy dear, your own mother and sister had children even younger than you are now.”

Stunned at his tone, she felt her eyes prick, but blinked hard to ensure no tears fall, “But I don’t want to have children yet darling, perhaps let us wait a few years first. Let us enjoy being just the two of us for now.”

At first, he seemed to be okay with that, but lately, whenever Fred would have sex with her, more so when he fingers her, he moves them inside of her in a scooping motion. At first, she thought it was this new technique he was trying out, and come to find out, he’s been unsuccessfully trying to take her IUD out. Amy pushed him off of her and screamed at him. Words have been exchanged between the two which ended in Fred storming out, driving to his parents, the reason why Amy knew he went to them cause not long after, she recieved a call from her mother in law, berating her for denying her son the chance to be a father.

“Dont be such a spoiled little brat, Amy, and just do this one thing for Freddie. It’s the least you could after him letting you keep that waste of a job at that dump of a museum.” Was what was immediately said to her the second she hit the answer button. Amy didn’t even say anything in return and just hung up on her.

That was two nights ago, and Fred has yet to return home. Not that it was bothering Amy, as that night became a wake-up call, so to speak. For the past two days, she’s been frantically packing everything she owned, which sadly isn’t a lot as everything was owned by Fred, even the gifts he had given her. She has called a co-worker of hers, Jane, a lovely woman who lives with her husband, George, who is equally as charming, and told her everything and both Jane and George, without hesitation, is letting her stay with them until she gets everything sorted out. George even got her in touch with a divorce lawyer friend of his.

Finally, having everything packed and ready, Amy went and grabbed the only precious thing she had, her little Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Dolly.

“Hello, my sweet girl,” Amy softly says, picking Dolly up and planting a kiss on her head, “Let’s go and see Jane and George. They are excited to see you.” Dolly, in reply, lets out some happy pants. She absolutely adores George, and he, in return, does back.

Amy chuckles, giving Dolly another kiss. She had one last look over the house she had once called home. There on the counter is both her wedding ring and engagement ring. Placed on top is a little envelope for Fred. The inside contains a letter detailing that Amy is leaving him and is filing for divorce. She lets out a sigh and turns and leaves the house, locking it and pushing the key through the letterbox. She has no indication of returning for any other belongings, for she has everything she needs either at Jane and George’s, in a storage unit, and in her car.

After placing Dolly on her little car seat and strapping her in the passenger seat, Amy closes the car door and walks around to her side. After checking everything and starting the car, she begins to drive to Jane and George’s, not once looking back at her fromer home.

Seeing Jane and George’s house in sight, she indicates the car to park near it is when Amy’s phone, which is Bluetooth connected to her car, rings. Amy lets out a smile, seeing that it’s Beth’s name on the screen. She found out, along with Jo on a zoom call between the four sisters, about Beth being in remission a few days prior before the incident, and everyone cried tears of joy.

Amy hasn’t told anyone about what had happened and has been happening with Fred to her family yet, not wanting to burden them with what Jo used to call her “Amy antics.”

Pressing the answer call button on her steering wheel, she exlaims, “Beth! What a lovely suprise, isn’t it like five in the morning over there?”

Beth lets out a sleepy chuckle. She must have just woken up so she could get Amy at a reasonable time. “Hey Ams, I need to tell you something.”

Amy’s stomach dropped. Her mind went into panic mode. Beth had just given her news that she’s cancer free. “Are you okay?” She swallows, finding what to say next, coming up with what to say to whatever news her sister is going to tell her.

“Oh, I’m fine, don’t worry. Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“You didn’t, I’m fine!” Amy wasn’t fine, and she was scared for that brief moment.

“I just wanted to tell you.” Beth pauses, now its her turn to figure out what to say. “Aunt March is dead.”

Amy’s eyes widen in shock. Sure, Aunt March is really old, and it probably wouldn’t be long before she croaked, but it still came as a shock to her.

“Oh my god!”

“Yes, I know. Listen, Marmee and Daddy want us all together for her funeral. Marmee was hesitant in inviting you with you and Fred still being newlyweds and -”

Amy stopped Beth before she could finish her sentence. “It’s fine. Im actually due some time off from work, so I’ll just take this time off to help out with any funeral preparations.”

“Oh.” Is all that Beth says. There’s a moment of silence between the two of them before Beth continues. “Should we prepare for you and Fred then?”

“No, actually, it’ll just be me. I’ll even bring Dolly. I know Daisy and Demi would love to see her.”

There’s even a longer pause. Amy swallows. She should tell Beth that she’s divorcing Fred, but she’s so overcome with guilt and shame that she just can’t bring herself to say it. But its Beth and Amy knew Beth wouldn’t be disappointed in her and berate her. And Beth being Beth, it’s like she knows what’s going on with her baby sister.

“Amy, is everything okay?”

For some reason, that’s what broke Amy. She lets out a sob. She could hear Beth calling out to her, but she’s so overcomed with the sobbing that she can’t comprehend Beth right now.

“I,” Amy stutters, trying to take deep breaths, “I’m leaving him.” She gasps. “He,” she pauses.

“He what?” Beth asks.

No, she won’t dump her sorrows onto Beth. Her dear sister doesn’t deserve it. So she comes up with something more normal, more palatable.

“He prioritised work and other activities in relation to it. I basically felt like his roommate more than his wife at times.”

“Are you sure?” Clever Beth, always able to see through Amy.

“Yes, well, there’s some issues with his mother also, but I won’t bore you with that.” She wipes away her tears. Dolly, sensing her mother’s distress and sadness, lets out a whine, to which Amy reaches over and gives her canine some good scratches.

“So,” Amy clears her throat. “When’s she getting buried?”

“This Saturday.”

“Great! That’ll be enough time to get things sorted. I should be over this Thursday if all goes to plan.”

“That’s great.” Beth pauses, wanting to say more. “Amy, are you sure you’re okay? You know you can tell me anything right.”

Amy tries to smile, but she can’t, so she ltries to lighten up her voice to show she isn’t as emotional. “I’m all good, Beth! You don’t need to worry.”

“You’re my baby sister Amy, I’m going to worry anyway.”

Amy actually lets out a smile after that. In the corner of her eye, she sees a front door open and out pops Jane. The two women both see each other and wave.

“Hey Beth, I have to go. Im meeting up with a co-worker there for lunch. I’ll see you when I get home, okay? You get some sleep now.”

Beth lets out a hum, indicating that sleep is finally catching up to her. The two say their goodbyes, and Amy gets out of the car and begins bringing her stuff in with help from Jane and George. She now has to plan to pack her things again to go back home for her aunt’s funeral.