Clean Up

It was a rite of passage in my family: the day you were shown the jars. One that not everyone experienced. You had to be deemed ready and able to resist the temptations that came with this most treasured knowledge. I'd never resisted anything: that piece of cake; the boy I had a crush on; pushing any button I pleased. How was I considered able to resist the temptations that haunted my family. I would have questioned it, but I couldn't resist getting to see my family's twisted version of inheritance. 

I stood there, at the door to the basement surrounded by those who came before me. My mother, Dad wasn't permitted (this wasn't his family's thing, he understood) and her mother stood one either side side of me. Aunties formed the second wave. Women always outlived men in our family. No one knew why, it was just how things were. 

I winced as my grandmother drew the knife across my palm. She nodded and I placed my hand against the door. Blood Magic - the reason Dad wasn't involved. Mortimar blood did not flow through his veins. The door swung open and I descended the stairs. The others followed two paced behind. As my foot hit the floor of the basement, the lights illuminated the hallowed space. That's when they came in to view. The Jars. Shelves and cases and sideboards chock-a-block with jars. Generations upon generations had added to this collection. And now, I had access. One thing confused me, the contents of the jars looked disgusting. Not in the least bit tempting. 

"You have heard of Pandora's box, Mina?" my mother's voice echoed through the room. 

"Yes." I said solemnly, but thinking 'Where is this going?' 

"And you know who she was?" Listening to my mother's words, I felt like I was being spoken to by generations of my ancestors. 

"The original. The first Mortimar matriarch." I said, an entire life-time of hearing the story of Mortimer family legend flowing through my mind. 

"The tale is true. Pandora let everything from the box out into the world. And this..." My mother looked out onto the jars. "is the clean up."