Writing Challenge Day 2 - Earliest Memory

Flash Fiction Challenge Day 2: my earliest memory

Howie climbed the attic stairs, his feet getting heavier with each step. He found the old suitcase buried under boxes of photographs. The thing was caked in dust. How long had it been since anyone had use of it. He pulled the boxes off and lifted the case. He coughed as he was surrounded in a cloud of dead skin cells and insect feces. He lugged the heavy burden back down the stairs and straight out the back door. He gave the bag some hard whacks, trying to clean it as best he could. Then he dragged it to his bedroom. College on the east coast would be the best vacation ever, with some hard work thrown in. It sure beat hanging around the house waiting for his parents to kill each other.

Everything was ready to go. His clothes were separated in neat stacks on his bed, his school supplies sorted and boxed up on his desk. He pulled the zipper on the giant suitcase and halfway around it got stuck. He pulled and pulled, but it wouldn't budge. A memory popped into his head.

His mom and dad were laughing, his mom yanking on that damn zipper. 

"Come on, you can do it! I have faith in you, sweetie."

"Yeah, right. Easy for you to say. I think we need The Hulk right about now."

"Raawwwr! Hulk, SMASH!" Dad struck a muscle man pose and Mom laughed.

"Oh, you sexy beast! Get those manly arms over here. Your baby boy will never get to Disneyland if we can't even get the suitcase open.

"Disneyland can wait." Dad pulled Mom into his arms and kissed her, while young Howie sat on the bed clapping his little hands.

Howie gasped. They used to be so in love. What had happened? He shook his head at one of life's great unanswerable questions. He pressed on the canvas surrounding the zipper and tried a gentler pull. It opened easily. It didn't require The Hulk, just some thought. He flipped the lid open and inside was a lone photograph. It was one of those theme park special deals, where they have you pose outside an attraction. His dad had one arm around his mom while holding Howie on his hip. It was their one and only family vacation. The only happy memory he had.