Post by Ariessya on Jul 27, 2009 13:58:21 GMT -5
Chapter Five
I took a deep breath, and stepped towards Carmen and her group of friends.
As she noticed me, Carmen gave me a dark look. I ignored it.
“Sorry,” I mumbled. “I guess you’re right.”
She eyed me for a minute, and smiled. “Well then. I accept your apology.”
The other girls, I didn’t know their names, were all staring at me. I knew I had the reputation of the silent and mean, and so they found it surprising that I was talking to Carmen of all people.
“Oh, these are Janeczka, but we just call her Jane, Liz and Andria,” she said, pointing to first a small blonde, with long hair tied in a ponytail, then to a taller brunette with olive-toned skin, and finally a pale, petite girl with dark brown hair highlighted with gold.
I nodded curtly. Thank God the bell rang right then.
The girls split up, smiling and giggling like teenage girls do. I turned away.
“Why do you agree with me?”
I slowed so that Carmen was beside me rather than behind me.
“I thought about what you said, about being alone all my life… I don’t want to be like that. And I guess now is a good time to start being more open-minded.”
I could see she was happy about my decision. My expression darkened even further. I was thankful that she didn’t say anything, though. We sat in our seats, and I stared at a gouge in the desk.
I stood for the national anthem, and twiddled my thumbs during the morning announcements. The rest of class was just as exciting. I suppose Carmen noticed the fact that I didn’t want to talk much about it and left me alone.
“What are you up to this weekend?” she asked me on the way to English.
“Like I said yesterday, I have to cover someone’s afternoon shift at work, and I have to drive Michelle and Kate to a birthday party in Milton. Cara wants to come with, and, naturally, so does Mel.”
Carmen looked at the floor. “I see.”
I sighed. “I own a van for that very purpose. I can fit seven in there.”
She grinned. “Shotgun.”
Saturday I worked. I even took the whole day off of Collie’s shoulders. It was an excuse to stay away from Megan.
I worked at a McDonald’s, the most generic fast food restaurant a high school kid could work at. I worked front, serving costumers. I know, ironic.
I called Carmen after I was done, seeing as how I had her number.
“Hello?”
“Hi. It’s Daron.”
“Oh hi! What’s up?”
“First, where do you live?”
“Just down the street from you, in the blue and white bungalow.”
“Kay. And I’ll be picking you up around ten.”
“Alright!” Her voice was almost squeaky…or it sounded like it over my cell, maybe it was the bad reception that made me wince and not her tone.
“Yeah. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“For sure. See ya!”
I shut my phone. Man, she was very upbeat. But she wasn’t as annoying as I had thought – what? – three days ago? She wasn’t a bad person.
I drove home and went straight to my room. Surprisingly, Kelly was sitting on my bed.
“Yes, Kel? May I help you?”
She looked up to me. “Mom’s not feeling well.”
Her eyes were red, and I guessed it was bad.
“How is she sick?”
“She’s been throwing up again, and she wouldn’t get out of bed for the lunch I made her. I had a peanut butter sandwich ready for her.” Her voice cracked.
I hugged my sister. “Listen, you know that Megan hasn’t been feeling well for a long time. And I know you don’t understand why she isn’t going to get better.”
Kelly leaned into me. “Why? Why not? I want Mom to be all better…”
Why? I’m the one that’s providing for you, Megan hasn’t done a thing for you or any of our sisters.
“It’s all about the choices she’s made. Kelly, promise me that you will make good choices in your life?”
“I promise Daron.”
We spent a long time in silence.
“You know I love you, right?”
I kissed her hair. “Yes. I love you, too.”
Later on, I walked into Megan’s room. I glared at her.
Her brown hair was matted and greasy, her eyes sunken. Her skin was very pale, and her skin clung to her bones.
“What the hell?” I hissed.
“What?”
“Do you know what you are doing to these girls?” I demanded. “They want to know why you are so ill, and I don’t know what to tell them. I am obviously not going to tell an eight-year old Kelly that you are putting heroine into your system, and that your lungs are full of s* because you smoke.”
“I know, I know I’m a terrible–”
“I don’t think you do know, Megan! If you die, what will happen to the rest of us? They won’t let me live on my own, even though I have been for my whole life. I’ve been taking care of the girls, too. Can you say the same? Maybe you should be put up for adoption.”
Megan didn’t respond. I saw a tear glistening on her cheek. I could almost read her thoughts: Who is this? He isn’t my son. He hates me. What have I done to him? My own blood is turned against me…
“I’m your mother… You don’t think I’m disposable, do you?”
“You’re just like a reckless seventeen-year-old, like I’m supposed to be. If I had a proper childhood, I would probably look just like you do now. Yes, I think you are disposable. Not only disposable, but useless and utterly inane and obtuse.”
Her frame started shaking, and I turned away from her bed and walked to the door.
“Just the fact that you don’t know who I am proves that you are a terrible parent. You never should have hooked up with Owen.”
That was that.
End of Chapter Five
I took a deep breath, and stepped towards Carmen and her group of friends.
As she noticed me, Carmen gave me a dark look. I ignored it.
“Sorry,” I mumbled. “I guess you’re right.”
She eyed me for a minute, and smiled. “Well then. I accept your apology.”
The other girls, I didn’t know their names, were all staring at me. I knew I had the reputation of the silent and mean, and so they found it surprising that I was talking to Carmen of all people.
“Oh, these are Janeczka, but we just call her Jane, Liz and Andria,” she said, pointing to first a small blonde, with long hair tied in a ponytail, then to a taller brunette with olive-toned skin, and finally a pale, petite girl with dark brown hair highlighted with gold.
I nodded curtly. Thank God the bell rang right then.
The girls split up, smiling and giggling like teenage girls do. I turned away.
“Why do you agree with me?”
I slowed so that Carmen was beside me rather than behind me.
“I thought about what you said, about being alone all my life… I don’t want to be like that. And I guess now is a good time to start being more open-minded.”
I could see she was happy about my decision. My expression darkened even further. I was thankful that she didn’t say anything, though. We sat in our seats, and I stared at a gouge in the desk.
I stood for the national anthem, and twiddled my thumbs during the morning announcements. The rest of class was just as exciting. I suppose Carmen noticed the fact that I didn’t want to talk much about it and left me alone.
“What are you up to this weekend?” she asked me on the way to English.
“Like I said yesterday, I have to cover someone’s afternoon shift at work, and I have to drive Michelle and Kate to a birthday party in Milton. Cara wants to come with, and, naturally, so does Mel.”
Carmen looked at the floor. “I see.”
I sighed. “I own a van for that very purpose. I can fit seven in there.”
She grinned. “Shotgun.”
Saturday I worked. I even took the whole day off of Collie’s shoulders. It was an excuse to stay away from Megan.
I worked at a McDonald’s, the most generic fast food restaurant a high school kid could work at. I worked front, serving costumers. I know, ironic.
I called Carmen after I was done, seeing as how I had her number.
“Hello?”
“Hi. It’s Daron.”
“Oh hi! What’s up?”
“First, where do you live?”
“Just down the street from you, in the blue and white bungalow.”
“Kay. And I’ll be picking you up around ten.”
“Alright!” Her voice was almost squeaky…or it sounded like it over my cell, maybe it was the bad reception that made me wince and not her tone.
“Yeah. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“For sure. See ya!”
I shut my phone. Man, she was very upbeat. But she wasn’t as annoying as I had thought – what? – three days ago? She wasn’t a bad person.
I drove home and went straight to my room. Surprisingly, Kelly was sitting on my bed.
“Yes, Kel? May I help you?”
She looked up to me. “Mom’s not feeling well.”
Her eyes were red, and I guessed it was bad.
“How is she sick?”
“She’s been throwing up again, and she wouldn’t get out of bed for the lunch I made her. I had a peanut butter sandwich ready for her.” Her voice cracked.
I hugged my sister. “Listen, you know that Megan hasn’t been feeling well for a long time. And I know you don’t understand why she isn’t going to get better.”
Kelly leaned into me. “Why? Why not? I want Mom to be all better…”
Why? I’m the one that’s providing for you, Megan hasn’t done a thing for you or any of our sisters.
“It’s all about the choices she’s made. Kelly, promise me that you will make good choices in your life?”
“I promise Daron.”
We spent a long time in silence.
“You know I love you, right?”
I kissed her hair. “Yes. I love you, too.”
Later on, I walked into Megan’s room. I glared at her.
Her brown hair was matted and greasy, her eyes sunken. Her skin was very pale, and her skin clung to her bones.
“What the hell?” I hissed.
“What?”
“Do you know what you are doing to these girls?” I demanded. “They want to know why you are so ill, and I don’t know what to tell them. I am obviously not going to tell an eight-year old Kelly that you are putting heroine into your system, and that your lungs are full of s* because you smoke.”
“I know, I know I’m a terrible–”
“I don’t think you do know, Megan! If you die, what will happen to the rest of us? They won’t let me live on my own, even though I have been for my whole life. I’ve been taking care of the girls, too. Can you say the same? Maybe you should be put up for adoption.”
Megan didn’t respond. I saw a tear glistening on her cheek. I could almost read her thoughts: Who is this? He isn’t my son. He hates me. What have I done to him? My own blood is turned against me…
“I’m your mother… You don’t think I’m disposable, do you?”
“You’re just like a reckless seventeen-year-old, like I’m supposed to be. If I had a proper childhood, I would probably look just like you do now. Yes, I think you are disposable. Not only disposable, but useless and utterly inane and obtuse.”
Her frame started shaking, and I turned away from her bed and walked to the door.
“Just the fact that you don’t know who I am proves that you are a terrible parent. You never should have hooked up with Owen.”
That was that.
End of Chapter Five
