Keeping The Shirt On

What the heck is wrong with mom? It hurts so bad when you wish so much for something and it just seems impossible. It's like I'm reaching for the skies, but it goes farther the more I stretch to touch it.

What an interesting way to spend a Friday night huh? To think there's a party at Mimi's house today. I really need to get out more...but it's so exhausting talking to all those people and pretending to like them just to appear nice.

Hold up, do I have an assignment? Oh, Sir Pott. Eh he's chill...I'll just give an excuse. Do I even have an excuse? Geez, I think I'll think about that tomorrow... Too lazy right now...

I forgot I left my mother outside the house as I drifted off to an uncomfortable slumber in the deathly cold of the night with open windows.

***

I suddenly awoke with a pounding headache. I expected to be blinded by the light of the sun through the window.

Instead, I was greeted with strong cold winds that kept moving  my window, shutting it and opening it again.

I sat up on the bed as my hand instinctively rubbed my forehead.

I glanced outside my window. It was dark out and the wind seemed like it was getting stronger.

I knew it was definitely going to rain.

Great. Just what I needed.

I sighed and crawled on my bed to my window. I propped myself onto my knees and faced the window.

Of course the wind slapped me like I insulted it.

Sheesh! chill, breezy.

I stretched outside and pulled it, shutting my window panes.

I then turned around and fell on my bed.

I actually liked the cool breeze, but I didn't want to risk getting rain water in my room.

I slowly began to fall back asleep, forgetting a little someone I left outside the house.

***        

The rains had subsided greatly and the skies had cleared, the clouds giving way for the sun to peep on the earth's surface.

I sat on my bed,  rubbing my eyes, trying to get little debris out of it as some were blocking my vision partly.

Just then, the sound of our next door neighbour's music hit my ears like a guillotine. He always plays those weird country music every single day.

That corn on a cob, Mr. Millers won't understand that it's...

I stopped my thoughts halfway to glance at the small table on my left, beside my bed. I stared at the clock.

It was 9:06am.

Now where was I? Oh yeah...that it's 9 O'clock in the fucking morning! I'm gonna nail that asshole to a stake.

Gosh, now I don't know if putting two dollars in the swear jar counts if I swear in my head... Eh...it probably doesn't.

I heaved a big sigh and using my hands as support, pushed myself off my bed.

I stretched my limbs and let out a long yawn before opening my eyes fully.

Yeah, they were half close before.

I stripped myself down to my underwear, and threw my clothes on the tousled bed.

I grabbed my towel from my wardrobe door and walked into the bathroom in order to take a warm bath.

I didn't need any form of cold close to me.

After my bath, I wiped my body with my towel and creamed myself.

I threw shorts and a big T-shirt on  and stood akimbo, thinking what to do next.

I bent forward and picked my rumpled dirty clothes off the bed and folded them, keeping them inside the basket on the other side of the bed.

After staring at the scattered bed for a short while, I groaned loudly.

"If i don't make this bed now, I'll be way too lazy to do it later."

I had no choice. It had to be done. I reluctantly dragged my feet across the floor, arranging my bed sheet and duvet.

When I was through, I walked out my door, shutting it behind me.

I walked down the hallway and reached the pavement.

I stared down at the living room, and the round table in the centre.

The entire house was quiet. I could even hear a mom scolding her child outside.

I chuckled as I remembered how mom coached me then.

That was before she exploded with freedom.

I sighed to myself as I shook my head.

Things have really turned upside down now.

I ran my hands over the wooden railing as I walked down the last flight of stairs and made my way to the kitchen.

I stopped in my tracks.

Of course there are no groceries nor food stuffs around. Mom? Market? Pfft! Those words can't be used in the same sentence without negation.

I walked to the fridge on my right and opened it.

I was greeted by a chilly poof of fog like substance damn I don't know that is!

Let's just call it cold smoke.

Okay so I saw only four eggs in the crate. Other stuffs included brandy, whiskey, beers, packaged Mac and cheese and other drinks I know nothing about.

Geez, what the hell am I going to make?

There are eggs...and ugh eggs.

I guess it's omelettes then.

I took out the four eggs and placed them in the sink.

I then walked over to the cabinet and took out a small bowl to put the eggs.

Long story short, I made omelettes.

I sat at the dining table and ate slowly. Something tickled my senses that I was forgetting something.

Did I dispose the egg shells? Yeah I remember doing that.

Clean the kitchen? Yup. Do the dishes? Yes!

Then what is it?

I had this rumbling feel in my stomach that troubled me. I knew that something was definitely wrong.

Damn! I forgot mom outside!

As the realisation dawned on me, I stood up forcefully and pushed myself forward to get to the front door.

In my futile effort to get out of the dining room with the numerous chairs, now that I think about it, I hit my hip bone on the edge of the table.

"Arrgh! Gosh!" I screamed out as I held my hip in pain. Tears stung my eyes and I carefully moved the chairs in front of me and walked out slowly.

I avoided bumping into another object as I reached the front door.

I stretched my arm and turned the key.

Once it was unlocked, I turned the door knob and opened the door.

I peeked outside, not seeing anything of use to me at that point.

I then walked out fully, and was met with an empty drive way.

Mom's car was gone.

She must have left after trying the door without answer.

Just then I heard a sharp ringing sound come from inside the house.

Must be the phone.

I darted from the front door to the room divider right below the TV.

Of course I didn't bother shutting the door as the phone was more important.

This house hardly gets calls.

"Hello?" I said with uncertainty.

As unbelievable as it may sound, this was my first phone call. Ever.

I only ever text.

Yeah it's kinda strange, but no one has my number, so no one calls.

I've always been nervous about calls, but this time, I was kinda excited.

"Hi sweetie, how are you?" I heard the voice say.

Should've known.

"Yes mom, Good morning. I'm fine." I said with a resentful sigh.

Couldn't help it really.

"I'm sorry I didn't come home yesterday. The rains were pretty heavy so I decided to stay out. Twas a really tough night huh?"

"Nah mom, I didn't even notice you were gone."

Literally.

"Oh that's good to hear sweetie. I'm glad you're all grown up now. Were the doors locked? I don't want any intruders in the house."

"Sure, they were locked." I simply said as I began getting tired of standing there.

I eventually began playing with the telephone cord.

This house needs an upgrade. We need a phone with no cords...ugh mooom!

"Great! Okay honey I just called to check on you-"

"When are you coming home mom?" I cut her short. I was getting tired of her endless blabbing.

"Well I don't know for sure..." She said like she was out of options.

We both knew she definitely wasn't.

"Of course! The usual. You know mom? I'm tired of this rubbish. If you want to stay out forever, then go right ahead. I can take perfect care of myself. After all I have just a few months left in highschool and I'd graduate and get into the college of my choice. Then I'd get a good job, and leave this trash can you call a home. Sorry, a  house. Don't know why I still regard you as mom. You don't even care that your child is all alone and-"

There.

Right there.

In the middle of my speech, she cut the call

Apparently she wasn't at all ready for my own blabbing.

Another option could be that something more important than I am came up and she cut the call.

And I've probably been talking to myself for a while now.

"Aaarrghh!" I screamed out in pure frustration.

"I hate you mom! I hate you!"

I kept screaming over and over as I tossed the phone at the wall.

I didn't even know my strength.

It actually broke into several pieces.

I was too distracted by the thoughts of my irresponsible mom to pay attention to that.

Hot tears welled up in my eyes as I slowly walked towards the couch.

I turned around and fell on it with all my weight.

The plop was slightly painful and put a small pressure on my waist area.

I didn't mind.

This was always the routine anyway.

My mom angers me, I break something and fall heavily on something else in order to rest. Then the next thing is a splitting headache that won't let me do anything. Gosh! I needed help.

I'm so freaking tired of all this. So tired...