Chapter twenty-nine

Xoey's POV

I was really ashamed of what I did to Ida today.I didn't even know where I got all that energy and strength to push her against the locker and even worse to crumple. When Aunt Carrie picked me up,she stopped at an ice-cream shop to buy Dianna and I ice-cream.I chose my all time favourite;Chocolate.Dianna foeany have a favourite so she just chose Vanilla and Chocolate with sprinkle.

But the ice-cream didn't bring down the guilt I felt.I was so relieved that the principal hadn't told aunt yet-maybe he has but she doesn't want to talk about it.

When we reached home,Dianna went straight to her bedroom while I remauned with Aunt Carrie in the kitchen to talk.

"Hailey" she began "You didn't tell me what the doctor said"

I thighted she had totally forgot and I was pleased.I tried to change the topic

"Umm Aunt I would like to cook today" I said,in hopes of veering off the conversation.

"Xoey I know what you're trying to do and it work on me.I just asked you a question.What did the doctor say?" She retorted.

"Ummm...." I stuttered.

"Don't lie to me Xoey" she warned.

I couldn't lie to her."He told me about mom's treatment" I confessed.

"And?"

"He said something about a CKD and some other stuff I don't remember" I wasn't lying this time.I didnt remember anything.

"So I'll have to go to hospital now?"

I nodded. "I will go with you too.And if Dianna wants yo come of course" I added stating out as a-matter-of-fact.

"Ok then let's get going,I have a business meeting at five-thirty"

I went to Dianna's room to let her know that we were going,she agreed to go with us.When we went to the hospital,aunt went staight to the doctor and told us to go ahead and she'd be with us soon.

I opened mom door and saw that she was awake with a nurse sitting in one of the chairs nearby and reading a news paper.

When she saw us,she greeted me  and I  told her to leave us for a while.

Dianna and I ran into her arms,hugging her with only one hand,my other  hand was occupied  with soup.

"Mom we brought you some soup" I told her once she pulled us away.

"Really" she smiled "Let me see that"

I handed her the bowl of soup in a paper bag.She opened the lid and smiled."My favourite.Thanks,you guys are the best" she blew us kisses.

"Mom we both missed you" Dianna said,on the verge of tears.

"I missed you more" mom said smoothly.

A thought came to my mind.

"Dianna" I said,taking some money from my backpack. "Please go and get some bottled water for mom.We forgot to bring her one" I whined,batting my lashes at her and giving her my puppy eyes.

"Don't puppy-eye hypnotize me"she warned. With that,she run out of the room. I was left alone with mom.

"Mom" I began,swallowing hard. "Has the doctor told you yet?" I asked nervously.

"What?"

"That you have Chronic Kidney Disease and you're in the fourth stage" I spilled the beans,no need to be beating around the bush.

She didn't seem bothered and fetched a spoon of the soup and gulped it down.

"Mom?" I called."Are you hiding something"

I watched as he hand began to shake,letting the spoon fall in the soup erupting in a mini splash.

She looked at me with apologetic eyes."I have something I need to tell you"

I nodded.

"I knew I had the disease already" she confessed.

My mouth fell agape and I couldn't believe what I had just heard.She knew all this while.

"Mom?"I asked unbelievable,of what I just heard."You knew?"

She nodded." I wanted to tell you but you were always busy trying to make your sister happy.That's why I lost a lot of weight" She explained.

"How long is this?"

"About a year now" She looked outside the window.

"A year now?" I whisper-shouted."why would you even do that to me. To us"

"I'm sorry" she muttered."We didn't have enough money to pay for my treatment and for your fees and Dainna's and to fend for ourselves.You'll also need money for your college" she explained further.

"Do you know how I feel and how Dianna would feel if she finds out?" I asked,slightly raising my voice.

She scoffed,a tear rolling down her cheek and falling in her soup.

"Do you know how I felt,feeling heavy everyday,waking up with blood on my bed and always feeling drained" she explained.I stared at her in disbelief.

"You could have told us" I reasoned but she ignored my question and continued to talk.

"That day when you came from school and saw the pile of letters on the dinning table,I couldn't help myself in hiding it.All those letters were from hospitals I had visited telling me to do the treatment" she inhaled and continued"But I had to say no.To fend for us.I had to.The amount of money for the treatment is too much.That's like a year or two's salary of my job.I didn't have enough money.I didn't know that it'll get to this stage"

I get everything now.Mom's weakness.Her weight loss.

"Why mom?! Why!! Tell me" I shouted,tears dripping from my eyes. I couldn't even look at her." And now you're nearing death"

"For you.For me.For Dianna.For us"

"If you really did think about us,you would have told us earlier,now you're causing us more pain"

"I-"

"Is that true mom?" The familiar voice,which also happens to be Dianna's interrupted our dialogue.

"Mom is all that true?" She asked one more time,crying already.

Had she been eavesdropping this whole time?

"Dianna please come and let me explain to you" My mom cooed.

"No mom.I heard everything" she dropped the bottled watee and sadi roughly" Why mom?Why?"

The same question I asked her.She ran away from the door.

"Dianna"I called after her.I looked at mom.She nodded. I ran after Dianna,dodging the people around.

I follwed her outside the hospital where she halted.

She turned to face me"Why would mom keep such a secret from us?" She asked,moaning.

I captured her in a hug.She kept on crying and soaked my blouse with her tears.

"Whay ever this is,we'll stay in this together" I assured her.

We stayed outside for a couple of minutes before goung to mom's room.

Aunt Cartie was talking to mom.

When they both saw us,they looked at us with pity.

"Xoey" aunt began " I spoke to the doctor,the treatment is too expensive by we'll figure something out"

I couldn'teven look at mom bout Dianna went and slept by her.I couldn't believe she lied to us.How many secrets is she hiding from?

I woke up the next morning having made up my mind that I would go searching for a job after school.Moms can't be in the hospital and I can't be home relaxing when Aunt Carrie is talking care of us.Aunt Carroe dropped me at school.

I went to my locker to my locker and I was expecting Ida to come to me but remembering what I did you her,I knew I wouldn't see her.

I didn't know to start from when school closed eventhough I  knew the school vicinity well.

I entered the usual junk food store but they turned my request down. I went to a Mart but my request was turned down too.

I went to the only place left; the coffee shop.

The smell of coffee beans,earth,milk,sugar and pastries hit my nose. It was really chilly because of the air-conditioner. The flowery wallpaper,the round tables and the chairs made the place look decent. A big transparent glass counter sat ahead of me with high decorated-mouth-watering cakes,buns and pies. I walked to the counter and greeted the woman,busily making coffee and espresso and handing them to the other workers to distribute to the customers.

"Hello" I greeted her and she noticed me.

"Hello" she returned the greeting."What may I do for you?" She asked,slicing lemon cake and putting a slice on a plate.

"I'm here to get a job"

She laughed and when she stopped,there were tears in her eyes."You just don't come and say...I want a job" she said the last three sarcastically. "Anyways,if you desperately want one then you can go see the manager" She pointed to the door at the right corner.

"Thank you" I said but she returned it with a laugh and waved me.

I knocked the door and when the person behind the door tell me to come in,I went in.

A plumb man in a blouse and shorts ushered me to sit down.I sat down on the chair and observed the surrondings.The room was scarlet and every furniture was golden.Paintings hang up the wall.

"What may I do for you?" He asked,snapping my attention to him.

"I'm here to get a job"I told him.

He eyed me suspiciously before asking my details."What is your name?"

"Xoey Cassman"

"How old are you?"

"Seventeen but I'll be eighteen in four weeks"

"Why do you want the job?"

"I want it because my mom's is sick,my sister needs my help and I need to pay for my mom's treatment and medicines"

"School?"

"Yes.Green lake High school"

"Are you capable of coming to work everyday?"

"Yes sir"I say with vim.

His eyes turned to a friendly stare and asked me.

"Drop your number on this sheet of paper,I'll call you to let you know of you got the job"

I laughed a little"Sir, please I don't have a phone nor do I have a telephone number"

He scoffed and looked around the room for a while before looking back at me."Go outside and waita couple of minutes,I'll call you very soon"

With that, I exit the room and plant my body on a chair.

I wait.....ten minutes....twenty minutes...thirty minutes.I was starting yo believe he had forgotten me but that moment  when I was  about to leave,he called me in.

"Miss Cassman,you're hired" He announced.

I couldn't belive my ears.

"..but you'll be on night shifts.It runs from as early as  five pm to ten pm" he added.

I was beyond excited,I thanked him several times telling him he had no idea how happy I was.He smiled at me,his smile gave me a friendly expression of him.He tild me is name was Mr.Carter.I thanked him once more.

I was just about yo leave when he called after me"You will start the after tomorrow"

I skipped all the way to aunt's house.

"Xoey we were worried"she told me when she saw me entering the house.

"I'm fine now" I told her.

I told her about everything and how I got the job. She was proud of me but unhappy that I'd be stressing myself.

But that didn't stop me from smiling.

I knew the little thing would count.

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Love💜; Vanessa