Chapter 2

   I walk up the porch steps of our bungalow and into the house. Everyone was seated in the living room, even my mom. I quickly scanned her to see if she was okay, she was seated properly on the only armchair in our parlor but her eyes were red and bulging and her black hair looked like she had just gotten out of bed. My phone beeps again but I ignore it.

"Hi, mom"

"Hi," she whispers with a smile.

It was obvious my absence was withholding whatever was suppose to happen. I quickly make my way to the only available space on the long sofa which was beside my eight years old brother. The tension in the room was so thick, I almost felt I could touch it. I glance at Ruth, my youngest sister. She was seated beside Jerry and is two years younger than him, our eyes meet; I smile at her and she returns it. Did mom call us from school just so we could sit in a circle in the living room and talk?

Mum lean in." So.." She pursed, Her voice horse.

"I am sorry you two had to leave school early," she was staring at Lucy and me intently. She studies us for a while and continues. "I have already informed Ruth and Jerry so they won't make a fuss-"

"Mom!" Lucy shouts with a frown on her face. "Can you just tell us what's wrong because I can't wait any longer." And then she mumbles." Cuz I can already see where this is going." She folds her arms. She was seated on the old recliner, the chair we always fight for.

I raise an eyebrow at her. You aren't the only curious person, hold your peace.

" I was just about to do that," mum explained flatly. She licked her lips and took a breath.

Did someone die, I couldn't help wondering.

"so...um...I'm just gonna say it." Mum stutter.

My heart aches and I could feel my lips pucker. I wonder how she feels, I already felt bad for her. I always hate it whenever anyone is going through a hard time.

"I-I lost my job," mum blurt awkwardly." I'm so sorry," she added in a low voice.

I let out a breath of relief. Was that all, she shouldn't be so sad...people lose their jobs. I decide to break the unbearable silence," it's okay mom...so what's gonna happen?" Tears brimmed in mom's reddened eyes." I could work for extra hours at the grocery store...maybe...Lucy could join me until you get another job."

I slowly glance at Lucy, a smug look was on her face and her eyebrows were arched, She was shaking like a leaf with her hands folded.

" I can't afford this house anymore...even the car," mom sobbed. "I have debts Sophie," she sniffed, "I have debts. And the money you get wouldn't be enough to sustain us."

Cupping my mouth with my hand I lean in and stare at mom." Debts?"

"Debts!" Lucy mocks." Tell me, what extra thing have you done for us that you are on debts. We've always been managing and we didn't complain-"

Mum breaks down into tears.

Ruth looks at Lucy." Shut up Lucy," She shouts with a frown on her face.

" I'm not talking to you," Lucy screams.

Ruth slogs of to Mum's side and joins Jerry on the floor to comfort her. They were stroking her arm and rubbing her hair, Ruth then hugs her.

I wipe my face and stand so I could also comfort mom. I needed comfort but from the look of things, mom needed it the more. She had gone through a lot and now she lost her job, how were we even going to survive.

I kneel beside Jerry and rub mom's arm soothingly. Fresh tears run down her cheeks." Mom, it's okay." I sniffed. "You don't need to cry." I could feel my nose tickle so I sniff again. Mom clasped her lips to avoid licking her salty tears. She was nodding vigorously to what I had just said. Ruth and Joseph had calmed down, but they looked unhappy, at least they were cooperating. It was a good thing mum had told them earlier.

Mum sniffs several times and wipes her face with her hands. She forces a smile at the three of us and shifts her gaze to the usual location of the recliner. I turn around to look with her, it was Lucy, she did not come to comfort mom; she wasn't even crying. There was no trace of sadness in her eyes, all I could see was anger. I immediately turn back to look at mum and I rub her knee.

Mom looked away and fix her gaze on the floor. " so...as I was saying... I have decided on what to do." Mom looks up and study our faces, then she continues. "Um... I want all of you to appreciate this decision because... it's a privilege. So... So I'm going to ..." She looks down and rubs her temples. " I'm going to separate you gu-

" what?" Lucy stands with her fist clenched. "Ooh, losing your job wasn't enough for you, so you want to separate us now? She spat.

Mum stands up slowly. "No darling, I don't want to separate you guys. Never. I just have to." Mom's voice was shaky.

"Don't darling me," Lucy says raising her left hand. "I am no darling of yours. I can't believe we moved in here like a year ago, I managed to settle down at school and every aspect of my life," tears trickled down her face. "now you are talking about separating us."

Mum wraps her arm around herself. "Lucy, please don't make this harder than it already is," mom sobbed, "please."

Realizing myself I shot a glance towards Ruth and Jerry. Ruth was already crying, Jerry just watched. His palms were together and in between his legs. I rush towards them and lead them to their rooms.

As I leave the parlor I hear Lucy's penetrating voice," the separation between you and dad wasn't enough, was it? She screeched.

I hug Ruth and Jerry, they were both seated on jerry's bed. Jerry breaks down into sobs and Ruth cries harder.

" I want my daddy!" Ruth bawled.

"Don't cry, okay? I hug both of them again. I could not stay here, I had to stop that demon that was speaking through Lucy.

"You two should comfort each other." I put Ruth's hand in jerry's. " you are here for each other, okay?" They nod and slowly the volume of their cry reduces. "I'll be back." I turn around and dash for the parlor.

" can't take this anymore, I can't take it." Lucy was furious, she was shouting with so much strength, I could see her throbbing veins on her neck. Mum was curled up in a thigh ball on the floor beside the armchair, she was sobbing her life out.

"Lucy, why are you so stupid and selfish." I realized what I had said and remembered it was not the time to say what I thought, but words were words. I couldn't take them back.

"I am stupid?" She questioned turning to me. Her face was smeared with mascara and black tears ran down her cheek.

"No, no, that was a mistake," I stammer.

"So now I'm stupid?" She asks again pointing to herself.

"No, you are not stupid." Even though you are, mom doesn't have anything to do with it. I try to hold her shoulders but she slaps my handoff.

"I wish I was never born into this mistake that's called a family," Lucy screams through tears.

Mom shouts and presses her hands to her ears.

"I hate you." She was staring hard at mom. "I hate all of you," she screams and then storms off to our room and slams the door which bounces back open. She slams it again while holding the door handle so it would close.

Quickly, I scurry to where mom is on the floor and hold her tight. She was shaking passionately, her clothes were drenched in tears and sweat. Her face and eyes were red and puffy. I remained in that position for a while, not letting go. I am here for her, I couldn't help crying myself; so I allowed a few drops of tears to fall.

She was sobbing gently now and I was rubbing her back slowly. I jerked up in fright because of the crashes I heard from the room, but then I relaxed when I remembered Lucy. She was probably trying to calm herself down through other methods.

....

   Slumped on the sofa in the empty parlor, everyone had gone to bed. I picked up my phone from the chair, I had two messages from lia.

What?! That doesn't make any sense

Whatever. Honestly, I'd rather do it alone than with you. Go sort yourself out, you have a problem

Staring at the screen, my grip on the phone tightened, my fingers turn pale and for a moment I think the phone would snap. I try my best to hold the tears but I guess they came with full force. Why would she say such a thing, what did I ever do to her?