Chapter 7

I had taken a bath and changed into a shirt gown and flip flops.

I and miss Rodriguez sit at the circular table on the balcony of the kitchen. It was located somewhere in the house, I don't know yet. The table had only two chairs so I and Miss Rodriguez sit opposite each other.

There is a beautiful view of a garden beyond the balcony. It had stoned routes. There were also various grown flowers and some patches of dirt. How wonderful! I could do some gardening.

Miss Rodriguez had requested for a simple dinner, she said she wouldn't mind waiting, not caring about me. Well, I didn't have anywhere to go so it made a little sense. Martha was busy redoing the rejected lunch, poor girl. But funny enough, she worked like it was fun.

Miss Rodriguez sat straight up, her legs crossed and reading a book with her reading glasses on.

Looking into the kitchen through the transparent glass screens, my right elbow on the table and my chin on my hands; I watch Martha as she skillfully worked in the sumptuous kitchen.

I sight and turn back to Mrs. Rodriguez, she was still reading her book.

"Umm... I'll be right back." I push my chair back and stand up.

She looks up from her book." where do you think you are going?"

"I'm going to meet Martha." I point towards the kitchen. She doesn't say anything, so I walk to the kitchen.

"Hey," I say with a bright smile on my face.

Martha turns and looks at me."Hey! What are you doing here?"

"I wanna help out."

She cracks up and waves her hand in front of her face." No need darling, I was just rounding up."

"Okay..." I walk slowly, skimming pieces of furniture and objects.

Martha looked over in miss Rodriguez's direction.

"Go sit down and wait for me, okay?"

"O...kay." I'll let this one slide, I don't want to be the persuasive person that I am so I walk back to the table.

After some minutes, Martha came and placed a plate on the table in front of each of us. From my knowledge of working in a restaurant at a point in my life, I could tell the names of the sweet-smelling strange food that sat on the table in front of me. We were served stuffed ranchero sweet potato and horseradish. She then brought a glass jug that contained a yellow liquid and two glass cups.

"Thank you so much."

She stares at me and nods with a smile, adjusting the fork and knives on the napkin beside our plates.

Miss Rodriguez put her book away and bowed her head a little."Sophie?"

I look up, about to start eating.

"Bless our food."

My heart skips a beat. That was unexpected, I wasn't sure of how to pray on food out loud.

"Umm...lord, we... bless this food and pray it nourishes our body...provide for those who don't have, amen."

"Amen."

I've never felt so proud of myself for that, thanks to my mother. I settle down to eat but get interrupted by miss Rodriguez, her eating was what interrupted me.

How am I supposed to eat with a fork and knife? In a house, not even a four star restaurant. Would she mind if I used only a fork or a spoon? There wasn't even any spoon on the napkin. I roll my eyes and tilt my jaw. Whatever.

Horridly, I pick up the fork and shove an even amount of food into my mouth.

I got some stares from miss Rodriguez while eating but I didn't care. The food and the drink were delish, even though I still don't know what I drank.

It was time for our discussion and I waited patiently as miss Rodriguez dabbed her lips with her napkin. She folds the napkin, rested it on the table, and looked at me. No wonder the house was sparkling clean and tidy, but I didn't need to do that, I had hands- or maybe sleeves rather, but I did.

"So, I want to welcome you once again to Maryland."

I tried to recall if she welcomed me before.

"I honestly don't have an idea on how long you would be staying here, but you can either make it enjoyable or unbearable."

My left eyebrow goes up unconsciously, but I take it down immediately.

"There are rules in this place. One of them restricts you from using your phone, but I am still deciding if I would enforce that."

What a funny joke, I felt like laughing. If I was still at home in Chicago I'll wonder what else I'd do with my life. But here there are so many things to do but... I still need my phone.

"You are going to be resuming school tomorrow."

"What?"

"Yes, and it's a private school."

Was it normal for someone to choke on nothing because that was what happened to me. I didn't actually choke on nothing, it was the news that choked me.

"I can't go to a private school."

"And why is that?"

"My mom...she's-"

She looks away."She is not the one paying. She insisted on you going to the community's school but I cannot afford to lose my reputation."

I glare at her and immediately look away when she turns to me. That was so blunt. I bowed my head and bit my lips. Now I was going to a school I didn't belong to. Was she going to expect me to study extra hard and get good grades?

"For a quicker entry into the school, they will be needing your previous report card. If it is good enough you will be taken and will continue schooling with them, then you will write an exam afterward to know if you will be qualified to remain in the school."

That wasn't a problem at all.

"Did you hear me?"

Of course, I did."Yes."

"Then respond. Is your report card good enough?"

Wow, what a dumb question. What if it was not, she'd expect me to say no?

She looks directly at me and raises an eyebrow.

"Yes, it is."

"Okay good, I'll discuss with your mother this night.

I nod.

She picks up her book, stand and walk a few steps past me. But then, she stops and turn, staring at me for a while, it made me feel uneasy.

"And get ready to meet your stepdad's daughter, she visits here frequently." She turns again, backing me."Don't forget to rest." And walks away.

Horrified. I stare after her until I'm unable to see her again, but I still stare.