When I Grow Up

Chapter 1: Mysterious Letter

                                                                          
Hello, dear readers! Thank you for the support by reading this ongoing story. I hope you'll stick with me throughout this amazing journey and my passion for writing. Enjoy!

                                                                           LILLY YU
                                                                         10 Years Old

"Didn't you hear me honking?" Mum said furiously as I hopped at the passenger seat of the car, placing my school bag beside my leg.

After excitedly playing tag with Jean and Millie at the gazebo after school, my smile vanished and I frowned. 

"I'm sorry I didn't see your car, Mum. I was just playing with my friends," I tried to explain as I looked ahead nervously.

It was extremely hot outside – I was relieved that the air conditioner was on full blast and my sweat was starting to dry up. It was 32 degrees, boiling and humid but it has been like this every day and I was still not used to it.

"Can you be a little more alert next time? There were so many cars behind me and there you were dilly-dallying," Mum barked and rolled her eyes. I sighed. My hands hugged my arms consciously as I felt the stickiness of my skin – patting them lightly.

I can tell Mum's probably tired from work. She's a primary school teacher in Special Education – she always looked so stressed and exhausted after coming home from work. I can't blame her – especially in this heat. Schools and classrooms around here don't provide air conditioners especially in government schools. So, we rely on ceiling fans to save us from the scorching heat and humidity.

I turned to look at the back of the car as we passed the school gate. She was right, there were a lot of cars behind us as parents pick their children up. The place was so packed that the parking slots were all full.

I felt really bad for making her wait – I wanted to apologise, but all I did was kept quiet. It was a habit of guilt and people despised it. I did too.

"What are we having for lunch?" I asked apologetically, trying to start a conversation.

I was hoping that it wasn't Subway again. It used to be my favourite food but me and Mum had it so much, I changed my mind.

"Subway," Mum said bluntly. Darn it, what were the odds.

We stayed silent until we've reached our destination. Sometimes I would feel a little awkward around her – we don't talk or bond very much even if she's my own mother. I have never been hugged, praised, or been told "I love you" as far as I can remember. Affection was seldom shown in my family.

I've once told Jean and Millie about it and Jean said, "My parents don't do that either. They are always busy with work, work, work and no time to play. Nathan's the only one I play with sometimes." Nathan was Jean's younger brother, he's 8 years old. Jean and Nathan looked so much alike – they have wavy black hair, big eyes and a lopsided smile. One of the differences they had was Jean's a chatterbox and Nathan was more quiet.

I would see Jean's family every Sunday at church – my parents and I would sit together with them until the end of the service.