Daydream Believer

lxvi. visiting mom and falling apart

lxvi. visiting mom and falling apart

"Is this where Mom lives?" Noah asked as we approached Mom's apartment building. It didn't seem like the sort of place Mom would want to live. The whole building seemed to be trying not to collapse. The address was right though.

"Yes," I told Noah. I looked down at the slip of paper Dad had given me. Apartment 104. Noah and I headed inside. Mom's apartment was right near the entrance, so it wasn't hard to find. I knocked on the door.

"Can't you see I'm busy?" Mom snapped.

"It's just us," I explained. "Noah and McKenna. We're supposed to visit today."

"Oh right. Come on in," Mom said. Noah and I entered the room. It was cramped, but Mom made it look like the room had never been touched. It was just too organized. Mom's laptop was open. I didn't know what Mom was doing when we entered the room, but honestly, I just didn't care. "How have you two been?" Mom asked.

I shrugged. "Alright." I didn't really want to tell Mom that we were better off without her.

"How are your grades in school?"

"Straight A's," I said.

"Same except I have a B+ in social studies," Noah said.

I tried to tell Noah that it wasn't a good idea to say stuff like that, but it was too late. "What?!?" Mom shouted.

"Sorry Mom," Noah said. "I'm trying to bring the grade up."

"Why do you have a B?"

"First, it's a B+. Second, I forgot to turn in one assignment."

"Noah! You have to be more responsible!"

Noah shrank back into a corner. "I said I was sorry," he mumbled. I didn't want to be here. Maybe it's wrong for someone to not even want to see their mother, but that's how I felt.

"What about you, McKenna? Are you still doing bowling?" I nodded. "Good. Colleges like to see extracurricular activities. Have you made any new friends?"

"Not really," I said.

"Are you still hanging out with that Aaron boy?"

"Yes," I said.

"You have to be more careful McKenna. He's gotten into trouble before."

"That was a long time ago!" That was the last straw. "Let's go Noah," I said. I opened the door and headed outside. Mom was always finding new ways to bring us down, and I wouldn't take it anymore. I was done.