The Neighbor

Chapter 17: The waves were gentle in reality

"Where were you?" my mother asked the second I walked throught the door. Now if I had been in a good mood I would have said, "I walked down the beach with a friend, I'm sorry."

But I was a considerably bad mood so I said in a sarcastic voice, "School."

"Don't sass me young lady, "my mother scolded.

"Mom I had a very bad day so unless you want a black eye I suggest you get out of my way, "I said. Her jaw dropped to the floor. I pushed past her to go up to my room and on the way up the stairs I said, "You might want to close your mouth before you start catching flies." I slammed the door to my closet before she could shout after me. 

I laid on my bed and thought about what I had just done. Had I really just stuck up to my mother? It was in a moment of anger but she would still kill me for it. I needed to get out of the house.

I couldn't go back downstairs. I opened my window and tugged on the ivy growing on it. It seemed strong enough to hold, at least strong enough to hold someone as sickly skinny as me. I swung my leg out and then the other. I found two strong footholds and then grabbed two pieces. I climbed down until my feet touched down. I was a bit shaky but I ran to the road and out of sight from my house. 

I knew I couldn't go to Lani's house because she was shopping with her grandmother. Almost involuntarily I started walking to Brendan's. It was odd going from having no friends to have so many I could elimate one and have another one to go to. 

I walked up Brendan's long driveway and knocked on the door. I could hear he was blaring music inside but, somehow, he heard the knock. He opened the door and gained a shocked face. He was shirtless and was holding a Red Solo cup.

"Brendan are you drinking alcohol?" I asked astonished.

"Um, I didn't know you were coming over, "he said as an excuse.

"I thought you stopped drinking!" I shouted.

"Oh just come in, "he sighed. I walked past him, fully prepared to tell him off. But I was distracted by all the mess. There were cups and empty beer cans scattered everywhere. Multiple pizza boxes lay open on the floor, filled with flies.

"Your place is a mess, "I said, "what happened?"

"A family member died, "he said.

"Who was it?"I asked in a concerned tone; I wasn't angry anymore. Brendan began to stare off into space so I asked again, "Who was it?"

"Sunny, "he said, "my sister." I didn't need to ask anything else. He told me a while ago he had a young sister with cancer, who he loved very much. If she had died then it was a pretty good reason to drink a little.

"I'm sorry, "I said, "about your sister and yelling at you and just showing up uninvited."

"Your always welcome here, "he said, "and you had a right to yell at me, even if you are my midget. I promise I'll stop tomorrow."

"I've heard that before Brendan, "I said, "it's not really convincing."

"Ok how about this, "he said, "tomorrow when you come to help me with my bills you can help me confiscate all the alcohol."

"Deal, "I said, "so you wanna talk about your sister?"

"I don't know, "he said quietly.

"It'll only get worse if you keep it bottled up inside, "I said.

He thought about this, then looked up at me and said, "Why are you so smart?"

"Because I'm awesome, "I joked.

"That you are, "he said sincerely. We sat down on his couch and he told me about how his sister had died and how he found out. She had died peacefully, in her sleep. Brendan said that's how he wanted it but he still wished she hadn't had cancer at all.

I wanted to say, "No one wants their family to die." But I knew the best thing for me to do was to be quiet and listen.

He told me stories about when his sister was young and they would play out in the woods by his house. The hours past and what I thought was going to be a sad afternoon turned out pretty great.

When Brendan finished his story I said, "These stories are all great, but I should be heading home."

"Your right, "he said, "I'll see you tomorrow." I got up and walked out into the warm evening air.

I liked Honolulu most during the evening. The sunset was comprised of the most magnificent colours, the palm trees swayed slightly, the waves were gentle. It was peaceful and relaxing.

I thought about my day. I hadn't gotten to tell Brendan what had happened, but that was all right. For possibly the first time Brendan had needed me for something other than doing his bills and taxes. He had needed a shoulder to cry on and I was his shoulder.

Most kids hate helping people, but I liked it. For the first time I felt needed, I felt wanted. After a whole life of being pushed away, it felt nice to be accepted. Now you know how Kahoni feels, I thought. All this time Kahoni had wanted to get to know me and I had pushed him away. It wasn't a nice feeling, being pushed away constantly. But there was nothing I could do about it now.

I realized I had stopped in between Brendan and his neighbor's house. I was just staring out at the gentle waves, thinking.

"What are you doing?" a voice behind me growled. I turned and saw my mother's angry face glaring at me. "I come into your room and your gone! Do you know how worried I was?"
Not at all, I thought. I said, "I just went out for a walk."

"Oh I saw you on your little walk, "she said, "you want to tell me why you were friends with the richest man in the neighborhood and didn't tell me?"

"Because you would try to get all his money using me and ruin our friendship, "I said.

"Your damn right I would, "she said, "but I think I'm going to do something different." She grabbed me by my ear and dragged me back up Brendan's drive way. She knocked harshly on his door while I whimpered.

Brendan opened the door and said, "Hello, how can I help you, "without looking up.

"You see this girl?" my mother said.

"Danny?" he whispered in a concerned tone.

"You listen here hotshot, "my mother continued, "you stay away from her and my family at all costs. If you help her in any way I will make sure every Brendan Jones fan in Honolulu knows where you live. Got it?"

"Your blackmailing me, "he said.

"That's right, "my mother said, "so you got it?"

"I will never stop helping your daughter, "he said, "she is my friend."

"Your making a big mistake, "she said.

"I'll take that risk, "he said.

"Brendan don't, "I said quietly, "For me, just take her deal."

He looked down at me and I could see an inkling of tears in his eyes. Then he looked at my mom and shook her hand.

"Glad to know your not a complete idiot, "my mother said.

"Yeah well, "he said, "your daughter has taught me a lot." He looked down at me with something I hadn't seen since my dad left, pride.

"I'm so sorry Brendan, "I choked.

"It's not your fault, "he said, "you don't deserve any of this."

"Yeah sure, "my mother said, "Doesn't deserve any if this? Of course she does." Then my mother turned and stalked down the driveway, towing me behind her. On the walk back to our house I looked out at the ocean. The waves were gentle in reality, but in my mind there was a storm.