Black Thunder

Chapter 1

When I was very young my parents were happily married but now happy wouldn't describe a day in my house more like hell. My dad Jerrold worked for a factory but was laid off due to budget cuts when I was 10. Ever since then he's been going from job to job looking for work we had to leave our house and move to live my grandma in Oklahoma who died 4 years ago. Luckily the house was paid for. When my grandma died it hit him hard. He started losing it he would punch walls, throw bottles, come home extremely late and drunk. He soon started to punch my mom Jane instead of walls and he was sent to jail for domestic abuse. My mom who works for a daycare struggles to meet deadlines with the bills. So some months we go without water heat or electricity. She won't let me get a job even though I'm 16 and totally capable. She wants me to focus on my academics in hopes that I'll go to college and make something of myself. I absolutely hate hearing my mom cry at nights knowing that I can't do anything to better the situation except do good in school. At school I don't really talk to anyone except Rachel who only really talks to me so I'll let her cheat off of me. But the companionship is nice even though it's for the wrong purposes. The one plus Rachel does bring is that she's the most popular and beautiful girl in school so by her little interactions with me it keeps the bullies away. She says if I'm hurt i won't make good grades. So my life is anything short of perfection and to make matters worse my dad will get out of jail in 1month he somehow managed to meet bail don't ask me how , but my mom and I are terrified. Especially me since I'm the one who called 911 3years ago when I came home and found my mom unconscious with a black eye.
I'm walking down the hall when Rachel calls my name "Rainey!! Rainey!! Did you do the math homework!?" " oh yeah hold on " as I pull the homework from my backpack Rachel rambles on about her perfect life and how she ran out of mascara this morning. Little does she know that I have to wake up at 4 every morning and sneak into the neighbors yard to wash off with there hose so I don't smell. But instead of exploiting my problems I smile " oh that must suck but don't worry you still look fabulous like always" the bell rings and I head to first hour which happens to be art, my worst subject. As I survive the horrors of drawing a self portrait in art class I'm called over the intercom. Immediately everyone returns to their childish elementary days and all you hear is "someone's a bad girl"" what did you do, I told y'all the quiet ones are the bad ones" as I get up in humiliation I walk to the office contemplating on everything I've done last week. I can only come up with one which was being late too class because I left the house too late. I walk into the office to see my mom there looking nervous. The last time this happened was a week before my dad was sent to jail she planned on taking my and we were going to run away but before we even made it out of the parking lot my dad catches us and forces us to stay. Frankly I don't see how my mom thought running away was a good idea mainly because we would literally be running. So I automatically think of the worst as I slowly walk towards my mom what If dad got out sooner than expected? My thoughts are interrupted by my mothers soothing voice "Rainey dear we need to talk" I instantly feel panicky those are the same words she uses for every bad news. " yea ok mom" we go into the conference room down the hall. She sits down across the table and I notice how worn out she is her eyes have huge bags under them. I Begin thinking that my mom is the strongest person I know. She's been through it all and she hasn't abandoned me I've always had food to eat, a bed to sleep in, and clothes on my back. For this I love her for eternity. She used to work 3 jobs to support us but she wanted to spend time with me after school and she doesn't like me being home alone so she only works for the daycare." Rainey " she says " I have news for you about your parents" wait is she saying she's not my mom? " what are you trying to say" " well Rainey I'm not your real mom I'm your mothers twin sister and Jerrold isn't your real dad" my mouth instantly drops open "your mom and dad are spies, the work for a secret company" my mouth slowly closes and I stare at this person in front of me that for 16 years I believed to be my mother. I reply when I'm finally able to comprehend what she just said "Are you serious ? My whole life has been a lie" "yes sweet heart im so sorry but I couldn't tell you" " then why are you telling me now ? Life is already hard enough you know!" "Well you mom called and she sent for you to join them" " oh so my mom just decided that maybe She should actually care about her daughter after 16 years" she starts apologizing and reassuring me that I'll be better off and I zone out and think of the past and how all those years of pure pain and how Jane was the only person there for me and I can't leave her especially since Jerrold will be out in 30 days. "No I'm not leaving" " why not " " because I can't leave you here your the closest person I have you've been there for everything and I'm not just going to up and leave you here to suffer" "but Rainey you have to go there's nothing here for you plus your already enrolled in school there you start tomorrow" "wait where is it in going exactly" " oh sorry Florida Orlando to be exact" "well I'll go if you can come with me " " look Rainey you have to go no matter what I'll be fine don't worry about me" I look at the person who I used to call mom her black hair straightened so it hangs at her shoulders her brown skin glowing and brown eyes soft as ever. " ok fine I'll go if you insist " "ok go say bye to your friends we have some packing to do" I look at her with a straight face I know she's trying to be optimistic about everything I have little clothes and no true friends but I guess I could tell Rachel bye before I leave so she'll start paying attention.

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