Mr.Cater's Maid

The Bet

I felt an unknown tiredness as I walked into my house later that day and took off my shoes. I liked it. A purposeful day had not been expected by me in a while. Even after working, arguably more, all day yesterday, I did not feel the way I did right now. More than anything, I could ease some of my Father's worries. I could tell him, although this job was not perfect, it was enjoyable and possibly an avenue to make money.

That moment was not far away as I walked into the kitchen to find my Father reading a newspaper on the dining table.

"You're back late." He commented, scrunching his paper to reveal his face.

"It's a far ride into and back to the city!" I informed him.

"But worth it, right?" He said, hopefully.

"Definitely. I can't wait to go back Saturday!" I exclaimed.

"Oh, that's good to hear!" His face was half-covered in a big grin. "No more crying at night then."

"I never cried at night!" I lied.

My Father gave me a knowing look. Then came up to me, kissed my forehead. "I think we are heading into better days now!"

"Our days weren't so bad...." I lied again.

The truth was since I had begun college, I was not mentally in a good spot. I put way too much pressure on myself to get good grades and to like what I was learning, but I just couldn't do it.

Before I knew it, I was kicked out of the program and put on probation. Still, I kept trying to get back in. I studied day and night. Forgoing friends and a real college experience, but I didn't care about any of that.

I eventually was accepted back in and was told I only wasted half a semester making up the classes I had failed. I cried every day. I was so unhappy. The day The Dean of Students told me I had enough grades to be welcomed back into the pre-med program, I had an anxiety attack. I couldn't breathe or think. I felt a cold sweat cover my entire body. I knew then, and there I didn't want to be a doctor. I was naturally lazy, but I put in a 1000% on things I am remotely interested in. Although it sounded selfish, I didn't have any interest in saving anyone's life by becoming a doctor.

I quit a year later. I did not pick any classes for the next semester and moved back home.

Of course, my mother wasn't happy. She had slaved over finances and put every penny she made into my education.

Quitting also didn't solve my problems. I lost track of who I was as a person. I had no ambitions. Forget ambitions. I had no will to do everyday things like showering. Until now, my mother had made all the big decisions for me, so when I strayed from her path, I forgot to land somewhere I wanted to be. So I was a nomad. A thoroughly depressed nomad.

As much as I wanted to blame my mother (and I did blame her) in the end, I couldn't. One thing everyone should know about tiger Moms was they knew how to adjust their plans. She let me have a pity party for about a year, argued with me so I would hate her more than I hated myself, and eventually set a new path for me. She always told me to have a purpose in life. Although she hoped my purpose would be something greater, she would settle for something small if that couldn't be the case.

"Mom is going to come home early. We will have dinner like a normal family today." My Father said, snapping me out of my thoughts.

"Awesome! I am just going to lay down till then." I yawned.

I went up to my room and threw the backpack I had taken as my companion for today onto the floor. Then, without changing, I hopped into bed, inside my covers. I let the soft weight of my comforter fill me with warmth, and it carried me into sleep.