Smoke And Mirrors

•One•

I held a warm cup in my hand, as a blankly stare at my parents as they slowly stir their tea, the sound of the tiny spoon scrapping the sides of the porcelain scratching at my brain.

My mother in a pencil skirt and blazer over top of a blouse, her hair in a bun with her bangs pined to the side. My father in dress pants, a white button up with suspenders holding up his pants, his shiny bald head with sunspots on it looked weird next to my mother with long hair.

"So darling," My mother cleared her throat, "How is school?"

I look at her, I was wearing a royal blue dress that went down to my mid calf. My hair curled away from my face, half being pulled behind my head, "Oh very well."

My father pushes up in his thin, silver glasses frames, "You making friends?"

"Yes, I have." I smile a little.

"Good friends?"

I furrow my brows, "Sorry?"

"Do they come from wealth?" My mother tucked her crossed ankles to the side.

"Um...yes, why would they not? I go to Harvard." I sip from my tea, I never liked it.

"Don't get fussy with me darling, no one likes a woman with an attitude." She sets down her cup and reaches for something that wasn't there. She snaps her fingers at the Maid tucked in the corner, "Mary this needs sugar, why isn't there sugar on the table?"

"Oh, yes Miss, my deepest apologies." She scurried to the kitchen through a few halls.

I slouch as I look at my tea, a muted brown halfway down the cup. The warmth in my hands was the only thing keeping me here, in this ridged house, with my cold parents.

"Darling don't slouch." My father spoke from behind his newspaper.

I straighten my back, to an uncomfortable 180 degrees. Mary comes back with a small glass bowl and places it on the table, "How many sugars ma'am?"

"I'm feeling good today, three will be just fine."

"Oh that's wonderful." She shyly smiles as she picks three cubes from the bowl and drops the in.

"Yes, I suppose it is. Do you mind calling the stables to make sure our horses are ready for this morning?"

"Yes ma'am, how many will be riding?"

"Two." She picks up the cup and stirs, the porcelain scratching made a shiver go up my spine. I grit my teeth as Mary walks away.

We stay silent for a long while, not talking. I decided it would be best to try and speak.

"Horses? You and father riding this morning?"

"Wasn't that clear by my request?" Her tone was belittling.

"I-" I blink a few times, "Well yes-"

She cuts in, "Good, then don't have such feeble questions that have obvious answers to them."

I look down, pointing my nose to the floor, shutting up. Tuesday Tea was never a fun afternoon to look forward too. Since I got into Harvard and moved into the on campus housing, they force me to drive an hour away to go and see them every week.
Which was the exact opposite of why I live in campus, the point was to not see them. But they always maneuver around my wants and needs to get what they want.