GUTTER GIRL

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Eleven

McKenna

"I killed him. I admit it. I did it." I inhaled. "But I did it for you. For us."

Ernie clapped. "Bravo! Bravo!"

"Thanks, E!" I took a bow and grinned.

I was grateful he was hanging out with me today. I usually had to work Saturday mornings, but I had a late shift tonight instead. Freaking deep cleaning the hot dog grills after the mall closed was the worst.

"Maybe you could try out for the school play this year. Auditions are in a few weeks."

I sagged onto the edge of my bed and let out a long breath. My tiny bedroom closed in around me as I toyed with the idea of trying out. I'd always wanted to, but with Mom and her unpredictability... What if she'd show up to a play drunk? Or even rehearsals? I hated that I worried about that kind of stuff. About being embarrassed by her. She was sick—it wasn't her fault. But my classmates wouldn't understand. Their reactions would most likely be brutal and I wasn't sure if I could handle that additional stress.

"I know you're worried about your mom," he said softly as he rested his warm hand on my shoulder.

He'd been lying on the bed, watching my rehearsal, but now he sat beside me. Always beside me, cheering me on. I rested my head on his shoulder, ordering the tears starting to burn my eyes to go away.

"But, it would be only an hour or two after school every day."

"Yeah but, an hour or two, plus four night shifts a week at The Hot Dog Shack and an all-day shift on the weekends. It's just too much. I can't be away from her for that long. Something bad could happen."

"You're the kid, Mac. She should be looking after you."

The air deflated from my chest. He wasn't wrong. But what could I do? I couldn't force her to consistently take her medicine. I'd tried that time and time again. It always ended the same way. With a massive fight. Tears. Words that couldn't be taken back.

"Maybe she could go somewhere? Get help?" Ernie suggested.

I sighed. "We don't have the money for anything like that and more importantly, she'd have to go willingly, which she'd never do."

"Can't you call the adult version of Child Protective Services?"

I shook my head. "I looked into it. Unless she's a danger to herself or others, incapable of things like feeding or bathing herself, they won't intervene."

"What's going to happen when you leave after

graduation?" Ernie asked quietly.

"I'm not sure. I've got eight months to figure it out,

though... Maybe her sister will come stay with her for a while."

A loud thump from somewhere in the house interrupted our conversation.

Ernie looked toward the door but didn't say anything. It was his first time coming over in months. He claimed it didn't weird him out when my mom went into a full manic swing, but how could it not? It freaked the hell out of me and I was used to it.

"I can't wait until I graduate and turn eighteen. I'm gonna be so out of here."

"You could always come stay with me," Ernie offered. "I'd never get a warm shower again."

We both chuckled.

"Seriously though, you could bunk with one of my sisters."

"Thanks, E. You're really the best. You know that, right?"