Mr.Cater's Maid

Chloe and Adam

I clicked the red 'End Call' button on my phone for the 10th time today as I sat on the living room couch of my house. I waited for my phone to go back to my Instagram screen, which I was mindlessly scrolling before I was interrupted. Once the screen was back to normal, I watched strangers do the same dances to the same songs or my acquaintances tell me trivial details about their life. Details like what they ate for lunch or how much they hate their jobs...join the club.

I had to take another break from the scrolling when the doorbell rang. My Father was sitting on the couch across from me. So he was closer to the door. However, he was so entranced with the book he was reading that he didn't even hear. So I chose not to bother him and get the door myself.

I opened it, and my mother rushed inside with bags of groceries in both her hands.

"I am going to make mix vegetable rice today." She commented as she rushed to the kitchen. I tried to grab a few bags out of her hands, but she shook her head. "It's easier if I just do it myself." so I sat back down on the same couch.

The iciness with my mother was really going to be tested as today was the first day I was home at the same time she was. I sighed out loud at this thought.

"You two better figure out a way together through dinner together. I am finishing this chapter and heading to work." my Father said.

I squinted my eyes to get a look at the title of the book he was reading, Bridge to Terabithia.

"Daddy, why are you reading that?" I asked.

"It's called Bridge to Terabithia; it's about these children that go to this regular forest and pretend it's a whole new place with magical giants and trolls. There is nothing there. It's not real, but they go there to hide from their real problem! Crazy American kids." He excitedly explained.

"Daddy, I know the book," I snickered. "But it's for kids. So why are YOU reading it?"

"It helps with my English." He simply answered.

"Okay, well, enjoy. It's a good book. Sad but good."

"I know how it ends, beta." He gloomily said, eyeing me fiercely.

I let him get back to his novel, and I went back to my phone. Time passed both of us by as I heard my mother make a copious amount of noise in the kitchen. Should I go help her? I debated with myself.

My concentration on my relationship with my mother really helped me not focus on the other things running around my mind since my lunch with Megan. Though having Adam call every few minutes was not helping. So To focus on this distraction instead, I decided to go in the kitchen to fight with or makeup with my mother.

"Do you need help?" I asked my mother, fearlessly adding wet potatoes to a hot oiled pan.

"You can help cut all the veggies. Cut all the bell peppers, carrots, onions, and tomatoes." She instructed.

"Okay, sure."

I got to the assigned task, slowly cutting, starting with the bell peppers first. I also chose to use the island space next to the stove, so my mother and I stood shoulder by shoulder. Quite, but working in sync.

"I am going to be working late tomorrow," I informed her.

"With Adam?" She cautiously asked. I could tell she was trying to keep her tone neutral rather than inquisitory. I appreciated her effort but hated that she mentioned the name of the one person I was trying not to think about.

"No, for Tash and Tosh," I said.

"Okay."

Our conversation ended there. I had nothing else to add.