Cracker-Jack

Chapter four

My leather boots clonked with every step I took on the concrete floor of the shed.

 "Clonk,"

 "Clonk,"

 "Clonk,"

I glared at the little room Dad used for his lawn mower and garden tools as I set down my backpack.  A gentle roll of thunder sounded outside. A horse stall. It had a gate with a metal latch and bars that ran up and down across the walls of the stable. I rested my head on my elbow on the gate. I ran my fingers across the black gate latch. Lock. Unlock. Lock. Unlock. Evertime I moved it, the latch would squeak, for some reason it seemed soothing. I remembered that day when Mom told me that Dad died. On his way to work he had a car accident, and he was killed instantly. I try not to think about it, but sometimes it comes back to haunt me.

 "Kathy?" I jumped and turned around, Mom stood there in front of me.

"Oh, hi, Mom," I put a fake grin of my face.

"Why are you in here? There are snakes and stuff in here, besides I told you not to go in here alone." Her shoulder length blonde hair were in pink rollers.

 "I was just thinking about..." I trailed off. I glared down at my boots.

 "Is this about a horse?" Mom put her hands on her hips. I did not answer.

 "Look at me," Mom lowered her voice. I did not move my eyes. "Look at me!" I jerked my head up.

 "What?!"

 "Quit talking about this whole horse thing, because it's not going to happen!"

 "I never said I was working on fixing this piece junk and making it to a barn did I? Nor did I say that I was planning on getting a horse!" I could feel the burning of tears in my eyes.

 "Kathy-"

 "What, so I can't even think about getting one? For Pete's sake, Mom, is there something wrong with me just wishing for something?!" Before she could say anything I ran out of the shed and darted toward the pasture. Once I got to the white fence I climbed over it and ran to my pond, it was starting to rain. I don't care. I don't care if my eye liner gets smeared, I don't care if I get mud on my boots. I don't care if Mom throws a fit that I ran away from her, I don't care if I get grounded for life! I don't care! 

 Once I sat down on the clover I realized that I could hardly breath, I ran across my whole pasture. Breathless I just break down crying. My mom thinks it dumb to cry over something like a horse, but it's not just that. It's that she doesent listen to me, she doesent believe that I can do things without her help. She just doesent think about how I feel!

 I jumped at a crash of thunder. It's now pouring. I see my mom waving at me. 

 "Come inside! I have something to tell you!" Her voice sounded happy, not mad, so I listened to her, I ran back as fast as I could without slipping in the mud. I got in the house and looked at mom. 

 "What, Momma?" I felt halfway sorry for what I said.

 "Kathy, take your muddy boots off at the door please," I kicked my boots off and looked back up at her as I wiped my smeared makeup. 

"I am sorry for getting mad at you earlier, so I thought I could take you somewhere to see some horses."

 "Like to buy them?!" I got excited.

 "No, sweetie, just to see them I thought-"

 "Whatever, then I am not going," I turned around to go into my room.

 "Come back here, young lady!" My raised her voice so loud it woke the dog. But I ignored her.

 I just need to go to bed. Mom just doesent understand.