Preston Greens

4. Waffles Anyone?

"Ouch." I said and rubbed my forehead. I hit my head on the bed frame and got up with a start. I was in my own room in my own house. I praised the Lord that I didn't die last night. I was glad to be here but then there was that familiar stinging sensation.

"Ughhh" I moaned as got out of bed. That happy feeling of being alive vanished as I remembered my back. I wobbled over to the restroom and took off my clothes. I stood in the shower, thinking about life. The shower was my thinking hotspot and I had dad buy me one of those shower note pads for my birthday because I always came up with the best ideas in the shower.

I rarely ever sing in the shower, except when favorite song comes on the radio. I adored my cute little radio in my restroom. I had my favorite station on it, 107.9. I let the lukewarm water go down my back, my muscles relaxing and a nice warm feeling on my head. Showers in the morning are the best, not the ones at night. Showers seem to wake me up and I like to use that to my advantage, which is taking a shower in the morning.

I washed my hair and my body and such and turned the rusty handle. The shower made a moaning noise as the running water slowly came to a stop. I pushed open the creaky shower door and stepped out. Steam rushed out of the shower and filled the enclosed space.

My restroom connected to my bedroom, because my parents patched up the doorway on the other side of bathroom because it was originally a jack and jill bathroom connecting to my room and dad's office, but my parents wanted me to have some privacy. We didn't get a lot of visitors either, and if we did, our house was usually too small so they either stayed at a hotel or they stayed up in the attic.

The attic was probably my favorite spot in the house since it has a nice big window. It's located directly above the garage and it's pretty roomy. Dad put some old stuff in there like desks and books and Christmas decorations. I liked to take the special staircase in the garage that only my dad, Lisa, and I know about. Mom was never interested in going into enclosed spaces like that, but the attic wasn't enclosed; in fact, it was huge, almost as big as our kitchen. Dad and I tried to convince her, but mom didn't want to hear it.

I always thought the attic was a magical place, and that's mainly because Lisa's attic was magical. I was talking about it the other day to Leslie and she said her attic was creepy. We went up there once and indeed it was creepy. I am known to make a lot of observations as well, like noticing that this cobweb is larger than the other and this wooden panel is pink.

I put my hair up in a towel and went into my closet. Over the years I had collected a lot of clothes and shoes and when I have a shirt, I can wear it for years because I hardly grow larger, only taller. I picked out a sundress, which seemed suitable for the day, and went into the bathroom again.

I sat down at my vanity and started drying my hair. My brush went smoothly through my hair and it felt silky. Blond strands of hair fall to the ground as I keep brushing vigorously. I looked at my digital radio clock. 9:30 am. My mom should already be up and my dad should be up in about 30 minutes. I was an early riser, and that is caused by me being guilty if I wake up too late because I would have missed like half of the day.

My flip phone buzzed. I got a text message from Lisa. "What are you going to do today?" I murmured. I replied, "Nothing much" and pressed the send button. I brushed my teeth, put some lotion on and some perfume, and walked out the door.

I saw mom in the kitchen cooking waffles. I loved waffles. They were my favorite breakfast treat. 

"Good morning sweetie!" Mom said from the kitchen. I walked in the kitchen and gave her a big hug. Our kitchen took up majority of our house, so it was very roomy. This was my mom's favorite spot. My dad's favorite spot was the garage, where he worked on his cars and other things. Dad always like projects, especially projects that required home improvement.

"So Carly, what do you want for your birthday?" Mom asked me. I had gone over the list over and over again in my head. Christmas was just over and my birthday was in January, which is a few weeks away. January 16th, to be exact.

"Well mom, I would like two big things only and maybe some small things."

Mom put on a nervous face like always whenever I say "big things" meaning that those items might be expensive. "Go on", mom said wearily.

"Well I would like an IPhone 6 and a dog." I replied with confidence.

I was tired of my flip phone and I always wanted a dog, someone to sit near my bed when I'm thinking and someone to protect me from the moaning man. Mom sighed.

"Well, I am going to talk to your dad about it sweetheart."

I slumped my shoulders. This usually meant I was either not getting the IPhone or not getting the dog. I think I could wait another year for the dog, but totally not the IPhone. I needed that now. I was going to ask my friends and relatives for perfume and clothes and stuff like that, so that way my parents can get me the big things on my list.

My phone buzzed again, and it was Lisa again. Do you want to go to Belinda's house with me? She said I could bring a friend. I thought about this offer. I only had one essay for homework, which I started yesterday, and I decided to go for a couple of hours. Mom offered to drive me and I accepted the offer. She was already dressed and ready to go, but dad had just woken up.

"Hi Carly, how did you sleep last night?" He asked me.

"Fine, there was no moaning man by my side." I replied to him.

He grinned and ruffled my hair, which I immediately fixed. I didn't want to look like a fool when I went to Belinda's.

Mom and I got in the car and drove out of the garage. We crossed the main road and entered the gate code. Belinda lives on Coffee Mill Drive, which was a weird name since nothing was behind it. No history of coffee beans being discovered here or anything.

Lisa was already in the front yard with Belinda waiting for me by the time mom drove into the driveway. Belinda lives in a pretty 2 story house, and Bobby would approve.

"Sorry for such short notice!" She called out to my mom. Mom only told her it was alright, and kissed me on the cheek.

"Let me know when you want to be picked up hon." She said.

I hugged her and said goodbye. I hugged Belinda and Lisa as mom drove away.

"Why did you invite me over?" I asked Belinda.

"Well Lisa said she needed to talk to us," but Lisa interrupted her. "Actually, it was an emergency."

"What do you mean?" I asked Lisa.

"It's about Bobby. He went to my house yesterday and he said the rudest thing ever!"

I gasped. This was typical Bobby, but it is really hurtful to have a rich kid call your house a "dusty attic" when the attic is even worse.

"The worst thing was that you never told him that I was your neighbor!" Lisa exclaimed.

"Lisa, you need to understand that if I told him, he would never come to your house because when he saw it, he said it was the nastiest thing he said." I told her.

"I didn't want to hurt your feelings or you chance with Bobby." Lisa's face turned pale.

"I'm so sorry Carly for doubting you." Lisa said.

Belinda was in the kitchen with her mom and Lisa and I were upstairs in Belinda's room. Her room was more empty than mine, since she moved in last year. I had so many things in my room that accumulated over the years that I hardly keep up with the stuff.

One time I went under my bed during hide-and-seek and screamed because I left a toy rat in there from the Halloween party in 2nd grade. Belinda and I were a little alike as in keeping our rooms tidy, which is true. We also liked the same perfume. Lisa wasn't very fond of perfume for some reason, but everyone had their own likings and preferences.

Lisa and I talked some more when Belinda shouted from downstairs. "Waffles anyone?"

I reluctantly declined since I knew my mom made the best waffles in the world.