I walk into the kitchen with my bookbag slung over my left shoulder, mom's cooking something for her and dad. I go besides her and stared at the pan, just waiting for her to notice me.
She notices me after a moment or two and completely stops what she's doing and turns to me.
"Hey, do you have everything, Hunny Bun? Cards? Notebook? Pen?" Mom placed her hand onto my shoulder, giving me her usual overly happy smile. I just give her a soft nod.
"Hey, Champ! You ready for a new start?" Dad had came down into the kitchen and over to where me and Mom were. I stared at him. He pat my back and laughed,
"What's for the look? You nervous or something?"
"..."
"I get it, son. New school, pretty overwhelming. I get it! But I promise, they are all nice people. It's where I met your mother! And she's nice, right?"
"..."
"... Nevermind that! You need to catch that bus! C'mon, I'll take you there! Meet me at the car." Dad ruffled up my hair and ran upstairs. My mother groaned and fixed my hair back to how she had it.
"So insensitive! I spent time doing that!" She huffed.
"Well, nevermind that. You have a good day, okay?" She kissed my forehead, and gave me a tight hug. I just lean into her for a moment or two before pulling away.
"Call me if you need me, okay??"
I nod before heading out to the front door.
--------------------------
It was silent on the way to my bus stop, he tried to talk to me but I didn't respond and just made it awkward. We had soon pulled up to the stop. He parked the car and leaned back in his chair.
"..."
After a moment or two of silence, he spoke softly...
"Son, you can talk to me sometimes, y'know? You don't have to stay silent. Speak, okay?"
"..."
"C'mon! You haven't spoke real words to me since—"
He paused.
He took a deep breath, tightening his grip on the stirring wheel.
"...Since what happened, y'know? But it's okay! It's over! That was a very long time ago! You can talk! Speak, boy!"
"..."
He growled. He was getting frustrated. I was hoping for the bus to pull up but, luck isn't on my side all the time.
"Son. You can speak. Stop being like that! You can talk to your mother all the time, but not me?!"
I, in fact, don't speak to my mother. She's just able to read me, I don't ask her to.
"..."
"Pete! What is wrong with you?? Eh?? Why can't you speak?!"
I don't understand why he calls me that anymore, I'm not a baby.
The more he raised his voice, the redder his face got. Probably by the time the bus gets here, his whole head would be as red as a tomato.
"..."
He growled loudly, that turned into a yell of pent-up frustration. He let go of the stirring wheel, stared at it before swinging his fist at the center, which honked the horn.
"WHY CAN'T YOU COMMUTATE?!"
"..."
"WHY ARE YOU LIKE THIS?!"
"..."
"WHY CANT YOU BE NOR—"
Before he could finish his sentence, the school bus pulled up. An awkward feeling filled the car.
"...Well.." he chuckled nervously,
"I'll cya at home... okay? I love you."
I stared at him before leaving the car and walking up to the bus. The doors swung open and the grumpy looking Busdriver demanded for me to tell her my name before I got onto the bus. I reach into my pocket and pulled out a hand written note card with my full name on it and handed it to the lady. She read it, checked me off on the attendance sheet, and allowed me onto the bus.
I go up the steps and found the seat with my name on it. I sit down and place my bag beside me. This was already a lot to take in.
God, why couldn't they keep me at home? I don't want to be here.
People on the bus talked nonstop, the women talking about boys, guys talking about how they beat some other kid in a game of hockey. Nobody dare spoke to me though, which I'm glad. I don't mind not being spoken to.
...
Actually, I prefer it. That way, people won't get disappointed that I can't communicate.
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YOU ARE READING
How to Communicate.
General FictionI don't know, I'll try to write a story. You just gotta stick around for the ride.
