Kidnapped

Leaving

                                                                           Chapter 2

Once my mom had left the hallway, I let out a small sigh. What would have happened if she had found that dog? I head towards my room on the other side of the hallway. I stare at my door for a while before I head inside. Something about this new house doesn't sit with me right. The neighborhood we live in might as well have a sign that says, "Welcome to Northview Neighborhood! Watch out for the freaks that live here!" I found at least three to four homeless people digging through our trash. Its not that I don't like homeless people;its quite the opposite. I feel bad for them, wish that I could help because I had been like them once. But, my family is barely getting by as it is, and this job my mom will be doing for a few months will fix all of this mess.

I head over to my crappy-old laptop sitting on a few books in the corner of the room. Kori's room and mom's room have been filled with beds and desks because that's all we could afford. I told them I'd be fine, excluding the pain I get in my back every morning I wake up from the floor. I boot my computer up and load up my Word doc. I start to type up some things about Sammy and how someone can contact me about the dog. Its not that I

absolutely hate pets or animals, but I don't think that if we can't even support ourselves that we will be able to feed and clean this dog. Especially with all of the grooming and shots he will need after being away from his family for so long. I save the document to one of my old files but keep my curser over the folder.

The file I was looking at was one of my dad's. He stayed with us through the homelessness but left soon after. I was ten and Kori was four. My mom loved him so much, I could tell by all of the stories she told me about him in those six years. I hate him because he left us alone. Before he left, he talked to me. He said he was leaving for a while because he needed to make some money for my mother. Now I think the money thing was real but for mom? What a faker. He was a gambler and loved it too, even more than mom, Kori, and I. I suspect he owed someone big so he left to get the cash. Its a wonder why he didn't just take the money mom made off of her architect job in New York. I never saw him after that. Kori doesn't remember him, that's for the best though. She thinks he was this great man that left us to give us a better life. All he cares about is himself.

After I'm done shutting down my computer, I start to get my school work finished. We only have a few months left of school so I'm trying to keep my grades up. I need to keep my GPA up so I can get a job to support my mom. Kori has been walking the neighbor's dogs, so that has payed for groceries and other things we need more than exciting stuff people seem to think is amazing. I don't see the use in entertainment. I like to think my problems away one at a time. Its a wonder I even get sleep. Once I'm done with homework, I get up off of the floor and head for Kori's room. I need to check on her and that stupid mutt. I open the door to her and Sammy sitting on her clean bed. She's reading him Cinderella and petting his head lightly. I listen for a few seconds just thinking about how she has sacrificed some things for the benefit of me and mom. Finally, I come to my senses and find her staring at me.

"Yes?" she says questioningly. I clear my throat and start to speak. "Just wanted to check on you and the mutt." I say looking around the already covered room. "Sammy," she whispers expectantly. I turn my head back to her, "Oh yeah, right. Sammy." I look at him and he stares at me with a tilt on his head. I exhale air that I didn't know I had been holding in. "Has he been fed? Taken out?" I ask. She cocks her head too and says quietly, "Both." I sigh and look down at the white carpet. I glance back up and whisper quietly, "Mom's not going to be back for a few months, so I suggest you come say goodbye."

She jumps out of bed and runs for the door. She yanks it open to head between me and the door way. "Wow, speedy, calm down!" I say through gritted teeth. I close the door behind me and make my way towards the kitchen, where my mom waits for us. She smiles at me and Kori which makes me realize how beautiful she really is. Her naturally, curly, dirty-blond hair covers half of her left cheek. She is about the same height as me, even though I'm a few inches taller at five foot six. She's relatively skinny for a mother of two children and her face is even more pretty. Its a wonder she doesn't have guys puppy dogging her around.

She looks at me curiously, "Are you okay, Clara?"

I come back into focus again and look into her pale blue eyes that sort of resemble the sky on a sunny morning. "Yeah, just taking in the fact Kori and I will be alone for a few months." She gives me a look that tells me, 'You know why you'll be alone for that long though.' And I do. She has to get money for me so I can have an actual bedroom, with actual fitting clothes that don't look like trash. "You know I don't want to right? If I had a choice between staying and finding a load of money for you and leaving and getting even more money for you I would. But this is the better option. Also, I trust you enough to leave Kori alone with you," she says, as if she's explaining what I already understand. I nod my head a little as Kori throws herself on top of mom. "I'll miss you mommy," Kori says exasperated. My mom pats her head and looks down at her. "I know you will princess. You'll be fine, Clara will be here with you!" Mom says quietly. Kori looks at me, standing in the doorway and whispers, "I know." She lets go of mom and pushes passed me and into her room.

I felt the tears come before I even knew they would. Why am I crying? My mom rushes over to me and pulls me into a tight hug.m"Oh, sweety, what is it?" Mom says tiredly. I pull out of her embrace to dry my cheeks of my pathetic tears. "She hates me, doesn't she?" I say, almost letting out a sob. 'No, no more crying. I thought you were done with the crying?' I tell myself. Mom looks at me, hurt. "No, sweetheart, she doesn't hate you. You know that." she says. I almost let out another sob just from her facial expression. She wants her kids to love one another, and I get that. I stop myself from crying and say nasily, "I'll miss you. Please be safe and take care of yourself." She makes a forced smirk and says, "You know I will. I love you." I look at the ground. "Bye, sweetheart. I'll see you in a few months." And with that, she's gone and on her way to Korea.

*Hey, scrlilly here! I just wanted to say, thank you for reading, I've enjoyed writing! Please leave some feedback after reading for me, and some ideas for the future! I will give credit were credit is due, and message the person after using their idea. Thanks again! :D*