Run

Chapter Sixteen

RUN

By Elissa Evenson

Chapter Sixteen: MASON

It's getting late and my mom hasn't returned home yet. I check my watch. 9:02 p.m. For dinner we ate sandwiches again, and I had run downstairs and grabbed chips, cookies, glasses, and milk. I wish my mom would make me dinner again. I really miss my mom.

"Hey honey, I'm home!" My mom called out. I stood up from the game my dad and I were playing.

"Mommy!" I ran up to my mom hugging her. "We were waiting for you forever!" My mom chuckled.

"I'm sorry. I had to work late sweetie." My dad walked up to her.

"I doubt it. Were you with that Andy again?" My dad accused her. I watched in horror as anger flashed across his eyes. "Mason, go to your room." I didn't move. My dad turned and looked at me. "Now!" He shouted. I quickly ran up to my room and slammed the door. I hid under my covers and cried. I was only 7. My mom and dad argued for an hour or so. My dad marched upstairs and a heard a commotion. My mom was begging with him. "Derek, Derek! Please don't leave. Honey, please! I love you! Don't leave!" I could hear her crying. That night my dad left us. He just packed a small bag and left. I don't see how he could just leave us.

Remembering that night almost brought tears to my eyes. I quickly pulled myself together.

“Stay here.” I whispered to Stacy and Stella. I looked at Stacy and gave her a quick peck on the cheek. “I’ll be right back.”

I walked downstairs.

“Hey mom.” I said and smiled at her. She gave me a weak smile.

“Hi honey. How was your day?”

“Pretty good. I-I have some f-friends I’d like you to m-meet.” I stuttered nervously.

“Oh, ok. I’m glad you finally invited some friends over. What are their names?”

“Stacy and Stella.”

“Oh, two girls I see.” She waggled her eyebrow at me.

“Mom!” I smacked her shoulder and she just laughed at me. I needed to tell my mom the truth, but how?

“Do you think you can come upstairs to meet them?” I asked nervously.

“Sure, just let me take over my shoes.” She kicked off her shoes and put them in the hall closet. She hung up her coat and set her bag on the floor near the door. She walked with me up to my room. Here goes nothing. I thought.

I opened the door a little more so my mom could peer into my room.

“Hey girls.” She said with a warm smile on her face. Stacy said ‘Hey’ and Stella just gave my mom a weak smile. How do I tell my mom that Stacy needs help? I’m sure she’ll be pissed at me for letting them in our house. I sighed. This is going to be hard.

“Mom, Stacy needs help. She got burned really badly on her leg. Stacy, show my mom your leg.” Stacy looked up at me and I nodded my head. My mom looked a little confused. Stacy rolled up the pants I let her borrow from me. Then she unwraps the bandage around her leg. My mom’s eyes grew big and she gasped.

“Oh my gosh! That looks terrible!” She crouched down and kneeled down to Stacy. It was a good thing my mom’s a nurse in the Emergency Room. “I think it might be infected. Does it hurt when you put pressure on it? Like when you stand up, does it hurt?” Stacy nodded her head.

“This is really bad. It needs medical treatment. Where are your parents? Why did you come here?” Stacy paused a moment before answering.

“My mom died when I was 10. My dad was on a business trip. My sister and I were camping out in the woods when we woke up to a forest fire. We ran out as soon as we could, but I tripped, and a burning branch fell onto my leg. Stella used a stick to get it off. She helped me up and we just collapsed in your backyard. Mason found us the next morning and brought me inside. My dad didn’t tell me his business number because it’s on the table in my house. I don’t have a cell phone but we have a home phone.” Stacy explained. Should I tell my mom that Stacy and Stella really don’t have parents? I think my mom kind of doubted their story.

“Hm. Ok.” My mom was staring at Stacy. “How old are you and your sister?”

"I’m 15, and my sister is 11.” Stacy told her. My mom looked shocked.

“Really? Wow, you guys both look so much older.” Stacy's cheeks grew pink. Stella just continued starring at my mom.

"Ok, my dad became involved in crime and we've been running from society for three years now. The part about Stacy's leg being burned is all true though. And our names and ages. That's all true." Stella shocked us all with her outburst. My mom looked shocked.

"I'm glad you're telling me the truth now. How come you guys ran away?" My mom asked.

"Because we didn't want to be separated." Stella admitted truthfully.

"You know that the adoption agencies try their best to keep siblings together, right?" My mom asked Stella. She looked down at her feet.

"I know. But when my mom was little, she got separated from her big brother. She never saw him again. I think that might've been why she committed suicide." When Stella looked up again, she had tears in her eyes.

"Aw, come here honey." She walked over to Stella and hugged her. "I'll see what I can do for you guys."

"Thank you." Stella whispered as she wiped away a tear. I looked at Stacy and saw that her eyes were watering too. I sat down and gave her a hug.

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Hey guys, I'm trying to make the chapters a lot longer because I just realized how short they are. I think it will take at least a day before I upload each chapter. Thanks for reading! Please comment and vote!

~Happy Reading