The Summer of a Teenager

Chapter 10: Stomach Problems

 Mom's appointment to look at the house was at 1:00 pm. and it was ten minutes away. So, I ran upstairs to get ready. I put on a hoodie and some black leggings. I decided to curl my hair so I looked a little less 'untidy.' But, I could only curl half my hair until Mom shouted

"Kate! Time to go," from downstairs. I just decided to put it in a ponytail instead.

When I met Mom at the front door, I saw she had on her nicest dress and her fanciest shoes. I looked at her in confusion. "Why are you dressed like that Mom?" I asked her.

"Oh, well I thought I would just dress nice. Just because."

"Well I'm not dressing 'fancy,'" I responded.

"I can see that," she said as she put on her red lipstick.

I followed her outside and we both got in the car. I felt a little queasy, but I didn't want to worry Mom.

"So, are you excited?" she asked me as she drove.

"Kinda," I said. My stomach hurt. "Mom, I don't feel so good." I didn't want to worry her, but I also didn't want to throw up in the car.

"Will you be able to make it to the house?" she asked.

"Yeah, yeah. I'll be fine." I looked out the window, the warmth of the sun coming from the window made me feel a little better.

Once we arrived at the house, we both stepped out of the car. Our realtor was already there. The house was truly beautiful. There was a fountain in the center of the yard. The house was brick, but not the old fashioned brick house; a modern, beautiful, brick house. Then I felt sweaty and uncomfortable. I was going to puke.

And I did just that right on the green grass. As I kneeled, Mom was rubbing my back, like she usually did when I wasn't feeling good. A million thoughts were going through my head. The first one was, I'm not going to be able to go to Ohio anymore, this is really going to upset Olivia. In all honesty, I really didn't want to go all the way to Ohio. I was just going to go to support my best friend.

When I was done, I went back into the car. Mom went to look at the house without me, while I sat in the car, listening to my favorite music. Most of the songs were by Olivia Rodrigo.

Once Mom had gotten back into the car, she waved at our real estate agent.

"How was it?" I struggled to get the words out, because my stomach was in pain.

"Good. It's a beautiful house but I'll really have to think about it. It's, uh—really really expensive."

"How expensive?" I asked.

"Three million dollars expensive," she said. I coughed at her words. Three million dollars could buy our house, and four others! "We'd have to take out a huge loan...Anyway, how are you feeling? Sorry you aren't feeling good. Today was the only time I could get to look at this house."

"It's fine. I don't feel good. I think I'm getting the stomach bug."

"Should we take you to the doctor?" Mom asked.

"Nah, I'll be fine."

When we got home, Alex was in the same condition. It was a twin thing, whenever one twin was sick, the other one was too. He was sitting on the couch, watching a stupid TV show. I sat down next to him.

"So, I assume you're feeling the same way I do," he said.

"Yup," I responded.

"Do you want to watch The Spot?" he asked.

I nodded my head, I was too tired to agree verbally. I tried to fall asleep after Alex had. I could tell Alex was sleeping by the sound of his snores. Alex needed his sleep mask, so I woke him up. "Alex, go get your sleep mask or go sleep in your own room. I can't sleep with your snores."

"Okay. I'll go in my room," he said. I fell back asleep. I was in the middle of a good dream and then I felt queasy again. The next thing I remember, I was puking in a trash bag next to the couch; Mom, rubbing my back.