The Hidden World

Chapter 4: Moving

I stayed over at Ms. Tilly's  house for a couple of hours. We sat on her back porch, at her picnic table sitting, drinking warm tea, and talking the world away. Ms. Tilly reminds me of my grandma who lives in Florida.

(G-maw.... Only a certain few will get it, lol.)

She eventually brought up plans for the two of us that she had made yesterday. I cringed when she said that we could spend all day tomorrow together like we've always wanted. I sighed in sadness and she caught on that something was wrong and asked about it.

"We're moving today..... I don't really want to go now that I think of it but, Dad has a big school to work on in a little town called Rosebud and he said that if we like it by the time he's done and ready to come back that we would live there instead. I don't know if I'll like it or not though. I've never been there." I explained to her.

"Oh sweety, don't cry. You can always come and visit." She replied as she walked over and wrapped her arms around me in a warm embrace. I hadn't even realized that I was crying until Ms. Tilly had mentioned it to me. I wrapped my arms around her as well and began to cry harder on her shoulder. I hadn't realized how much I would miss her.

She took me inside and made me a sandwich to eat, with a glass of apple juice on the side. I sat across from her and ate slowly as she talked and read the morning newspaper that she gets. She told me that I was always welcome to stay a couple nights or just have a quick visit, or even just pass by with a wave or something like that.

I finished my meal and thanked Ms. Tilly for the food. I asked her what time it was and she said it was a little past 12. I said that I had to go. I told her that I had promised my dad that I would be back before lunch time. She said okay gave me one last big hug and a grandmotherly kiss on the cheek and sent me on my way.

I stepped out of the house and walked back down the road to my own. I went up the steps and stopped when my hand was on the door knob. I heard yelling from inside. It was mom and dad. They don't fight often but when they do it's because of dad. He cheats on mom and everyone knows it. While he's gone on work trips he will stay up late on his free nights and go to clubs and other places to sleep with women since he never really sees mom anymore. Mom doesn't want him to go though, she says she loves him to much. I try not to think about it and just deny that it ever happens.

I hear the yelling stop for a second and then heavy footsteps coming towards the front door. I quietly and quickly run down the stairs and a little ways down the drive way and pretend that I'm just walking back from Ms. Tilly's house. Dad came out of the door and I smiled a small smile and waved at him. He just ignored me fully and walked to his car, driving away.

I sighed and walked in the slightly ajar door. I could hear mom crying softly in the kitchen and walked in. She was sitting on a bar stool and had her head in her arms so that I couldn't see her face if I was in front of her. I sat on the stool beside her and put my little 7 year old hand on her back to try and comfort her. She raised her head and looked at me for a second before hugging me and crying harder into my shoulder. I felt like this was all my fault even though I knew that it wasn't. I felt sorry for mom having to live with a man like that, and I felt sorry for dad for not ever seeing what a wonderful woman my mom could be.

We sat like this for at least a full hour or so until she finally got up and smiled warmly at me. I did the same. I went to my room after that and so did she. We sat and talked in my room for a while until we heard the front door open and close. I gave mom a mean look and she gave me in return a worried and sad one. I sighed in frustration and walked out of my room with mom into the kitchen. I looked in through the door way with mom walking in and saw dad making coffee. I could feel the thick tension in the air. You would have been able to cut it with a knife.