Calum.

82

Luke came just in time to help us try cleaning as best as possible, through the damage. "My mom came back, and trashed the place. Pretty much..." I let out a huge sigh and rubbed the back of my neck with my hand. "When was all of this?" Luke grabbed a beer from the fridge. "Last night." Hazel chimed in. "But I was with you last night...?" Luke seemed confused at the timeline of events.

"Had to have happened some time after I left, and during our practice yesterday." I clarified. "Jesus Christ almighty. Was she with your stepdad?" I vigorously shook my head no. She couldn't have been right? He's in jail?...yeah, he's in jail. "I don't think so. Mali would've said something if he was. She was here when it happened." I began carrying the television out. It was completely shattered.

Luke grabbed the microwave and Hazel began working with the curtains. "Thank you for coming to help us Luke, we really appreciate it." Hazel thanked Luke on his way out. The microwave had also been smashed. Like walked back in with empty arms. "No problem, I owe it to you." Why does Luke feel he owes it to Hazel?

I had questions, but I was not about to get into it. I just wanted to get this shit cleaned up. We continued to clean for a few more hours. All the broken stuff was taken out and gone. The remaining survivors of our downstairs stayed in place. It almost looked like new. Empty, but new.  The room my mom was locked in had a few holes in the wall, other than that, there wasn't much damage.

"Cal, have you thought about pressing charges?" Hazel was tying a garbage bag, which I took from her and headed towards the door. "I'm not too sure honestly."  As I made it outside, Mali was pulling up with her girlfriend in a car. "How did everything go?" She asked me.

As we made our way to the now empty part of the house, I explained to Mali that everything was pretty much the way it was before, stuff just needed replacing. "Hey Hazel, hey Luke!" Mali waved at both Hazel and Luke and set her bag down on the couch before plopping down. "Are you thinking of pressing charges?" I asked Mali. She turned to face me. "I honestly don't know if we should. I mean if she goes to jail, then what? That's our mom...at least it'll keep her off the drugs." True.  Mali didn't know what to think, say, or do.

"She's on drugs now?" Luke questioned. Mali nodded her head. "She was upset because she said all she had was the drugs. She even looks different..." Mali used air quotes when she was talking about mom, but now I wanted to know how she looked different. "How'd she look different?" I asked her. "You can visibly see it in her face and eyes Calum. It's better you weren't here to see that." Mali got up and made her way into the kitchen.

Hazel hasn't said anything in a while. "Hazel,  what do you think I should do?" She turned to face me, and she looked really defeated almost. What's going on with her?  "Honestly, I think I would. I know my relationship with my mom is completely different than what you have with yours, but for this, I'd press charges. Calum, honey, she destroyed the home that you and your sister practically built together..." Hazel continued. She readjusted herself on the couch before going on "Calum, I know things were hard for you at one point..." Why'd  she have to bring that stuff up?  "But you turned this into a home that makes you feel comfortable, and safe, and something that you can come to at the end of the day."

"She might be just exactly right Calum." Mali walked in with a hot cup of tea. Luke held his head in his hands. "What about you?" What would you do?" Mali gestured toward Luke. "Honestly, as much as it's a good idea to, not only for the drug thing, but especially because she destroyed your stuff, pressing charges is something I'd do." No you wouldn't, you'd shrug your shoulders until it bothered you enough to fight about it later on.

"So it's settled, we're pressing charges?" Mali offered, and I let out a huge sigh. This is going to be a whole new low, even for me.