The Best Thing He Ever Wrote

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Nineteen

I fold the temporary drivers licence back up and put it in the pocket of my wallet. Only one year, also known as: twelve months, three-hundred and sixty-five days or eight-thousand seven-hundred and fifty hours, until I can get my full licence.

Put it that way and it feels like a lifetime.

Put it as finally being able to drive on my own, legally of course, it's a pain to wait for, but well worth it.

I lean my head back against the pillow and gaze up at the ceiling, an off white with two or three cobwebs hanging from the far right corner. This room is my room, my space where the things in here aren't just things but memories and moments. Just like the painting that hangs just a little wonky on my wall. The one with the house and the sun and tree and pond- it's a memory not so much a moment. But I guess that it kind of is too.

Olivia's painting.

I want to take it down and face it towards the wall- even better; I want to set it alight. I can't though; I like it and its twisted ways. It's kind of like a punishment for ever meeting her- a punishment for letting her paint my life.

I guess that's why the painting's in my room, my space, my memories and moments.

I roll over back onto my stomach. I hear my bedroom door click open and I gaze over at my sister who stands there. Her black bob of hair isn't really a bob at all anymore; I hadn't noticed how long it'd gotten. It reaches just to her collarbones. She's wearing all black and because of hair being the exact same colour, she looks like a robber. “We're going to head off in about five minutes.” She tells me, “Five minutes, ok?”

“Yep,” I answer back to the typical Cindy, “Be down in a sec.”

She gives me one firm nod before pulling shut my bedroom door again.

I feel a little silly even though I'm sure that I look better than I usually do. I'd spent a quarter of my savings on new clothes because Cindy and I took an entire day out in town after I got my license. It was more like she said that I needed new clothes since I was going to her end of year performance and had to look better than I usually do. I decided it to be better not take in the insult.

I stand up and run a hand through my freshly cut and hair and agree that today, starting now, although it did happen a couple days ago, is my brand new fresh start.

I double check that I've got my wallet and head down the hall to meet with my family.

Family. And I smile to myself because I think that was Sydney. I think that he's finally getting into his box which isn't really a box any more. He is more of an acceptance, I accept what's happened and I'm not going to need to dwell on it any more.

“I don't really need to explain any begging tips for you do I?” My father asks with a funny little smile.

I shake my head and pass a bright yellow L over to my mother in the back seat.

The car smells strong of outing. Which in other words means that my mother has packed on the perfume, my father has bathed in aftershave and my sister has dressed herself in body spray. I can feel myself grin, the last outing we've all been on would have been at the start of the year and even thinking back then I can't remember exactly what that was. If it even existed at all. I don't care that this outing is only to the school performance which we were all obligated to go to when we found out about it a few months back, at least it's something. It's a start.

“Do you want me to explain the clutch to you?” My mother mocks from the back seat.

I put the key into the ignition and rumble my father’s sedan to life. “No, I think I've got it.” I say as I glance in the mirror at my mother who's rubbing the creases from her long black skirt.