Time machine

Autumn West

"Autumn! Autumn! Wake up!" I lazily sat on my bed while I'm rubbing my eyes.
Uhh... a nightmare again. 

My mother's voice, which is louder than the siren of the ambulance, wakes me up from another nightmare.

"Autumn, what are you doing? You're gonna be late if you'll just sit there on your bed" Mom said while rising her right brow.

"S-sorry mom" I answered with a soft voice. Sheesh...It's so early and my mom's already shouting. It's really hard for me to go to school early. I don't like that place but I hate this house more. This is just a house, it will never be more than that...I know, it'll never be a home.

"Make it fast! Why can't you be like your sister? She has good grades and she's always early in school"

Then my mom continues to talk about my sister, all her "good" attitude. Mom's always talking about her like she's a saint.

I was about to leave the house when my mom said another maddening words that she keep on telling me every day. I just wish that she can tell me words of wisdom or even a little caring words some other time. Shut up Autumn. She'll never do that...even in your dreams...a nightmare perhaps.

"Go straight home after school. Stop going with that Leif...he's not good for you. Understood?"
"It's Cliff, mom" I hissed.
"Oh! Whatever his name is" She rolled her eyes. I know. She will never be interested in meeting my one and only friend, but when it comes to her friends, mom's always interested. Of course! She always is.
"But he's my only friend in school mom and he's not bad as what you're thinking" I said, trying to convince her even though I know I can't. There's no harm in trying.
"Just do what I said. Stop complaining. Now go.." 

I started walking to the street heading to our school as I keep on thinking of how I can convince mom that I'm not doing anything wrong and Cliff is a good friend. He is from a low-class family, that's why mom always tells me to avoid him. 

While I was walking, I saw Ms. Lane in her lawn shooing a black little kitten. Her house is a block away from ours. She's an old maid, living alone with her pets. Why is she doing that? I thought she loves cats. People sometimes called her house a "house of cats".

I keep on walking, slowly passing her big cream colored house when I heard her shouting. 

"Go away you black dirty kitten. You're a bad luck! Don't ever come back here. Pest!" 

I was shocked of what she did because she's a known cat lover. Then suddenly, a beautiful white cat with shiny fur comes out dazzling with a pink ribbon around her neck that has a little bell in the center. 

I saw Ms. Lane's expression change all of a sudden, from a frown to a wide smile. 

"Oh hello sweetie! What is my Lucila doing outside? Have you finished your breakfast sweetie? I'll give you more milk. I'm sure you'll love that"

I just shake my head on what I saw and heard. So that's it! She doesn't like the kitten because of its color. She's unbelievable. That kitten is not a pest. It's not the kitten's fault if the color of its fur is black. Besides, that kitten is also beautiful for me. I don't' believe in bad luck. Some people are just looking for something or someone to blame for the bad things that are happening to them.
I run as fast as I can when I realized that I was already late. I move with tiptoe steps like a ninja going to my seat as Mrs. Thompson is writing something on our board.

I'm still catching my breath when I saw Clifford smiling at me.

"You're lucky that Mrs. Thompson didn't saw you. I'm sure she'll call you for the recitation later if she caught you" he whispered.
"Sssh...I know Mr. Clifford Evans. Let's talk about it later"

*****

"So what happened? You woke up late again Autumn?" Clifford asked me as we are walking to the open field where we always eat our lunch.
"Not really" I grinned. "I saw Ms. Lane shooing a black kitten. I just thought about what that little kitty felt.  While I was thinking, I just realized that I am already late...hahaha" I bitterly laughed.
"You saw yourself in that kitten, right?" he asked me seriously. My bittersweet smile suddenly disappears.
"No!..Of course not!" I shouted. "U-Uhm I mean...Ugh! I'm sorry Cliff, how did you know?" I sighed. I didn't want to shout at him. I regret doing that this very moment.
"I can read your mind. I know you so well." He smiled. "Don't ever think about what other people may say, you are beautiful inside and out. You are not different. You are just special in your own way."

I smile at him. Cliff's always there to comfort me. He's the only person I trust. Cliff is not a fair-weather friend. He's there for me in good times, always there in bad ones.

I always got not-so-good grades at school. I mean, not really good...bad, very bad grades just like what mom always says. Even if I study harder, it's always the same result. Mom and Dad are always disappointed of me. They always compared me to Madison, my elder sister. Even my teachers are always comparing me to her. She's beautiful, tall and has a fair skin. She's intelligent and competitive. They always slapped it on my face that I'm her exact opposite. I'm the ugly duckling that won't ever turn into a beautiful swan.