A Little Bit Stronger

Chapter Ten

It was getting extremely late and I was worried as ever about why my mother had not returned home. I was afraid the she was drunk and something happened to her or that Martin had done something. I finally decided to call the police and report her missing. The phone call was short, a series of questions as to who I was, where I was, my age, my moms age, things of that sort. Finally, when the operator decided she had enough information she dispatched an officer to my house.

It was around 1:30 in the morning when I heard a knock at my door. A young man, maybe earlier twenties, wearing a police uniform, was standing outside. I quickly opened the door and invited him in.

"Do you want anything to drink?" I asked not knowing what else to say. I didn't know what the standard topics of small talk were when there was a cop in your living room.

"Just some water would be fine," the officer replied. He looked tired. He had a young, velvety voice. He had the vibe that this job has aged him. I walked to the kitchen to get some water while he sat on the couch. I sat in the chair across from him and handed him his glass. He thanked me and began to ask questions.

"So your mother, does she disappear like this often?" He asked me.

"No, if she ever leaves the house shes always home by 11 at the latest. I don't know why she hasn't come home yet," I said looking down at my feet.

"So am I correct in saying that she has a drinking problem?" He questioned.

"Yes, but she still wouldn't leave like this. When she was drinking she would never leave the house." I replied slowly bringing my head up.

"I see. Is there any place your mother would go when she got stressed or upset about things? Some place she would go to calm down?" I asked making eye contact with me.

I thought for a moment. I never was home when she was gone. I tried to remember the last time she wasn't home when I got home. It was about a year ago. I came home from school and she was gone. She taped a note to the fridge saying she was going for a drive on the rims and she would be home in time for dinner. It was a vague lead, but it was something.

"The rims," I said barely above a whisper.

"What was that?" The officer asked.

"The rims. She sometimes goes for drives out on the rims when she needs time away," I looked at him. I could feel the hope rising in me that we would find her. The officer reached into his pocket and pulled out a phone. He dialed a number quickly and got up. I got up from the chair and paced around the living room, not knowing what to do. When the officer came back into the room he informed me that they were sending officers to search the rims for my mom.

"In the mean time, I need to ask you a few questions," he said sitting back in his place on the couch. "How long has your mom been drinking?"

"A few years. She did a little bit before my dad left, partied and stuff, but it became a problem when he left us," I responded as calmly as I could.

"Okay, and how much would you say she drinks daily?" he asked, writing some things down in a small notepad.

"I honestly am not sure. I never really payed much attention when she was drinking. Or I would be at school." I felt bad that I didn't know the answers to the questions.

"Okay one more for now then I'll let you get some sleep. Do you feel safe here? Do you feel like you are in any sort of danger?" The officer looked right at me. Probably trying to detect any change in my face or whatever crap they do on TV.

I was about to answer. This could be my chance to get out of here. "Well," I started to say something about Martin and how he hurt me, but I was cut off by his phone ringing. He answered the phone and briefly spoke to someone on the other line.

"They found her." he told me. "What were you saying?"

"I feel perfectly safe here. No one wants to hurt me. I take care of my mom and Martin helps." I just lied to a cop. Why am I so stupid? But he believed me because he stood up and told me we had to go to the station.