Wolf At The Door

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

　

Jumping steps, I quickly made my way down stairs, just in time for supper. Slipping into my chair, I scooped most of the salad onto my plate and took a small piece of chicken. Momma handed out everyone a drink. Either water, milk, or fruit punch. Being thirteen had your advantages. I was also allowed to have two cans of soda a week. Once, Joey and I asked why we were only allowed a limited amount of almost anything. "To little of something is unhealthy. But, also to much of one thing is unhealthy," she had said and went back to her knitting. Momma doesn't knit anymore since she failed her class.

Taking my privilege today, I asked for a soda. Getting up, I found my way to the fridge and looked to see what we had. I choose Pepsi Zero. It was that or Orange soda, which I don't really like. Walking back to the table, I almost tripped over a cat. "Watch it!" I exclaimed as she ran away.

Sitting at the table, I began to eat. Daddy was the first to start convocation.

"So, Joey. Tell me what you want the most for your birthday."

Joey started right away. "Me? Weelll.... The number one thing I want is a football. Then, when you aren't on a business trip Daddy, you can teach me how to play so that when I'm able to sign up for it, I'll impress the coach so much I'll be assistant coach!" Smiling, Joey went on with his list. "The number two thing I want is a model airplane that actually flies! That would be so cool! Vroom, Vroom. Eeeeeek!" Joey begin making noises until Momma gave him a stern look. But Joey went on. "And a toy car that I can control with a remote control. And a Nerf gun! With a lot of back up ammo in case I loose some. And..."

I tuned him out to background noise and focused on my lettuce and chicken.

I finished everything a few minutes before everyone else, so I excused myself and went upstairs to finish my studying. Now that I was full of energy, I wouldn't be able to fall asleep during it. It took about 20 minutes tops to finish it and go over the vocabulary. When I was done, I put my book in my bag and my bag near the door. Tomorrow is gym, so I leave my bag in my room when it is. Then I picked some pjs and headed to the bathroom. It is 7:00 and I take hour long showers, so I always go early.

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At about 8:05, I stepped out of the shower and dried myself off. It took me 3 minutes to put on my pants and tank top. The pants were fuzzy and zebra printed. The tank top was simple white. Looking at myself in the fogged up mirror, I tossed my hair up in a messy bun and washed my skin. Opening the medicine cabinet, I searched for my acne cream. I pulled out the bottle of cream and put some on. Then I went down stairs and sat on the couch to watch Joey try to dance. The television is now off since Suite Life on Deck is on instead. So, I turned on the Wii and put in Just Dance for him to play. If they had a Disney version of Just Dance, that's what I would get him for his birthday. He would love the songs on it.

Daddy came into the room and played with Joey for the first time since we got the Wii two months ago. Daddy was always on business trips, so it isn't to often we get to see him. Usually, he comes home during night when we are all sleeping. Then leaves again around 5:00, before we wake up.

The game lasted an half an hour before Daddy scooted Joey up stairs for bedtime. On Joey's way up, he made Daddy promise to tell him a bedtime story.

After Joey was asleep and Daddy came back down stairs, it was 5 minutes to 9 o'clock. He came over and sat next to me. "How's things, Pumpkin?"

"Swell Daddy. Nothing horrible has happened since you left last time."

He frowned apologetically. "I'm sorry I can't always be around. If it weren't for my job, I would be next to you for everything. But my job is what pays for this house, the bills, and the food. I want to be here, honestly, I do. But I just can't unless you want to live in a box under a bridge."

I smiled at this. He always explained this to me. "I understand Daddy. you don't need to explain that to me. You've been saying that since I was three."

"I know," Daddy said as he pulled me into a bear hug.

At 9:30, I went up stairs and begun to get ready for bed. As I climbed in, my mind raced through what happened this day. Slowly, falling asleep, my mind relaxed and my eyelids closed...