Nobody Said Life Was Going to be Easy. And I, Should Have Known Better

4: The Past

I went inside and saw Mr. and Mrs. Jones sitting at the dining room table discussing the bills. I walked in and grabbed a glass out of the cupboard, trying not to disturb them.

"How was the bowling dear?" Mrs. Jones asked while taking a sip of her coffee.

"It was fun, I guess." I responded while pouring some milk.

"That's good. How was school? Do you have a lot of homework? The kids are shunned to their rooms for the night. They started arguing about--"

"Margaret! We need to focus here, I only worked 35 hours this week, how are we going to afford this car payment and the phone bill? You can chit-chat when we're homeless on a park bench somewhere."

"I can help...I'm old enough to get a job. I can get one after school."

"Oh honey, you don't have to do that."

"I know, but I want to help. I certainly didn't want us to split up again...

"I agree, I think this would be a good thing for all of us. Annalise you don't have to give us everything you make but maybe 30 dollars a week. That way you'll have extra for yourself as well." Mr. Jones peered at me over his glasses. He took a swig of his beer and smiled. Mrs. Jones looked from him to me.

"Well, if you're sure." Mrs. Jones looked at me with solemn eyes. I nodded and finished my milk.

"Homework time." I put my glass in the sink and hauled my backpack up the stairs.

"Hey 'Lise. can you come here?" Lisa asked from her room. I cracked the door.

"Holy heifers! We need to get Obama on the phone, hurricane Katrina returned!" She gave me a serious look. "What too soon?"

She rolled her eyes. "I need your help with math, you good at trig?"

"Not really, but I'll take a look."

I spent two hours trying to figure out her homework while talking about boys ad school. I was getting so tired I finally gave up and continued on my way to my room. I plopped down on my bed, throwing my bag to the floor. I sighed and looked at my clock. 9:00...fuck. I groaned and sat up. Too lazy to get up I tried to reach my bag from the bed but i leaned a little too far and found myself on the floor. Ugh... I pulled my bag over and sat against my bed. Macbeth for English, algebra worksheet and a chemistry lab write up. I'm going to be here all night. By the time I got to the last page of the write up my head was nodding and I realized I wrote the same sentence twice. I give up, I'll do it in study hall tomorrow. I changed into a long t-shirt washed my face and climbed into bed. The last time I saw on my clock was 12:12am.

"Mom...?" I walked around the house dragging my teddy bear behind me. I padded down the hall, careful not to make so much noise. I looked in my parents' room and saw my mom within a cloud of smoke. I coughed. "Mommy?"

"I told you to go to bed. A five year old needs to be in bed, its 10pm."

"But, I had a bad dream, I can't sleep..." Before I could respond I heard the front door slam and heavy steps come down the hall. I panicked and slumped down in the hall and pressed myself against the wall. I saw dad's form pass me in the dark hallway, a bottle of nasty smelling stuff in his hand.

"What the hell are you doing? You lie to me bitch, how dare you bring drugs into my house?"

"I wouldn't be the one talking! You're drunk, as always..you've got the smell of the bar all over you! You expect me to make dinner, clean the dishes, wash the clothes and take care of our snot nosed brat child. I swear if she grows up like you--"

"You nasty whore!" With statement a slapping sound echoed throughout the house and in response was a whimper. A sob escaped my throat and I shot up and ran to my room but it was too late. I was suddenly being yanked back by my hair. I screamed.

"What have we got here? You know better than to eavesdrop...what's even more unbelievable is you're out of bed! A bad child needs to be punished."

"No daddy!" I yelped while holding my bear over my head.

BEEP-BEEP-BEEP

I shot up in bed. Fuck, stupid dream. I rubbed my eyes 5:30 already...