I hate the bad boy

Part 4

I awoke Saturday morning to little Chris pulling on my hand.
"Jeunoe! Jeunoe get up!"

"What is it? What?" I ask Chris groggily. "I was actually getting some good sleep for once!"

"Look what mom left on the counter!"

What? Mom never left anything on a Saturday. and she never left anything extra for Chris to be excited about.

Me and Chris run downstairs and into the kitchen. I see what Chris is talking about when I look at the crisp rolls of bills on the counter and a large sticky note covered in writing.

"What does it say? I can't read mom's handwriting." little Chris pulls on my pajama pants in impatience.
"hold on! i need to read it first!"
I pull the note off the counter and start reading it in my head before out loud to Chris.

Dear Children,

I have decided to visit a man. I think that I may be
married to him in a matter of weeks,
But there is no way to be sure yet.
If we do choose to wed, I will transfer the house's name into Jeunoe's.
I may have to pull a couple strings to
give a house toa 16 year old,
but i guess i still care a little bit
about my own flesh and blood.
I will continue to give $50 every
week, but I think I may raise the $
to $100. You will be on your own if this all
works out. I will be gone for over a month,
So the money that I left will have to be enough for now.
I wish you both the best.

Beatrice Winters

Of course she would sign it with her actual name, and not MOM. typical.
I count the bills on the counter and come to the total sum of 500$. Mom must be planning on being gone for a REALLY long time.

I read the note out loud for Chris and his eyes widen.
"Does that mean that moms finally gonna come and take care of us? and we actually get a dad?" His big eyes are turned to me expectantly.

"No, it umm....it means......she's gonna leave us for good."
Chris's little face shows the sadness and disappointment that no little boy should have to go through. I can see everything pass through those big eyes of his. I can see pain, sadness, disappointment, anger, and even fear. It all shows on his face.
It's then that I realize, he will never have a mother. a real mother to care for him. this twists my heart into a feeling of pain. I can't dwell on that right now. I need to be there for Chris. he needs me now more than ever.

I look at the clock and see that it's only 8:00 in the morning.
"How about I go back to bed, and you go watch your cartoons. does that sound good?"

"Yeah! I wanna watch Gravity Falls!" Chris never could stay sad for long. everything was like water on a ducks back for him.
I turn on the TV for Chris and let him pick the channel. Still feeling tired, I go back up to my room to sleep till Chris wakes me up for lunch.

"Why do you always have to wake me up?" I ask Chris, still rubbing sleep from my eyes as we head into the kitchen for some lunch.

"Because you never get up." Chris answers matter-of-factly , "And I don't know how to make my own grilled cheese."

"Grilled Cheese it is then." I smile as I pull cheese butter and milk out of the fridge. I pull bread out of the cabinet and grab a pan from under the counter, Chris watching me the whole time.

"Why don't you go watch your cartoons?" I ask, feeling a little weird under his gaze

"I want to learn to make grilled cheese on my own, that way I don't have to wake you up again next time." This kid is so sweet!