Slipping - Book 1.5 in the Swans Landing series

Chapter 2

CHAPTER TWO

“It’s not right.” I heard Mom mumbling to herself before I reached the kitchen. My stomach clenched. I was already running late for school and I had a morning appointment with Mr. Richter, the guidance counselor. The last thing I needed was to have to settle Mom down before I could leave.

“Mom?” I stepped into the room cautiously, peeking around the edge of the door. She stood by the sink, twisting a dish towel in her hands.

“It’s not right,” Mom said, shaking her head as she stared out the little window over the sink. “It’s not natural. They shouldn’t be here.”

I touched her arm gingerly, not wanting to startle her. She had never purposefully hit me, but she had mistaken me for someone or something else once or twice. During some of her episodes, Mom could get really violent. She had broken more than one dish over the years during these moments.

“Mom, it’s okay,” I said softly. “I’m here.”

Some of the glaze disappeared from her eyes as she looked at me. “My Joshua,” she said, placing a hand on my cheek. “They can’t take you away from me. I won’t let them.”

I reached up and squeezed her hand. “No one is taking me anywhere,” I assured her. “I’m right here. I’ll take care of you.”

Mom blinked and she looked at me with more clarity, though she still seemed a bit detached and distracted, as she did most of the time. “You should go to school. You’ll be late.”

“Are you okay?” I asked. “I can stay home if you need me to.”

Mom shook her head. “Go to school, Joshua. You can’t ruin your chances of graduating by skipping class now. I’m fine.”

I studied her for a moment, but she seemed to be much better than she had been moments ago. I ate a quick breakfast of toast with jelly and a glass of orange juice, then I headed down the front staircase. I cast a wistful glance at my ATV. I had worked hard for two years to be able to buy it and I loved to ride it whenever I could. It would be easier and faster if I could ride it to school, but Swans Landing School didn’t allow ATVs on the property and there was nowhere else I could park it while I was in class.

I walked at a quick pace down the mostly empty streets. The people who worked on the mainland had left on the seven A.M. ferry, and the ones who worked on the island were already starting their days in their businesses. It was mid-February though, so most businesses weren’t open this time of year.

Jim Moody stood on the front steps of Moody’s Variety Store, sweeping sand from the staircase. He nodded down to me as I approached.

“Morning,” Mr. Moody called. Like most other structures in Swans Landing, the store stood on top of wooden pilings that kept it a few feet above sea level to protect it from flooding during hurricanes.

“Good morning,” I called back.

“How’s your mama today?” Mr. Moody asked, leaning on his broom.

I liked Mr. Moody. He was human, but he had no problems with finfolk, which made him different from a lot of the humans on the island, even though he didn’t know my secret. He kept to himself and didn’t talk much, but he always made sure to ask about my mom when he saw me.

“It’s a rough morning,” I said. “But she’s doing okay.”

Mr. Moody scratched at his gray beard. “If you need anything, you let me know.”

I nodded as I continued down the street. “I will. Thank you!”

My mom hadn’t always been as bad as she was these days. She’d had problems for as long as I could remember, always drifting in and out of her thoughts. But I could remember her having more good days when I was little.