Mr. Perfect

Chapter 13: The Pendant

Faith (P.O.V.)

"Where were you?" Grandma asked angrily right when I  walked into the house.

"Uh...uh...school," I said.

"School got out two hours ago! Where have you been these past two hours?"

"Grandma...I...Um..."

I didn't know how to answer her questions. 

"I can't believe you, Faith," Grandma said. "You should have called me if you had plans after school. I ain't expect this from you. I thought it was Keisha's job to worry me, not yours."

"Grandma, I know, and I'm sorry. I just had something to do, and in between all that, I forgot to call you."

"Unbelievable!"

"I'm sorry, grand-"

Grandma walked away before I finished the sentence. 

She is so upset and disappointed. 

I was so engrossed with my problems that I forgot to call her, and she hates that more than anything. 

She hates it when I don't call home, as it worries her. 

I should have called her.

~*~ 

Dinner is silent, just like any other night. 

Dad is worried like always, and Grandma is so mad at me that she is not looking at me. 

As for Keisha, she isn't home. 

The silence is killing me. 

There was a time when dinner used to be fun. 

It used to be my favorite meal of the day. 

We all used to sit together as one big happy family. 

We share our day, make jokes, and cherish the moment. 

But, now everything is different. 

Dinner is not fun anymore. 

We have nothing to say to one another. 

We all sit silently as if we are being forced into sitting together for dinner.

 The sight is just so horrible.

"Keisha is not home again?" Dad asked, interrupting my chain of thoughts.

"No, she hasn't been home all day," Grandma said.

"Grandma, I'll call her right now,"  I said.

I pulled out my phone and unlocked it.

"Her phone is at home," Grandma said, looking at me for the first time since dinner had started. 

"What!?" I said. "She left her phone here?"

"Yes, I tried calling her this afternoon and heard it ringing from her room."

"God, Mom!" Dad said hoarsely. "What am I going to do with Keisha? Nobody knows where she goes and what she does. What if she is doing some terrible things? How do I know what is going on in her mind?"

"Alan, honey, calm down. I told you often not to waste your time and energy on Keisha. That girl is nothin' but a walkin' disaster. You are doin' the best you can. You are a great f-"

"No, I'm not. I'm not doing this family any good. No matter how hard I try, I can never keep this family together. I can never be her. I can't. I don't have any more strength in me. I'm exhausted!"