The Black Lion

Demon food

Ring, ring  my mom wasn't answering her phone. I've called her three times now, she must be busy. I have to walk home then. Maybe I can stop for a snack at the gas station about five blocks into the walk.

It's afterschool, and I have a lot of work to do once I go home. I have to finish my English essay on pollution, Review Questions in history #1-20, and the three worksheets in math. The thought of it all forces me to run. I have to finish it all quickly so that I can finish it and be on time to my part-time job at Ralph's supermarket.

 I reach the gas station about seven minutes later and start looking around. I grab a bag of Funyuns and a water bottle. The man at the counter is staring right at me, threateningly. I ignore his stare and put my coins onto the counter.

He counts them and hands back four pennies. My mind is telling me to get out of there the fastest I can after I see his tattoos and piercings. I grab my snack and change and leave.

I try to walk fast at a speed that won't offend anyone, but still fast enough to keep me from any lurking danger. The water bottle is cold from the freezer it was in so I take it out of my hoodie pocket and open the cap for a drink. I reach home a bit after I finished my food.

For the next two hours, I finish my homework and finish all projects I need to complete. Mom's not home yet. She's probably out with her partner in work and boyfriend, Dennis.

I tie my hair up, grab the house keys, check the house if I forgot anything, and leave for work. One good thing about work is that my only friend is there. Reagan Haddox is a middle-aged lady who works at the cashier next to mine often. She has a teenage son who's pretty nice, and an adorable little daughter who's in first grade.

I get there in time luckily and sign in. I just gotta work hard enough for two and a half hours to get a raise. I need money to fix the leaky roof of the attic of my house. My legs ache after standing for so long that when there are no customers at my line, I lean against the counter a bit.

"How's you an' your family?" Reagan asks when there were no customers in line for both of us. "It'll get better someday," I reply. "How are your children?"

"Jordan's trying out for boxing classes. He says it's for defending himself in this neighborhood. Tragic isn't it?" Reagan chuckles a little. "Also, Emily wants you to come and visit our place again. She says she thinks of you as her 'older sister' an' I think she really enjoys your company,"

After my shift is done, I grab my coat and go. To my surprise, it's raining outside. Rainy days are my favorite days.

When I reach home, mom is there already there, watching TV with Dennis. "Hey there, kiddo," he looks up from the screen, unlike mom. "Mom, I'm home from work," I hang my coat in the closet and shake the rain out of my hair. "Ruby! Don't just shake the rain out here. Do it outside!" she nags, her eyes still on the TV. "It's raining outside, mom. I'll just get more wet," my shoes are drenched from the rain. "Then do it somewhere else than here, for goodness sakes!" mom shoos me away to my room.

She doesn't care about me anymore. Mom shows no affection towards anyone except Dennis. Even the affection she shows him is meager. She barely came to any of my school performances in elementary and continue to do so. She doesn't want to see me, so she goes to work early and comes late.

Did I do something wrong for her to hate me?

My room already has a light on. I have to remember to take my project with me to school and remind mom that her dentist appointment is at 3:00 pm tomorrow. She seems lazier than usual which is always a burden on me. At least Dennis is somewhat responsible.

I change into my t-shirt and shorts and crawl into bed. Is life always going to be like this? A circle of eating by myself, going to work, and  coming back to my mom who doesn't care for me? I fall asleep after staring at the ceiling for a while. That night, I have a dream.

I'm walking in a dark grey and black forest with dead trees and no light. The place is unfamiliar, yet I keep walking through it. Everything is still and dead. Until I hear a rustling sound from behind me. A majestic black lion is staring right at me and I stare right back. Its powerful muscles Its mane rustles in the chilling wind and it turns from me and runs. Following my instincts, I run after the lion. Maybe he has something to show me or something.

My dream ends there.