Putting the Past Behind Us...(On hold for a bit...srry)

Chapter 1-The Decision

I was sitting on the dingy old chestnut couch looking at pictures of her. How beautiful she was. Her long brunette curly hair and her deep blue ocean eyes-exactly like mine. She was happy in those photos. I just had to smile at that. Suddenly I heard the door slam open. 

“Saarruhh, I’m back.” He said the words slurring out of his mouth with another beer in his hand…of course.

“Great…” I said sarcastically. I honestly wish that my father would just disappear. He doesn’t have a job, and he always comes back home from the bar drunk. Where is my mother? I wish I had an answer to that question. The only thing I know about her is that she ditched my father and I leaving me in the care of…him. She went to New York City and she still lives there somewhere. All I have left of her are these crinkled photos. How could she leave me? It’s because of her that I have to work two jobs! All dad does is sit around and go to bars. 

I’ve never really met my mother…I was only one year old when she ditched. I really didn’t know the difference at the time-I had nannies, babysitters, and any help my father could get so he didn’t have to take care of me. Mom never called or wrote. I realized when I was about six years old that someone was missing in my life. Then I slowly figured it out-my mom left. And she was never coming back. I asked my dad about her, but he wouldn’t tell me anything. He must have been too heart broken-or too drunk to remember anything about her. She probably fled Florida because of my dad. He’s lazy, he’s a pig, and he never stops yelling at you-no matter what you do. I don’t blame my mother for leaving. I just wish she would have taken me with her…or at least left me something-anything so that I would be able to find her. But she didn’t. The closest person that I have as a mother would be my best friend Sam’s mom. She’s always treated me like a daughter-she’d help me with school, she’s given me tips on boys-she’s even taught me how to shave my legs and how to apply make up. I spend most of my free time at Sam’s house. 

I don’t hate my father. I just hate how he acts. I’m basically taking care of him. I’m the one whose working, whose paying for the apartment, and buying him food and clothes. He doesn’t do anything. He doesn’t even say a simple ‘hello’ when I come home. I wish things could be different. 

“Can’t you just take one day off?” Sam asked.

“No! It’s Wednesday. I work from 3:30 PM to 7. Then I have to go home and do homework. I wish I could come with you, Sam. But my life is different. I don’t have hours of time to go out and go shopping with all of the girls any day I wish. And you know that.” I said. 

“I guess…” She said disappointed. She just doesn’t understand. You’d think your best friend that you’ve had since you were four years old would understand. But not in my case. I love Sam- I really do. But sometimes she acts like a snob. She hangs out with all of the rich, snobby girls and now it’s getting to her head. I wish time could go back to when we were little kids. When we didn’t care if tomorrow never came.

I got in my rusty old Nissan sedan and drove to Pizza Palace where I worked Mondays, Wednesday, and Saturday afternoons. 

“Hi, welcome to Pizza Palace, may I help you?” I said in a bored expression like I always do.

“Uh yeah. I’m going to have the sausage jumbo slice, and a large coke.” The man said in a crabby tone. I hated this place! The conditions were horrible-the smell of must and mold filled the air, most of the toilets were broken down in the bathroom, and I’m pretty sure most of the employees don't wash their hands. Why people would want to go to this place-I have no idea. I put in the man’s order and gave him a number. This is my life. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I slammed the apartment door and locked it. I leaned against the wall and slid down to the rough tan carpeting. I was so exhausted and stressed. I still had about five pounds of homework. I sat down at the kitchen table and started on my math. 25 ½ x -30 ½ + -2/4. Ok…this was going to be a long night.