Oasis

2

"So, what did you do at school today?" I ask Max as we walked home. I met him from school because he's too scared of strangers to walk alone. He hasn't got any friends to walk with. It's such an effort to get Max to actually talk to people. He only really speaks if absolutely necessary, like if I'm pestering him or whatever.
"Stuff," he shrugged. "We learnt about boys and girls in RE."
Finally. Something to talk about.
"Did you laugh?" I asked earnestly. Come on, Max. It's like the funniest thing ever when you're ten.
"No," he said, looking at me weirdly. "Some of the boys were but I can't see why."
"Oh. Max, are you still friends with Oliver and that lot?" It was a harmless question but it sent him out of control.
"No! He says I'm a stupid baby and I can't be cool to save my life!" he sobbed, tears streaming down his face. I leaned towards him and put my arm around his back, supporting his clunky schoolbag, presumably full of toys he smuggled to school.
"Well, you tell Oliver that if he goes near you again, your big sister will come show him what real pain means! Okay?" I said soothingly.
"Sure," he snuffled, composing himself.
To him I am like Superman, flying through the air and fixing everything. If only he knew!

Mum was lying back on the sofa when we came in. Her breakfast was still untouched on the coffee table. She looked so thin, like she could crumple up easily.
"Hey, Mum?" I called. She didn't reply, but I was used to it and started cleaning up the breakfast plates. I felt a light weight on my arm. Mum's hand rested on my elbow. I looked at her, confused. Was she finally thawing out from her trance? She stared at me with glassy eyes but said nothing. Then she took her hand back and remained still. I hurtled into the adjacent kitchen, my eyes welling up. I was angry. She couldn't just trick me like that! I dropped the plates in the sink in a rage and tried to stay calm, remember, don't burst. After a minute I plastered on a fake smile and walked towards Mum.
"So, how was your day?" I tentatively asked.
...
"Max had a great day at school," I trilled.
...
"Mum?" I could feel myself getting hotter.
...
"Mum?"

...
That. Was. It. I flung the door open and stormed up to my room. I hid under the covers and sobbed into my pillow. A minute later Max trudged into the room.
"You upset Mummy." He said.
"I know. I don't care. Just leave me alone."
"Why did you upset her? You're a bad girl."
"No!" I suddenly snapped, making him jump. "She upsets me. I'm not your mother but, hey, I cook your food, I clean the house, I wash your clothes! I'm sixteen, Max. I'm sixteen. I want a life. One that doesn't include washing my brother's pants."
"Mum's a bad, bad girl."
"Yes, no... maybe." I struggled.
"She's bad to us. I can't even remember what her voice sounds like," Max said quietly. Could I? It sounded like summer and winter.
It was winter when she was angry, her words pricking like icicles, stinging like snow. It was summer when she was happy, warm and soft and homely. It was silent now.
Max and I stayed upstairs for the whole evening, until I had to go downstairs and cook dinner.

Author's note:
I'm sorry this chapter's so short! Please vote and share and let me know whether you want to hear more! ;)