"Two possibilities exist: either we are alone in the Universe or we are not. Both are equally terrifying."
-Arthur C. Clarke
What beautiful birds there are outside today. They can be free and go any where without having to worry about being noticed. I wish I was as invisible like them.
"Alice where is your homework!?" Well thanks for ruining my day dream Mrs.Ponzi just please don't call my mom she'll have a fit and I'll get whipped.
"Um I forgot to do it."
"Same as always I see. I'm going to need you to wait outside for a second ok?"
"Yes ma'am"
My name is Alicia (though they call me Alice) Brie Connie Donatelli. I have three names because my mom thought it'd be funny to make my initials A.B.C.D. I honestly don't see the humor in that. I have never once done my math homework this year. No one talks to me or even notices me like if I didn't exist ignore the poor girl is what they say to new kids. Honestly I bet if I disappeared no one would realize I was gone not even my whore of a mom who has a new boyfriend every other week. It's probably because of this that dad left her after I was born.
"Alice why haven't you done any of your homework? You do know you have an F in this class right? And why aren't you showing up as much?"
"Yes I know and I can't do it and I get busy."
"Why not? What do you mean busy?"
"I can't tell you."
"Does it have to do with home?" Why do adults always assume that your issues come from home? I hate that.
"No not at all."
"Then tell me."
"I can't because I'm not entirely sure why my self."
"Oh alright then." She paused as if thinking of my punishment just please don't call my mom I don't want to get whipped. "This time I won't call home but you have to stay after school with me to clean the class room understood?"
"Yes ma'am thank you."
"Go back inside now we have a lot to do today."
"Of course ma'am."
When the last bell rang, Mrs. Ponzi came in the door with a broom in hand. Behind her was a cleaning cart filled with window wipers, rags, mops and mop buckets.
"Well time to get to work!"
"Yea sure."
We cleaned for four whole hours straight. My arms felt like they were going to fall off any second now.
"Nice and clean ok you may go now Alice."
"Ok wait do you know the time?"
"Yes it's 6:30."
"Great bye."
When I got outside it was already dark. The only lights were of the houses that occasionally left them on.
"Man I hate daylight savings time. It's to dark." I've never liked the dark before and I sure don't do now.
I finally made it to my road after 30 minutes of walking. Great now my legs want to fall off. I went down the street to the last house, the crappiest one there, my house.
"Mom I'm home!" I yelled not expecting an answer.
"Don't yell I can hear you fine I'm not deaf child." My mom's voice was raspy probably a side effect from all those bottles of beer on the table.
"Sorry."
"By the way Alice why are you so late today? I know you don't ever work on Wednesdays so don't say because of work."
"Well I had to help Mrs. Ponzi find an assignment she said she lost."
She stood up and exposed the belt she had in hand. "Really is that it you weren't doing anything else?" She rose her voice at me.
"No no no I was with Mrs. Ponzi you can call her if you'd like she'll tell you that I'm not lying!"
"I told you not to yell in this house!" Her arm rose with the belt in hand she swung it sideways and landed a direct hit across my face.
I stood my ground which must have infuriated my mom because she prepared her arm to swing again. I've had enough I grabbed her arm and smacked her.
"DO YOU UNDERSTAND THAT I WORK MY ASS OFF AT WORK TO PAY FOR YOUR 'MEETINGS' AND THIS IS HOW YOU TREAT ME!?" It's true my mom has never worked a day in her life. It was always either begging for money or having one of her 'boyfriends' buy us food until I was old enough to work. I work three jobs and sometimes have to miss school just so I can pay rent yet I'm still treated like shit here.
She fell to the ground crying "Alice honey I'm so sorry mommy didn't mean it you know that right? I'm just stressed right now that's all."
"How are you stressed I'm the one that works, I'm the one that cooks the one that cleans and pays YOUR bills! I should be the stressed one drinking not you! I am tired of this!" I ran to the door and stepped outside.
"Where do you think you're going?!"
"Out. No worries I'll be back to get my things." I slammed the door shut and started walking up the road again but I wasn't alone. When I realized I was being followed, it was already too late.
