Fail

Off to a rough start

Despite my big announcement to change my ways this new year, I wake up after a nice 12-hour sleep and find myself already deep into the afternoon. After going to the washroom, changing into a plaid shirt, deciding to forgo any sort of pants, brushing my teeth and letting my hair out of its bun but not bothering to brush out the tangles, I find myself at a dead end. I am a mere four months away from my sixteenth birthday, which means I cannot drive yet and if I want to go anywhere I have to ask my mom or dad to take me. (I could also ask my older brother but he totalled his car right before the break began, and anyways he kind of... hates me). After days of trying to convince my mom to atleast take me to a movie, I know there is no chance that I can move her from the couch, where she sits, happily scrolling through instagram and messaging her friends. In a last ditch effort to save the day, I text Jennifer asking if she still wants to go on a shopping trip together, but it's been almost 15 minutes an still no reply. Which leads me to my current position: laying in bed trying to get Netflix to work while symultaniasly playing a mindless game that requires no WiFi and trying to think of things I can do today that are actually productive. I come up with nothing other than see a movie, something I already know my mom doesn't seem to want to do.
Suddenly a light bulb goes off in my head. My dad! He'll take me! (I think).
Except, when I run to the window to check if he's here, I find his car gone, nothing there but a bunch of tire tracks in the snow. I stumble down the hallway and stop halfway down the stairs leading to the living room/kitchen/dining room. As predicted, my mother is laying on the couch with a cup of tea and her phone, so I call across the room asking if dad's home. She leans over to look out the window at the driveway, makes the same assessment as me, and says, "I don't know... is he?"
"His truck is gone, but has he started to drive your van yet?" Is my response.
A couple days after my brother's crash, my father had the brilliant idea to buy my mom a new car, start driving her old van and sell his truck to Jamie. My mom didn't really understand, but she still said yes.
Anyways, soon enough my mom leans over to look at me and tell me that dad went to get a new water heater and that's probably why the truck is gone. That ends the conversation, but I stay on the steps and sit down, not wanting to spend another day in bed. Thankfully, two minutes later my phone buzzes and I eagerly go to check if Jennifer texted me back.
Yea but when? - Jennifer
my fingers fly over the virtual keyboard to answer her.
I was thinking before the break ends, but are u gonna be 2 busy?
This time she answers just as quickly as I did.
Ya probably would work - Jennifer
I pause, did she mean to type 'with'? I think out my response carefully so it will work either way.
Do you have a specific day that works for you then?
I have no clue yet i'd have to check with my parents as well but I will figure it out by tm - Jennifer
k, txt me when u get n answer -
Will do - Jennifer.
I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding, and move to lay on the carpet in the living room. The bristles are coarse and dirty from years of use and from this close I can see crumbs and other gross things wedged between the strands. I make a face, think, this carpet needs a deep clean, but stay down here anyways.
That is, until my mom gets up,  demanding I put my phone down and do the dishes. I'm genuinely suprised it took her this long.