An Imperial Affliction

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

I walk down the stairs after my shower and shove on my Chuck Taylors wearing the same clothes as always -just washed- and walked outside the door waiting for my mum's car to come out of the garage.

I slipped in the car and put on my seatbelt. Mum backed up the driveway and drove to school. Today is Tuesday, we're going on a field trip to the animal sanctuary. You could say I like animals.

I sat next to Christine on the bus. Out of all of my friends -I only have three- she is the one I am most closest to.

"God, I didn't know being a school president would be so hard," she says.

"Well, what do you expect? It is School President,"

"It was just a statement, I know it would be hard but I didn't know I would be doing by myself,"

"Shouldn't you have help? Like from -What's his name?- Daniel who's the vice president?"

"He doesn't help at all. He's a total piece of sh-"

"No swearing Miss Christine," Mrs Turner says glaring at Christine.

The animal sanctuary was okay. It was mostly about saving animals and sending them back to the wild where they could get injured again. Eh, I guess that's the whole point.

The moment I got back from school I collapsed on my bed. Surprisingly I was exhausted, I don't know why. I shouldn't be this tired by 3.15pm.

There was a knock on the door around 4.30pm. Mum was at the back planting more tulips and so I had to haul myself up to get the door.

A man stood in front of me, he had blonde sandy hair, blue eyes and a weird dutch smile. I suppose you could call it a dutch smile. He wore a white t-shirt with blue denim jeans.

"You must be Ana?" he said.

"Anna," I corrected him.

"Right, Anna. Sorry," he said.

This was the Dutch Tulip Man, who had an American accent but a dutch smile.

"Is your mother here Anna?"

"She's at the back. You got some tulips for her?"

"Yes," he brought out a bag of red tulips and walked in. "You have got a nice home Anna,"

"Why thank you," I smiled again. He followed me towards the back and spoke to my mum. Mum shooed me away and so I walked back to my room.

Don't judge me on this one but curiosity had gotten the better of me on this event. I watched them looking out of my window opening it a crack so I can hear them.

"Your tulips are amazing," Mum said.

"Ah, thank you. I do love your garden,"

"I've been planting tulips ever since Anna was born,"

"Your husband must be a good gardener if he helped,"

"He left," Mum paused. "A couple years ago,"

"Oh, I am very sorry for reminding you,"

"It's alright,"

I stopped listening to their conversation. When adults talk to each other, it gets boring. Trust me.