Just About Everything

No. 3 - THE GAMBLE

Dear readers,

first things first. A big thank you to all of you who read, vote, comment or just stop by.

The experience of being here is one of the greatest I've ever had, mainly because of you guys. ;)

Remember to play the song in the multimedia section and try compare it to the feelings the story evokes in you. If it's even just a little bit similar, then I've reached my goal.

Now, without any further distractions ...

I present you the third part of JAE.

Enjoy!

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THE GAMBLE

While I'm rummaging through all the envelopes and advertisement mail on the table I spot a cup of coffee drain that was left on the counter for the whole night. I drain the whole cup of disgustingly cold black brew and with a worried look at the watch I have on my wrist I go on a key hunt.

I almost fall on my knees as I trip over the small carpet near the doorway. There is a reason to my clumsiness, but whether I am or am not upset with the recent situation Eugene got himself into, there's no time to spare. The kids are still at school and I have only twenty minutes left to get there.

I search the shelf on the right wall near the door for the keys, trying to be careful about it but still managing to send half of the things falling to the ground. Ugh, this is enough already! I get on my knees and finally see the blue keychain and the bunch of colourful pieces of metal just beside my left wrist.

I get up and take a quick look into the mirror, fixing my hair. I grab a dark coat from the peg next to the door and slip into black heels which were kicked into the corner.

After a few tries the door buckles, I get it to open and run out of the house holding the coat in my left hand. I shut the door behind me. I lock it and run to the car. I put my arms into the sleeves, trying to button it up while running, keys prepared in my hand.

I unlock the car and jump in. Turning the key in the ignition, the car roars and starts. Looking at the panel in the middle of the headboard I see there's still ten minutes left.

Okay, not bad. Maybe I'll get there on time for once.

The sleep deficit that I have today is catching up with me, seeing as I slept just about two hours today. The yawning is unstoppable force. I put the car into reverse and get out of the parking space, heading straight for the school.

I can't help it but speed like a lunatic. I have to get there on time today. I simply have to. Every day when I'm off the rotation Lucas picks Sarah up from school and they take bus home. It's not ideal, but there's no one else who can pick them up every day, while I'm at work.

I wouldn't let Eugene take them home even if he wanted to. Thinking about it is futile, seeing as he's not even around most of the time and he does not consider it a bad thing. Although, I'm not so sure anymore either.

Thankfully, the traffic is relatively slow at this hour, so after a while I'm at the school's parking lot. And there's still five minutes to spare. I sit in the car, breathing slightly quickened and hands trembling from the adrenaline in my system.  

I dig through the glove compartment, looking for a box of chewing gums I know I put there somewhere. I don't know why, but they really calm me down. It might be the motion or the fact that my mind is focusing on something else. Whatever it is, it works and if I ever met the person who discovered what effects chewing gum has, I'd probably behave like an obsessed teenager.