Ecstasy

Chapter 3

Calla:

We're moving," my mother said.

"What?" I said confused.

"The van arrives in three days, so I suggest you start packing," she said carrying a load of flat cardboard boxes into the kitchen. I followed her, setting my school bag down on the counter.

"What?" I repeated.

She stopped what she was doing and looked at me. "You've seen the house. Your father's job transfer has been accepted and we have to be there by next week. We can enrol you in that good school up there. The one not unlike your own, that can give you as much help as down here," She finished.

"You could have told me this was happening!" I never believed we would move. It was just an idea put into Mum's head after she found out about Dad. I never thought Dad would go through with a job transfer. I never thought I would ever have to leave this house. "You could have included me in this decision. I'm not a child anymore!" I glowered at her.

"We don't think you are Calla. It's a great opportunity, for you and the whole family. We can start fresh..." She waffled on, as she does.

I tuned out thinking about what she said. We can start fresh. Now I knew for sure this was because of Dad.

"...The hospital has given me a job also, so we're fine. The school is really nice, I've talked to the principal, it can help you so much –"

"Stop," I interrupted her. Deciding whether or not to bring up our dormant argument. Since we're moving I might have a shot at winning it.
"I don't want to go to a help school. I'm sick of it here. My teacher said my exit levels are good enough to go to a public school and you know that. If we're moving I'm going to a normal school," I declared.

My mother sighed leaning against the bench, "Calla," she began, "You know that's not happening –"

"I'm not moving then," I said stubbornly, sounding like Sylvie when she chucked a tantrum.

"Calla," my mother groaned.

"Please, please? You know that I would be ok. I can do it," I tried convincing.

"Ok, let's say you go to a public school, and find that you can't read or do the work. Are you sure you actually want that?"

Was she offering me the option? "Yes!" I said immediately.

"Calla, if you go into public school, you will be doing grade twelve work. You and I both know it's not possible."

"Argh, Mum! I can and they can put me in remedial classes. I don't care! I just don't want to go to a dummy school. Please?" I begged.

"Dummy School?" She looked angry and shocked then. "We're not having this conversation Calla," My mother ended it, just like that and walked out of the room with a large box.

I sighed and collapsed on the bench. Well this sucks.

***

"Hurry up and take these last ones down to the van, we want to finish up soon" My mother said, clapping her hands as she stood in the doorway to my room. I groaned and got up off the floor. I pressed pause on my iPod and grabbed the last two cardboard boxes filled with my things with an effort.

I stopped on my way out the door and looked back at my empty room of seventeen years. I had been living here my whole life and now we we're moving. Just before senior year. I sighed and closed my bedroom door.

I waddled down the stairs taking in the rest of the old house.

"Calla hurry up!" My mother called from outside the house.

I took one last glance around my home, "Coming," I said back.

I walked out side and put my last few boxes in the back of the moving van. My dad came and gave me a hug as it moved away. I didn't know if had forgiven him yet. We were moving because of him. Because of him I get to go to a normal school. Because of the move they were saving their marriage. Just for me.

"Come on," he said walking to the car with me.

"Bye, bye house," Sylvie waved as we drove away.

I felt odd. Empty, like I got what I wanted but for all wrong reasons.