What If?

Please Pick Up

Chapter 6.

Please Pick Up

I woke up next to Mama on the floor of the kitchen, startled. Thank God it was just another bad dream. But, that was the strangest dream I have ever had. I’m sure it didn’t mean anything though. Did it? I’d been having so many scary dreams about father lately, I’m sure it’s nothing. I looked around, my eyes were droopy, and I could hardly see a thing, but I could tell it was still late.

So last night dinner had gone wrong. Horribly wrong. I looked down at Mama. The outline of my father’s hand had only gotten darker. But thank God everything after that was a dream. I caressed her face in my hand; she was so dainty and fragile. I felt like if I touched her too roughly she would break into a million pieces. I got up and tiptoed to the living room to look at the clock. It read two fifty five. Almost three o clock, I should get her up to bed.

I tiptoed back into the kitchen and gently shook Mama awake.

“Sophia! Honey you scared me. What’s the matter?” She asked, suddenly wide awake and alert.

“Nothing Mama” I reassured her. She relaxed a little. “But it’s three in the morning. We should get to bed.”

“You’re right baby, let’s go upstairs.” Mama got up and grabbed my elbow and led me through the dark house to the stairway. I walked in front of her up the steps but she followed directly behind me. When we reached the top of the steps I hesitated.

“C’mon Soph, what are you doing?” Mama asked, almost running into my back.

“I-I’m scared.” I admitted.

“It’ll be alright baby I’m here with you”

I kept walking until I got to my bedroom. In my dream, Papa was lying in MY bed in MY room, even though it was a dream, I was still hesitant.

“Mama, can you sleep in my room tonight? Please?” I begged

“Sure honey, if that’s what you want” I nodded.

I slowly opened the door to my bedroom, and flicked on the light, to find an empty room. I sighed with relief. Mama nudged me forward into my room and she turned around and faced the other way while I changed into some pajamas. I lent her some clothes, because we were about the same size and she didn’t want to go back into her room where Papa was.

I turned off the light and we snuggled into bed together, with Mama closest to the door, because I was too frightened to be anywhere near the door.

Then I remembered that only in my dream did Mama propose the idea of going on a horseback ride. I debated if tonight it would be okay to ask her if we could go for one. And finally decided that it couldn’t hurt to ask.

“Mama, are you still awake?” I asked her.

“Yes baby.” She replied sleepily.

“Err, do you think we could go for a ride tomorrow? Just you and me?”

She stayed silent for a while and I was almost certain she would say no.

“Of course we can.” She said

“Really? Thanks Mama, thanks a lot!”

“We’ll go first thing in the morning.”

“Okay” I smiled to myself in the dark.

“Goodnight Sophia”

“Goodnight Mama”

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