Gray Skies

'IT'

"Gray!!!!!!!!!!!!" she hollered coming down the stairs.

I pushed my cleats under the bed and quickly tried to wipe the mud off the floor before she opened the door. If your wondering where I am....

I'm in my room.... In the Basement. If you're wondering why I'm down here, it's because my Aunt has a lot of guests over and wants me to be invisible. Before thinking that my Aunt Beth is a complete witch. She actually renovated the basement into a rental room. I had my own kitchenette, en suite and laundry room. But as gracious as my Aunt is. I had to pay for my own food, phone and clothes.

I could hear the clicking of her high heels against the timber floorboards of the ground floor. She was getting closer. I don't know what I have done to her, but she sounded heated. I quickly rushed around and collected all the clothes off the floor and I put them in the washing basket. I quickly rushed to get it as clean as possible and stood right by my bed waiting for my Aunt to walk through the door.

I pulled my beanie off quickly and put it behind my back just as my Aunt walked through the door. Her shoes clacked as she stood square from me. She looked me up and down, whilst tapping her foot. She had her hair perfectly done from the salon and wore expensive clothing. But the thing that stood out was her signature rouge lipstick. She approached a little closer and said "It's good to see you've given up on that muddy sport of yours.." I tried very hard to contain my annoyance and just bit down on my tongue. "Your hair seems a little messy Gray..." she says slowly trying to circle me, but I circle in time with her so she can't see what was in my hands.

She approached me and without hesitation tightly slapped me on the side of my face. I just stood there and took it. It wasn't the first time and I never doubted it wouldn't be the last. She snatched the beanie out of my hands and walked around clearly not enthused. "What have I said about wearing beanies Gray?" she spat out like poison.

Let me tell you something about my Aunt Beth. She has a medieval mindset. She is still under the belief that men should do the working and women should be at home looking desirable and tending to their husbands hand and foot. So she tries her best to groom me to be a top tier debutante and pageant queen, that would be desired by many suitors. But I hated it. I hated being up on parade for others to shame. So I outright refused to be associated any longer with it. I gave up the crown for sports and never looked back. That's when I was banished to the basement.

I knew not to touch my cheek because touching it would only make it worse. "What have I told you about wearing this unnecessary crap on your head. It's unladylike!" she spat again. I hated it when she got like this... because I knew what was coming. She went rummaging through my clothes drawers and closet. Tossing everything in her path. She stopped for a moment by the closet clearly holding something. She turned holding something I never hoped to see ever again.

It was three dresses. One short red dress, one black ballgown and one gold sequined gown. She bought them for me to wear to pageants and to her annual debutante ball. But every year I refuse. If glares could kill. The look she was giving me was nuclear. I was afraid that her hair would frizz for a second. "Why haven't you worn these?" she asks trying to recompose themselves. I let out a breath and just say "I don't do that kind of thing anymore Aunt Beth..." "I don't care. While you are under my roof you are going to do as I demand" she says with authority.

"No." I heard myself say without realization. It obviously angered my Aunt very much. She grabbed me by the back of my neck and I had just enough time to grab my beanie and my gear bag as she pushed me out the basement door. She had put it in so I wouldn't get mud all over her designer rugs and furniture. For a lady in heels she was pretty strong. She pushed me out the door and pushed the heel of her shoe down onto my shoulder hard enough that it drew blood. I looked around and grabbed my sweatshirt out from my bag. My Aunt gave me one last look before slamming the door before saying "Don't come back until you learn to abide my rules".