Vanilla Girl

O r a n g e - S h e r b e t

I'M NOT SURPRISED when I arrive home to the shrill cries of Louis, my baby brother, followed by my mother's angry voice.

"I said don't! Now who's gonna wipe all that purée off the flor, huh?" She snaps.

More cries.

I sigh, shoving the door with my hip and dropping the keys on the hexagonal Tiffany's bowl my mother bought a few years back.

With my bag still hanging from my shoulder, I make my way towards the kitchen. It's not like I want to, but I don't see any options. I'm not going to ignore the pandemonium taking place there by rushing up the stairs and locking myself inside a room. Although, that doesn't seem to be a problem for Melissa, my younger sister. She's thirteen and going through her I-don't-care-about-anything phase. It's as if she lived in another world I swear. She's always inside her room or if not, she walks around the house headphones on, music blasting, catching one of every ninety words you throw her way.

I finally round the corner and my feet come to a halt.

The kitchen looks like a war zone.

Dirty plates and bowls are scattered on the counter, there's pumpkin splattered all over the tiles and cupboards. Lou is sitting in his high baby chair crying his eyes out, face splotchy while he pats his head as if playing drums, his fingers covered in purée. His bib is completely orange, his face smeared with baby food all around his mouth and cheeks. He doesn't seem to mind about his looks though.

My mother is in front of him looking cross, her arms folded on her chest. I notice she's still in her work clothes wich means she didn't have time to change, which means Melissa didn't take care of Lou. Again.

Her green eyes snap up to mine as soon as I step into the kitchen and her body sags in relief.

"Honey! You're back!" She cries.

"Hi mum." I drop my bag on a chair and kiss her cheek softly, trying to cool her down. As I pull away, my gaze diverts towards the floor and I immediately regret it. I feel my eyes stinging.

I won't cry over it. I won't.

I'll look to the good side.

Wich is the good side?

I groan. Who am I kidding?

The next few hours will be a torture. I can't wait till Louis is old enough to clean the results of his rebellious acts. Maybe I'll be able to bribe him into cleaning mine too, after all, it's only fair.

Mum smiles at me.

"I'm so glad!" She begins, picking up her purse from the counter and flattening her already straight blonde hair, all while still taking to me. "I feel so bad for leaving you with all this mess, but I have the doctor appointment, remember? I told you about it last week. And I reminded you again yesterday."

Doctor. Right. I remember she said something like that.

"Oh, yeah."

She looks at me and shakes her head incredulously, "I swear is like I talk to the walls sometimes."

That statement might be true, but in my defense, it might be truer for Mel. The probability of her catching a firefly is higher than catching any words you spill during dinner.

"I'm running late. I have to go now. Can you take care of Louis, honey?" She says while walking to the front door. "Melissa is upstairs, tell her I said to come down and help you, ok?"

I don't tell her how that would be a lost cause, instead I nod my head.

"Thank you, honey. I'll be back soon." She shouts before slamming the door behind her.