Last Stop

Chapter two

I never really understood  farm living stereotypes but waking up at six to a high pitched, annoying rooster is enlightening to say the least. The night is so silent, you hear nothing but the occasional owl and the suddenly you are awake by a very loud and very intrusive rooster.

I groggily make my way downstairs. Uncle Mark is in the kitchen frying  up a breakfast as I appear in my stripped pj's and cotton shirt.

"Morning Cameron," he claps me on the back " how'd you sleep?"

"Well thanks." I say as he motions to the coffee pot I jump up in enthusiasm "How come no one else is awake, alarm clock not loud enough?"

He chuckles as he places a plate of French toast, eggs and bacon in front of me before sitting opposite with the same " those three can sleep through a nuclear war, a little rooster is nothing in comparison."

I nod moaning  as the deliciousness invades my senses this is amazing. I have been here for two days now and I am getting used to the constant availability of delicious food. Honestly it is all superior to anything I have ever tasted. 

Mark smiles at me as we eat breakfast in relative silence. I like Mark, he always was so kind on the phone and through skype and sometimes when his business trips took him to the city he would stay a few extra days to spend time with me. It was some of the few times in my childhood when I remembered having fun and being a kid. He took care of me in a way no one else ever did.

"How come you are up so early?" I ask as I help him clear up and place the rest  of breakfast in the oven for the other three.

"I have a few chores to do around the house, would you like me to show you around our mini farm?"

I nod my head and he copies the gesture "you can borrow a pair  of boots from the cupboard in the hall and I will give you a tour it would be great to have an extra pair of hands to help out out there, do you still love being  outside?" I nod shocked he remembered and he grins leading me out the house and onto the back porch. The one time he came over he took me to the park and we had a picnic with ice-cream and sandwiches. I told him then, I must of been 12, that I loved parks. He remembered.

I follow him to the pig pen, the chickens and a goat. Helping him feed them as well as patching  up fences. He shows me the rounds and dedicates a few things for me to do each morning.  It feels good to be useful. Like I am not just leaching off them, I am used to doing things. 

By the time we head back inside Millie and Justin are up and eating  breakfast. Lola staggers in just as I pour myself a second cup of coffee.

"Morning  princess." Uncle Mark says as he kisses her head. She doesn't  say anything as she gathers  her breakfast. Mark shrugs before turning  to Justin "what about you buddy, kiss for  daddy?"

Justin grins his mouth covered in syrup "yes!" He says in excitement and Mark grins, leaning over to give Mark a very sloppy and sticky kiss on his cheek.

Millie turns to me as they have their moment "We are going shopping  for school supplies today so we will leave in an hour." I  nod, it is my Senior year and  even though that it is rather silly to have to transfer now, I don't have a choice after all. So I might have quite a bit of catching up to do.

I  head upstairs to get ready and by the time I make  it downstairs  Mark is watching  news, relaxed on the sofa while Justin who is dressed, hair combed, sits on his lap, eyes glued to a iPad as he plays some game, soft shooting  sounds emanating from the device.

Millie is plaiting Lola's hair into two braids and says we will leave as soon as she is done. Lola glares at me. It has become her usual thing. I try not to take it to heart, after all she is only a kid and she seems to be super highly strung.

Shopping  seems to become more complicated and tiring than I expected. Everyone truly  knows everyone and I was introduced more times than one. Thankfully  my aunt has tact so my story wasn't spread and I can  maintain some privacy. 

Lola also needed winter clothes and Justin some fancy supply's for kindergarten. Millie asked if I could stay with them at the restaurant for lunch while she did some breakfast shopping and I agreed  but damn was it hard.

Lola sat opposite  me on her tablet while Justin decided to play wat hero's with the salt and pepper shakers .Luckily the restaurant owner was friends with Millie and helped me out with some toys and colouring tools. How anyone manages kids is beyond me and I am only grateful  that I never had a younger sibling to take care of in New York. Without  support I would have messed it all up.

It is evening  when we make it home and I help Millie carry all the shopping in. Justin is fast asleep so Mark carries him to bed.

Lola collapses on the couch as I help Millie carry all the clothes to her room.

Lola's room is big with a double bed in the middle with a deep pink cover. Pink carpet and curtains. On top of a white desk sits a laptop and some colouring things. Fairy lights line the pale pink rooms.

"I am guessing  she likes pink." I say as I help unpack all her new clothes into the closest. Millie chuckles.

"Sometimes, she is trying to convince her father to let her paint her room a darker pink."

I nod as I  fold a sparkly sweater. "When I was seven we moved to a smaller apartment, my room was a weird yellow colour," I  smile at the memory as Millie stops to listen "my favourite  colour was green, dark Forrest green, one day I came back from school and my room was painted baby green. I cried and ended up sleeping in moms room for a week before  I  decided light green wasn't too bad."

I  grin at the memory, my mom was so sorry that she bought me a Forrest green lampshade and made  pancakes for a straight week. Its weird how with so many bad memories piled up in the back of my mind the good ones are the ones I remember the most or at least first as the weeks that follow that memory filter in.

Millie smiles softly as we go back to folding.

"I sometimes stayed awake at night worried my mom would not come home," I  sigh glancing down as I fold a light blue shirt, not knowing why I am saying  this but knowing  I have to get it off my chest and this is aa safe space. I have watched Millie and Mark over the last few days and they are the definition if dependable. " I would count until I heard her keys in the door."

I run a hand through my dark hair as Millie places a hand on my knee in comfort. 

"Once I counted one million, I was seven, it was a week after the green room incident. I  counted till the sun rose." I  smile sadly "when my mom came back I was in tears, she didn't  notice, told me my lunch money was in her purse and went to bed. "It is surprising she even remembered my lunch money.

I give a dry chuckle "I vowed from that day I wouldn't  cry over stupid things that I needed to be strong." I sigh " sorry, I  don't  know why I told you that. "

Millie moves closer "Cameron you are so strong, I  am so sorry you had to go through that all by yourself." Her eyes are sad and gentle and I smile softly "And I am glad you did, you can talk to Mark and I whenever you need. We might not have been there for you a whole lot but we are here now."

I  nod and we continue folding until Lola  comes up and declares  she wants to go to bed. Millie tells her to brush her teeth and I stand up. Knowing when I am not wanted.

Mark is dozing on the couch and I head for the kitchen doing the washing up that is left over. There is something  about cleaning  that takes your mind  things. Off thoughts you don't  want to have. The ones that circle your brain and set bricks in your stomach. 

It isn't  until the kitchen is sparkling and Millie comes to remind me it is past twelve that I give into my exhaustion and head for bed. Willing this year away. Not because I am not enjoying my time but the thought of having to navigate highschool once more in a new setting is tiring all on its own and I already feel so tired.