Leola and Ozzie vs. The World

Chapter 5

   The next couple of days was a blur. Before I knew it, it was the day before the dance.

   Mom and I were supposed to go dress shopping today...right after she stopped arguing with dad.

   "Its not his fault there's no food!"  Mom screamed trying to defend uncle.

"It sure as hell is, he has money that comes from a unknown source and doesn't pay any bills or buys any food!"

"He's saving up for a house!"

" Bull$%#!"

"Hey!" uncle boomed." Don't talk to her like that!"

" She's my wife, I can talk to her anyway is necessary!"

   I was just standing by the door waiting on mom, listening to all this nonsense.

   "That's no excuse!" Uncle yelled back.

"This is my house, intill you do your part, you have no authority!"

   Uncle grumbled to himself as he angrily walked towards me. He angrily dug in his pocket and slammed a 20 in my hand.

   "Go to the store and get a Family Sized package of beef." He commanded. I quickly nodded trying to get his angry attention away from me. Uncle turned to dad.

   "There, I'm buying meat for dinner tonight, ya happy!?!"  He shouted. Dad grumbled and walked in his room slamming the door behind him. Uncle went into the kitchen. Mom slumped down into the recliner with her face in her hands.

   "Mom, I thought we were going dress shopping?"  I asked softly.

"Later sweety, later". She answered without looking up.

   I sighed and made my way to the market.

   The place was packed!  I'm sure everyone from town was here. Guess what the main attraction is...ding ding! Beef.

   I didn't see Fiona anywhere so it was safe for me to enter. As I walked to the meat section, I remembered what I said to Yael and why I didn't want him to eat it. I sure don't want my family eating it but uncle's command was clear.

   I finally reached the meat section. There was a whole isle they added filled with the new beef. It was the most crowded isle.

   I've seen real beef before and it looked nothing like the new one. Real beef is red and has been shredded and put in suction sealed bags. This meat was pink with a hint of brown, red, yellow and green in the edges. It was packed in plastic wrap and looked as if it was just taken out of the fake cow. The smell was the worst. I know raw meat stunk but this crap smells like dead people.

   Other people didn't seem to notice or care.

   I eyed the meat with my stank face the way I do Fiona when she's not looking.

   That's it. I don't care what uncle does. He will thank me for this later. I am NOT feeding this to my family. I retreated to the grain isle and bought rice instead.

   When I got home, uncle didn't care that I bought rice instead of beef which was a great relief for me. Mom came from upstairs.

   "Ok Leola, I'm ready to go". She said already out the door. I hurried to catch up with her.

   Moments later, we were at the mall. I don't like the mall because this is where the D-Bags of school hang out. It was a weekday so I didn't see anyone. The only time I'm at the mall is with Yael and all we do is fool around and eat samples from the food court.

   "Try this one on!" My mom coaxed snapping me out my thoughts. I had already tried on like 32178953289 dresses already. I was starting to give up hope when mom picked out this Pale peach up-down dress with sandals.

   I'm not the one for dresses but this one caught my eye and I agreed with it. I walked out of the dressing room to show my mom.

   "Oh you look beautiful!" She cheered jumping up and down. She rushed over and hugged me.

   "Oh you look so beautiful". She repeated squeezing me harder. She pulled away from me and handed me something.

   A red sparkly bow. It was kinda like Minnie Mouse's.

   "This was your grandma's, she gave it to me and I wore it on my prom".

"They had prom in the 20s?" I teased. Mom just smiled hugged me tighter.

   The way she hugged me made me sad. As if her hug was sorrowful, like she was hurting. Is mom okay? Is there something she's not telling me? Her hugs were like a...apology or a goodbye, but for what?