J.A.D.E

Fifth

I dedicated this chapter to
PEACHELSPARKLER

***

I entered the kitchen just to find mom and Ruby were having their breakfast.
I frowned a bit seeing Ruby eating her cereal while her eyes were reading a textbook we just got yesterday.
Really? We even hadn't started our lesson yet.
I chose bread over cereal. I picked the peanut jam from the middle of the dining table and took my seat.

"So, how do you think about your new school?" Mom suddenly asked.

I glanced a bit to Ruby to see how she's going to answer it. It wasn't me who got unpleasant behavior yesterday.

But since it's my kind sister. I knew what she'd say.

"It's good." Ruby said with a smile on her face and mom sighed in relieve.

I understood we couldn't make mom thinking about our problems too much.
Mom had many things inside her mind already.
She had to work now. For almost eighteen years after she married Dad, she dedicated herself as a good housewife as dad didn't allow her to work. Now, without dad and for the amount of money we needed, Mom needed a job.

"Yeah, it is." I added and mom smiled widely.

"Good. That's very good. Glad you both can adapt to this situation quickly." Mom said.
"I'm thinking about having a small party. You know, to introduce ourselves to the community. What do you say? You both can invite your friends. What do you think, Jade? We can invite Mia, Nova, or Penny."

I stopped putting the jam on my bread at those names.
Acting like nothing happened, I continued to put it on.
"Naah, I think they won't come, Mom."

"Why?" Mom asked in confusion. "They're your good friends."

"They were." I murmured softly.

Mom had parted her lips to make another question when a loud horn from outside startled her.
It made two more sounds, starting to disturb my ears. My mother quickly walked to the front door.
She peeked a bit from the window and turned her head towards Ruby and me.

"Ruby, Jade! It's Ethan! Hurry up, he'll drive you to school today." Mom said.

"What? Why him?" I groaned in protest.

"Because I have a job this morning and I don't want to be late in my first day. You two shouldn't either. Hurry up! Jade, eat your bread on the way." Mom said, clapped her hands while saying the commands.

Ruby threw me a smile before she put another spoonful of cereal inside her mouth and picked her textbook.
"That's okay, Mom. We understand. See you later." She said as she bumped her cheek gently on mom's.

Placing the bread between my lips, I picked my backpack and swung it to my shoulder.
Mom shook her head slowly seeing me.
Taking a bite from my breakfast, I held the rest on my hand and walked towards mom. Like Ruby, I too bumped my cheek on hers.
"Bye mom. Good luck with work."

"You too, Jade. Remember, don't make any trouble!" She warned me, playfully glared at me and pointed my face with her finger.

I rolled my eyes a bit. I never made trouble but trouble always found me. I made no promises.

"I'll keep my eyes on her, Mom. Don't worry!" Ruby said with a grin on her face.
She laughed a bit when I pouted my lips and walked out the door.

I wanted to follow her when mom held my shoulder.
She took sometimes to fix my hair then stared at me right in the eyes.
"Are you sure you have nothing to say, Jade? Not even something about your friends?"