Goldfish

Chapter 5

         My father had told me that he needed to talk to my mother... but that was an understatement to the fullest. I woke up several times to hear them screaming at the top of their lungs. I wouldn't have been surprised if someone filed a noise complaint on us.
I woke up and glanced at my alarm clock, it read 6:04. This was about the time I usually woke up but because of the lack of sleep thanks to my father, I felt like I had only been sleeping for an hour or so. I got ready in a dash, not applying makeup and leaving my hair in a messy bun.
I skipped breakfast and yelled goodbye to my mom. If I was tired she must be exhausted. I left assuming she was sleeping because I got no response. "Bye goldfish have a good day!" My dad yelled while putting trash bags in his trunk.
"Bye..." I said startled.
I got into my car without thinking about what he was doing. I didn't have the energy. While driving I got a call. "Hello?" I said picking up the vibrating phone.
"Hello! This is Sarah Hails, president of the debate club, I have called to inform you that because of your lack of interest and total of four absences from meetings, you are hereby kicked off.." I hung up, cutting her off. I had completely forgotten about the club. Whatever, my mom made me sign up anyways.
When I arrived at school I was immediately bombarded with questions from friends.
"Omg Rachel is your nose going to be screwed up now?"
"Are you going to sue? My mom totally would."
"Ew, how did you keep your cool? I would have beaten that rat!"
I shrugged all of them off with sarcastic comments and rolled eyes. Why must teenage girls be so rude?
Making my way to first and second hour I made sure to not run into locker doors. I got a few laughs from the idiotic boys about the splint, but yet again, I shrugged the comments off.
I fell asleep several times in class. At the end of the day I had a bit more energy. The final bell rang and I was out of there. Sitting in my car I thought of my options. Should I find something to do or go back to the house of depression? I decided the alternative. With a sigh I picked up my phone and typed his name in. Harvard.
          Me: ya know I broke my nose looking at your flier?
  Maybe that would be a good conversation starter. A few minutes passed and he responded.
       Harvard: ahhh let me guess, Rachel Ronald finally decided to put my number to use.
      Me: well I figured I should tell ya how you made me break my nose.
      Harvard: haha! looking off to the side while walking again?
      Me: how'd you know?
   Harvard: I just took an educated guess (;
   Harvard: so since you have already broken your nose over the club, anddd it's my request that you do so, are you going to join?
      I was desperate. So I decided ,why not? I had room for another club now that the debate club was gone. Anything to keep me front the reality of my home life.
        Me: hmmmm... I never stick to things so don't get to excited, but I guess I'll give it a shot. When's the first meeting, I'll be there.
     Harvard: yess! 5:15 every Monday Wednesday and Sunday.
    Me: hey hey hey! Remember, I said don't get to excited about it. Okay that's great for me.
    Harvard: see you there Rachel Ronald, you won't regret it (;
       I caught myself smiling at my phone, still in the parking lot. My day had suddenly gotten a lot brighter. So I decided to go to the mall to get yellow and more black paint.
     "Are you going to turn into a more frequent visitor?" The same old women asked me when I greeted her with a smile at the paint shop, yet again.
       "Well I'm hoping so," I laughed.
    "Well that's great I get so happy seeing young people take interest in art. Art was my calling when I was young, but now that I'm older, I no longer have a steady hand so it's harder to paint. But I try." She said while wiping off the already clean counter.
         "I would love to see some of your artwork mrs....." I didn't know her name.
    "My name is Janet , but you can call me Nana sweetheart." She said smiling. 
    I smiled back, bringing the acrylics and a new set of canvases to the polished register.
    While checking my things out and placing them in a bag she pointed towards the back room to the left. "Go take a glance in there, I have some of my art, you'll be able to tell which ones are new because of the crooked lines."
     I walked to the room and gently pushed the door open. My jaw dropped in awe. There where about twenty paintings hanging on the walls and resting on tables. Landscape paintings, paintings of the beauty of the earth. Paintings of the heavens and of bright and plentiful vegetation.
     "Ms. Janet, you have an amazing talent! Do you sell them? They are beautiful!" I said turning around.
    "No, I just paint them and set them around my house, I'm afraid people would criticize them. You see I get very hurt very easy. Even if someone's just giving advice."
    "Oh but Ms. Janet I love them." I said looking directly at one in the back. It was a larger one of a magnificent garden, with a mother and a daughter in the middle planting some sort of flower. It reminded me of the small little flower beds my mother and I would plant when I was younger during spring. I loved them, I would be so sad in the winter when they would fade away, but every year they would come back.
        She noticed my gaze, "Pick one." She urged me on.
     "Oh no I couldn't, you could sell them for what they are worth!"
      "I'd rather give them to the people who find comfort and memories in them. Who enjoy the beauty, instead of just buying it for your living room." She said pushing me forward.
     I smiled and stepped in to grab the painting. I gently picked it up and turned to thank her.
      "No, thank you." She said waving at me while I left.
      On the way out of the mall I stopped by the bulletin board and smiled again. Hugging my painting to my chest. I find comfort in the small things sometimes.