ROSES & THORNES

A grudge can wait

The sun was already coming through the windows early the next morning. I couldn't sleep because for one, I had to sleep on a cover pile on the hard and uncomfortable cheery wood floor. There were no TV's or radios because the furniture wouldn't be here until later today.

I took a deep yawn and wiped the crust from my eyes. The aromas of pancakes waft all the to where my room was. It made my mouth water with the thought of filling my mouth with its moist goodness. Nothing was better than my mother's cooking. No, I wouldn't eat it. I had to stick to giving them the cold shoulder. After all, they were the ones who dragged me out here by my hair. But, when it came to my moms pancakes, a grudge could wait.

Walking in to my new bathroom seemed completely foreign to me. I felt like I was invading someone elses personal space. It took me a few moments for me to realize I was in my own house, that we had moved. I took my time while brushing my teeth. My mom of course broung in my travel bag at some point. Both of my parents knew me well. Believe it or not, they are like, my best friends. Most people back home found it extremely weird to actually hang out with your parents and enjoy it. Well, I think that any teenager might find that a bit weird.

My breath taste of wintermint. I love the feeling of just brushed teeth, but what I didn't like was what I saw in the mirror. My skin was blotchy while my hair stuck to my face in weird clumps. The drive over here messed with my appearance. And, was it just me, or did the Arizona air make my skin smooth to the point where it almost looked air brushed. Not that it's a bad thing, it's just that, well it didn't feel like me.

I was just putting on my fuzzy slippers when my mom called out my name.

"Coming!" The smooth floor beneath my feet told me that I was no longer in Cal. Our house back home had been mostly plush carpet.

"Morning Abs." My dad looked from over his newspaper and coffee. There was a new light in both my parents eyes since we moved. I could tell that they were happy here. I was the only person holding them back from expressing it. Why did I have to be such a brat? My parents were only trying to do what was best for all of us. 
"Morning dad, morning mom."

"Good morning love." My mom came over and kissed me on the head as she sat down a plate of pancakes and eggs. "Did you sleep well?"

I nodded, ignoring the ache in lower back. For some reason, I didn't want them to feel bad about me sleeping on a floor. I was starting to think that my "grudge" was becoming a bit redundant. It hadn't even been a full 24 hours, and I already found myself protecting their feelings. I was so unbelievable.

"I thought that we could go downtown a check out some of the neighborhood shops?" My mom took a seat opposite of me. Her hair was pulled in a loose knot at the top of her head, but she radiated contempt.

"There's a downtown?" The sarcasm masked my silent excitement.

My father frowned. "Abs, you have to at least be open to the place. You never know what you might find."

"What, besides red clay and dirt?" I placed my head in my hands. Maybe there was still a grudge after all. "Dad, I can already tell that this place is going to be a complete bore."

My mom twisted her fingers together. Yeah, I thought I should be more considerate, but no one thought about my feelings when they just decided to up and leave. No warning, no nothing. They just threw it right on top of me, suffocating me, burrying me alive. It wasn't fair, and it wasn't right. Did they really expect me to be nice about it?

"Abs, just give it a shot okay? Do that for all three of us. And if you still don't like it..." he shrugged and I could feel my hopes lift. "Well, you'll just have to deal with it."

I sighed. They were never going to see things for my point of  view. I knew they cared, but I also knew that they didn't care enough to pack us back up and move us back home.

The sun was fully up now. It threatened to smolder any and everything in its path. Even though the air was on in my parents Toyota, I could feel it pulsating against the windows, trying to shove its way in the car to burn us to death.

We were driving down a small road towards what I presumed was downtown, or more accurately, the square. There were cute window shops on either side of me. The aroma of BBQ waft through the car and tickled my nose. Various street venders had little doo-hickies set up. Some sold shirts and hats, while others sold paintings of ancient mountains.

One vendor in particular caught my eye. He was a wrinkly, smiling old man with hair the color of snow. Gemstones gleamed in every color. From magentas, to gorgeous sapphires. My dad pulled into a parking space just a few feet from where the old man stood. Sudden anticipation jump started in my blood. I felt as if we were on vacation, not visiting our new neighborhood.