Madelaine

Chapter one

Five years later.

My feet hit the sidewalk as the hot sun beat down on my neck. I looked to my right and saw two children kicking an old soccer ball on the dead grass in their front yard, as their mom rocked in a chair on the porch smoking a cigarette. The music blasted in my ears, tuning out the sounds surrounding me. I approached the old cement steps of my aging brick apartment building of many. Opening the wooden door I was greeted by Margirene, the nice wrinkled and graying lady next door. "Hi sugar, how was work?" She asked with a smile.

"Same as always, but thanks for asking. How's whiskers?" I asked, referring to her orange tabby cat.

"Oh he's doing well, now you have a good night sugar." She said as she entered back into her rusty apartment. Turning away from her door I step towards my own. Shoving my key in the lock and jiggling it three times, the door opens with a creak. My sister Lily was the first thing I saw as I entered my old dusty apartment. "You're home!" Exclaimed Lily.

"Yes I am, now go do your homework while I make dinner." I said as I ruffled her hair. "Oh hey and I brought you a chocolate milkshake from the diner, your favorite." Lily hopped of the couch, grabbed the cup from my hand excitedly and skipped away to our room as I made my way to the torn up kitchen.

   Looking through the cabinets I grabbed a box of spaghetti, a pot, and a can of tomato sauce. Filling the pot with warm water from the tap I placed it on the stove and crossed my fingers hoping it would turn on today. I turned the knob of the rusty old gas stove, but all I got were the clicks of the button turning. I heaved a heavy sigh as I turned from the stove and made my way towards Lily and I's room. Opening the cracked door, I peaked my head through and entered the old yet clean room saying, "sorry Lily I guess we are having cereal again tonight."

"That's okay Maddie, do we at least have Lucky Charms?" She asked.

"Definitely who wouldn't have Lucky Charms in their pantry?" I said with a chuckle as I walked out of the room towards the kitchen. I opened the fridge and grabbed a jug of white milk. Pouring the continents of the cereal and adding a touch of milk, I yelled, "dinner is served!" Lily's feet pattered across the aging carpet covered in stains of alcohol from moms past nights, and into the kitchen. Taking her seat, Lily shoved a spoonful of cereal into her mouth, chewing rapidly. I sat next to her and smiled as I took a bite of my own dinner.

After we finished eating Lily started to run off but before she got far I said, "hey your ten now, your old enough to help me clean up." Turning around with her head hung low she stomped back to the table, grabbed her bowl, and put it in the sink. "Thank you," I said, as she left the kitchen. As I was washing the last of the dirty dishes, I heard someone stumbling through the door. "Oh, hi honey! What's for dinner?" My mom slurred.

"You just missed it," I mumbled under my breath. My mom swayed over to me, throwing her arms around me. I almost gagged at the pungent stench of alcohol, while stumbling a few feet because of her weight.

"What that was sweetie?" My mom said tripping over her words.

"Nevermind, you need to get to bed." I replied, leading her to the other room of our small, two bedroom apartment. After my mom laid down, I helped tuck her in and smoothed the greasy hair on her forehead.

"Goodnight mom," I whispered, while turning off her lamp and softly shutting the door.

The next morning I woke up to the sound of my beeping alarm clock, signaling to me that it's time to get up and ready for work. I walked softly to the bathroom, being careful not to wake Lily. I entered the white bathroom that had wallpaper peeling of the walls of the small room. Turning the shower knob to the left, hot water starting pouring out as steam surrounded the bathroom. Stripping off my clothes, I stepped into the hot water as it hit my skin, turning it a light shade of red. After my quick shower, I wrapped an itchy blue towel around my body and walked back into the room. As Lily slept soundly, I quietly got dressed into my uniform. Deciding that it's too late to eat breakfast, I left the apartment locking the door behind me.