Simple Sweetness

Chapter 8

Serena closed the flimsy plastic screen door to the camper behind her, as quietly as she could, then slid the main metal door into place. Locking it by clicking the dead bolt, before turning back to scan the cramped, cluttered interior for her father. As Sammy made light steps through the narrow passage to the back of the camper. Their home for the last three months, bitterly known as the 'Tin Can' consisted of only three rooms, with a tiny closet to call a bathroom. The main area one entered from the front door was the living room, and kitchen area all in one. With a small bedroom at the back, concealed only by a rolling pleated plastic curtain of dull yellow. The plastic stained and time worn, the metal track it rolled within bent slightly in the middle so the magnetic clips that once sealed it against the wall never met up anymore. The faded symmetrical patterns of the wall paper spoke of a time long past. The fabrics on the solitary couch and benches of the kitchens fold out table was out of the seventies. To say the camper was outdated, was an understatement. But this was were they had been placed, when the international group know as the 'Agency' keeping them safe had thought their cover got blown.

The laminate counter tops around the sink, that was against the adjacent wall from the kitchen table was an ugly search and rescue orange. The sparce set of cabinets, and half size fridge was all a dark fake wood. What windows they had were small squares, of stained yellowish plastic. One over the sink, one over the table and one curved window hanging over the solitary bed at the back, and a narrow vent in the bathroom. They were the victims, the innocence in this whole horrid affair. But this place was as much of a cell as anything.

Within the main area, Serena was confronted once again with the utter chaos and complete uncertainty that had become her life for the last two years. Her father was passed out on the reclining couch against the far wall, that could also turn into a bed. Dressed in only a pair of soiled grey sweats that he had been wearing for the last week or so. His once gentle round features now sunken and withdrawn. His dark hair was a wild mess upon the crown of his head, cheeks covered in stubble. Purplish bags hung under his eyes, and the wrinkles by his eyes and upon his brow once created by laughter had deepened into crevasses of endless worry. Two cases of beer sat at his feet, full of empty cans. Serena never even bothered to check anymore. The camper sized t.v. sat on a small shelf just off from the front door, had the twenty four hour new's channel droning away.

Ever since their lives had been flipped upside down, the t.v never left the news. Her father was always nervous about not knowing what was going on in the world, as if the news caster's might one day spout his salvation. She never touched the t.v either, having learned her lesson the hard way years ago. Her father needed to be watching the broadcast as soon as he regained consciousness. His moods over the last two years could be quite volatile. She did not trust her little brother alone with him anymore, never able to gauge when his good humour would sour into abuse, be it physical or verbal. He was a living breathing roller coaster, the she felt she was the only one capable of handling.

All kinds of litter was strewn all over the floor, the kitchen table and what they had for counter space. Was covered with torn up pieces of cardboard from the beer boxes on the floor. The remains of several chips bags, dirty glasses and bowls on the counter and in the sink. A half eaten ready made meal sat on the table, creating a sour, greasy, fog in the tight cabin.

Serena groaned in distain, she tried hard to keep this little home clean and tidy. Her father was like having another child, when left unattended he just let everything fall apart. With a sigh, she moved about the cabin cleaning what she could, throwing away the litter into garbage under the sink cabinet. Then retreated to the back of the camper for some much needed rest. She had been having a hard time holding in her disappointment towards her little brother. He had caught her glaring at him on several occasions, and had bowed his head several times in shame on the long walk home. She had been looking forward to a night away from this, stressful little piece of hell. As she past the kitchen table, she looked with longing at a small black cell phone nestled on a corner shelf. That hugged the back wall just behind the back bench seat, plugged into an adaptor so it always remained charged. It had been silent for months...ever since they had been sent to live out in this camper just after school ended. Every night before bed, she would give that phone a good long stare hoping...willing it to ring. She didn't want to be trapped here during the long winter, she wanted to go back to their home or even another house in the city. Honestly she wanted to go back her home in Japan, but that would never happen. That life was lost to her forever, taken away the same day her mother was killed.