The minute I set my foot on the 'Welcome' carpet just outside our door, setting out for my last day at school it started raining. I stepped back inside and retrieved a an umbrella.
"Bye mom" I shouted into the house as I shut the door . I fiddled with the umbrella until it popped open, the size and the brightness of the big yellow umbrella surprising me. It was a while since I had used the umbrella; I couldn't hide under it like I used to when playing hide and go seek, and it hadn't been of any use since this was the first drops of rain for months.
I lifted it above my head and started walking. It was heavier than I'd expected so I swayed a little every time the wind picked up.
Raindrops pelted onto the umbrella and I listened to the 'pit-pat' sound it made. That sound was captivating, it was my second favourite sound to hear. The first was the sound of church bells ringing.
When my grand mother had died, not only did people mourn, they sky cried too, bucket's of water hit the ground and as the raindrops hit the old brass church bell, it sounded like pennies being dropped. It sounded melancholy. It made my heart ache and caused a weak attempt of a smile.
As people stepped up to the coffin and said a few words I stared blankly out of the multi-coloured- stained glass windows and watched the rain slide down them, portraying the look on everyone's face.
I was eight when that happened. And all I knew when I was eight, was that the greatest things in life were pancakes for breakfast and unicorns.
I didn't understand death at that time. I thought death was falling into a deep slumber like Sleeping Beauty did. I realise I didn't understand Sleeping Beauty much either.
Raindrops tickled my face I snapped back into reality and averted my eyes to the building in front of me, and the many children in front of it. My eyes took a panoramic-scan of the place once more.
I'd always had the idea that the word "school" was just a friendlier word to use in place of brick-wall prison. I'd always liked education, never school,especially not this one. The idea of waking up early to sit in a desk for 8 hours just really wasn't my dream.
As the day progressed, I started to look forward to moving away, away from this town, these people, maybe even from this life?
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I wasn't surprised that no one said goodbye. I mean, I wasn't exactly anyone's friend, nor had I said that I was leaving, but it still hurt. To cheer myself up, (and to show my mother that people would miss me) I popped into the nearest store and bought myself three balloons. Unfortunately, the only balloons they had were pink ones that said "Congratulations,it's a girl!"
I bought them anyway.
I hurried home with the three balloons bobbing next to me in the air, earning funny looks on the way. I arrived in the drive way to see my mother cramming suitcases into the caravan. "Hi" I said, clasping all three balloons in the one hand and helping my mother lift a suitcase with my free hand. "Hi,thanks", she said a little out of breath. A second later she started staring at my balloons. "Surprise", I joked. She laughed a little. "The kids at school gave these to me as a farewell kind of gift thing or whatever." I lied. "Oh that's nice" she said, kissing the top of my head. "Now be a good girl and help me pack the rest in the caravan. I'm aiming to get on the road in the next 15 minutes." I sighed. "Yeah,okay", I said and trudged into the house, throwing my backpack onto the floor and letting the balloons float around in my room.
I quickly changed into a casual outfit, stole an apple from the fruit bowl, and hurried outside to finish the packing.
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I leaned outside the window, the fresh Californian wind whipping my hair into my face. I breathed it in. I breathed it out. I smiled to nothing in particular as I closed the window of the caravan.
"So...how much longer", I inquired, resuming my cross-legged position on the sofa-bed. Not taking her eyes off the road, my mom said, " A few more minutes." I sighed. She had said a few minu a while ago. After a moment of silence she started to slow down.
" Mom, are you aware that we are going at the pace of a dead snail. And dead snails don't even move so do you know how slow that is?" She laughed. "Look Chrissie," she said, stopping the car at the side of the road, "there's just one thing." I stared at her puzzled. "About what?" She drummed her fingers against the steering wheel as if contemplating whether to tell me or not. "Well, this family", she started. "Yes," I said. "Well," she said, taking a deep breath, "um, they have two sons."
Chrissie Miles. Trusts her mom.
Not.
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Hi, Nicci here
First of all, I'm so sorry I took so long to post another chapter. I promise to be update more regularly.
Secondly,thank you to the people reading this book! It means alot to me! If you read my book I will read yours too!x
I finally remembered my password so hopefully I will be writing much more!!
