Just A Run

Mrs.Okopee

The water splashing on my hands is scolding hot, the lemon scented soap wafting up to my nose is a pleasant sweet smell. A clean fresh scent. I love lemon.Doing the dishes is my job after dinner. Mom left to go back to the school. She said she had forgotten some papers she had to grade.

Mom has been a little off for the last two weeks. Ever since one her students went missing. I think his name is Josh. I have never seen him at school before, I think he is a freshman. Should I say was, is it to early? This is my first year here and it is also my moms. We moved here because mom said this district paid more and they badly needed a English teacher.

We don't use the Dishwasher, mom says they cost to much money. Squinting through the murky soapy water, I try to see where the steak knife is in the water. I know not to just reach in to feel for it, I have gotten way to many cuts from that knife. It is the sharpest in the house. I turn my head side to side scanning for it, finally I catch sight of the shimmering silver blade.Reaching slowly in I grab the slippery black hilt. I continue to wash and dry the dishes for a while.

We have been here for almost four months and this house still doesn't smell like a home. You know how when you go into someone else's house and it just has a certain distinct smell. A smell that signals your in someone else's territory, like it's not your place to stay. That is how it is here. I have moved before, but it has never taken so long for me to grow accustomed to another house.

"Evan?"

I turned around. Mom is setting her purse down onto the table. A full stack of papers in her hand ready to be graded.

"Hey Mom, it just came to me. Can Cindy and Sean come over tomorrow?" Cindy and Sean are my closest friends I have made so far. Cindy is a cheerleader and she has thrown away the stereotypes about how certain "Cliques" have to stay in her own lanes. Which was cool and change my mind about how cheerleaders are brain dead robots. I mean Cindy gets better grades then I do. Sean isn't a nerd or anything, but he is just not popular. He is a pretty great study buddy and runner.

"That's fine, but you need to find a job remember. Grandma says I'm being to easy on you." Although it seems like she is being extremely strict on me, she cracks a smile anyway.

"Why does it matter what she thinks, we left her back in Pennsylvania." I joke but I know Grandma is right. It would be nice to have some extra cash. I put the last dish I dried into the white cabinet to the right of the sink.

Mom sit back at the kitchen and takes out a red pen.

"Is that my paper?", I ask looking over her shoulder noticing my handwriting.

"Yes, and you need to reread 'Romeo and Juliet', this test Friday is going to kick your ass by the looks of this review", She turns to look at me and searches my face to make sure that I get that she was joking.

"Uh yeah", I say slightly embarrassed that my mom can see when I make up answers or when I don't get the subject. It is nice though to be able to come to mom for help though.

"I'm going to bed", I kiss my mom on the cheek and walk up the stairs.

My mom has had a stressful week with the interviews about Evan, it doesn't matter though. She doesn't know happened to him. I should have asked if there was any new news, I doubt if there is though. She would have told me.

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I slowly wake up to the birds chirping outside my window. I always do this. I wake up before my alarm clock. I still keep the alarm clock though just to make sure I will never be late to school. I have this weird fear of being late to things in general. My mom says I'm very punctual, which I looked up on my phone. The word does describe me very well.