The Hard Knock Life

Part 3

Aiden and I have this secret spot by a river bed in the midst of a forest where we also built a tree house when we were younger. He thinks I like to go there because I like adventuring, but it's because no one in my family knows where it is and I like to escape there.

I searched for flat rocks to skip as Aiden told me a story about his dog. I wasn't really listening because I had my own thoughts going through my head. I was coming up with runaway plans. I was chewing gum, too; it keeps my brain juices flowing.
I could leave whenever I wanted to, after everyone had fallen asleep, but the trouble would be taking my siblings. We would slow each other down. If I was desperate enough, I would have to leave alone but I couldn't leave them to get abused. I had been looking at train tickets for the past three weeks, looking for the cheapest ride to wherever. Finding a place to stay would be a piece of cake. It was just a matter of getting there; wherever "there" was.

"So how was detention?" He said as he examined a rock before throwing it.

I did the same before I answered. "It was terrible."

"Did you learn a lesson?"

"Yes. I did."

"And what was that?"

"Always ask Mr. Wright first if he's running detention before deciding whether or not to go."

"Wow." He smirked and threw another rock.

I sat down on the rocks and watched him throw his little like of pebbles. "I made a new friend." I said, resting my arms on my legs.

"What's his name?"

"What makes you think it's a guy?" I looked at him in shock.

"Is it?"

"No, it's a girl."

"Do I know her?"

He threw another rock and I turned to look at the water.

"I don't know, you tell me."

"Who is it?"

"Lea. Long black, curly hair, blasian, not tall but not short...average height, I guess."

"Lea...." he stopped throwing rocks and layed down, resting on his elbows.

"Yea, you know her?"

"I do."

I looked down at him and saw that he was staring into space.

"What, do you like her?"

He looked at me. "I don't know."

I narrowed my eyes at him.

Yea you do, I thought.

I rolled my eyes.

After a moment of silence and runaway planning for me, I began looking for and throwing rocks again.

"She's having a party this weekend." I said.

"Oh."

"Do you want to go with me?"

"You're going?"

"Yea, she invited me today."

"Do you want me to come with you?"

"Well, yea, I just asked if you wanted to go with me." I popped a bubble with my gum.

"Cool."

I smirked. "Cool."

•••

"EVERYBODY GET UP. NOW!"

I was startled awake out of my sleep by the sound of my angry mother. I looked at my alarm clock.

2:01 AM

She really did get home late, I thought. It's two in the morning.

One by one, we all came out of our rooms and stood in the open space outside of them where mom had her arms crossed.

"Step forward if you did your chores."

Eli and Asia were the only ones who stepped forward. I almost stopped breathing when I saw large spots of black and blue on Asia's arms and legs. I looked at August who had more, but black and purple.

"EXCUSE ME, ABIGAIL PRICE, AM I NOT WORTH YOUR TIME?!"

"I'm sorry, what did you say?"

"Why-are-your-chores-not-done?

I clenched my jaw.

Don't talk to me like I'm dumb, I thought.

"I forgot."

"You forgot?" She narrowed her eyes at me. "YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO FORGET. WHAT DO YOU TAKE THIS FOR?! GET THEM DONE! NOW!!"

"Yes, mom."

One of my chores were cleaning the bathroom. I had to pass her to get to the washroom so I swallowed hard. I began to walk and just as I got to her side, she grabbed me by the neck and pulled me back in front of her, pushing my head up with her thumb under my chin.

"Try and forget again and you'll be black and blue like your brother and sister over there. Got it?"

"Yes, mom." I squeaked, voice trembling.

She let me go and I walked away with tears rolling down my face. I sniffed.

"And stop crying before I give you something to cry about!"

"Yes, mom."

•••

I finished everything by three and went down into the kitchen. I opened the freezer door, took out some ice and filled them into two small ziplock bags.

When finished, I opened the door slowly and quietly to Asia's room. She wasn't sleeping. She'd been crying and was now laying in bed staring at the ceiling. I knelt down in front of the bed and put a ziplock bag on her arm. That made her cry more. I wanted to cry with her but I had to be strong for her.

"It'll get better." I whispered. "Patience is a virtue."

She sniffed. "You got that from a fictional book."

"They're not lies, they're just not real stories."

"I wish this was a nightmare." More tears came pouring out of her eyes and into her ears. "I just want to wake up, Abby. I don't like this dream anymore. I want to wake up." She sobbed harder.

A tear rolled down my face and I hugged her.

"Ow!" She winced in pain.

"Sorry."

I wished it was a dream just as much as she did.

Maybe even more.