Through the Mist

Chapter Two

"Do we have any food in this house at all?" Rose asked irritably the next morning.

"I'm sorry, honey, I haven't had time to get to the store, yet. Hopefully I'll be able to get something today, after Alex's appointment, I check over the first draft of the newspaper, and- oh, Alex's appointment! I need to get the insurance information sorted out so he can actually have an appointment...oh dear, did I even pay the insurance bill this month?” She rambled on, more to herself than to Rose.

Christina sighed. “I have some money from babysitting the twins. I can get us something at 7-11 or something on the way to school.”

“Ok, this is not The freakin' Boxcar Children, you don’t need to "mother hen" me. I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself.” Rose said, picking up her backpack, opening the back door and walking out into the alley.

Christina rolled her eyes, “She is such a drama queen, I was just trying to be nice.”

“I know, honey, but the strain is affecting all of us differently, just let her sort through it all her way, ok?”

“Whatever, I have to get going if I’m going to stop somewhere to get breakfast.” Christina said, somewhat annoyed.

“I’m sorry, I really am, I didn’t want it to be this way, Chrissy.” Her mother said, weakly.

Christina looked back at her mom and realized how much stress and pain she was in right now. She sighed and said as kindly as possible. “I know, mom, its ok.”

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“Hey there, delinquent.” Jackson said, shoving Christina a little.

“Whoops.” Christina said, glancing at her watch. She had missed first period.

“Yeah, I had to grab a muffin on the way and I guess I got a little sidetracked.” She said, lowering her voice. “I stopped at the bank, Jackson. We have no money left at all, our home is being foreclosed.”

Jackson ran his fingers through his shaggy hair. “I guess you’ll have to come stay at my place, I don’t know how you guys are going to fit though...”

Christina cringed as she thought about the tiny apartment Jackson shared with his father, when he was around that is. Jackson didn’t exactly have a stable living situation either. His mom was in jail for possession and his dad technically had custody but he was barely there. That was partly why he understood what Christina was going through.

“Are you sure? Even without your dad, we’re still going to be cramped, we’ll be sleeping in your kitchen/living room/dining room, plus all our stuff...no, no its fine, you don’t want to deal with all that. ” Christina said, firmly, making up her mind.

“Come on, Christina, I finally get the chance to repay you for all the times you kept me at your house when my dad got bad, and you’re going to deny me it?”

“This will never work! Where is all our stuff going to go, where is all your stuff going to go? Where-”

“Then it’s settled, you’ll come to my house until your mom finds somewhere else.” Jackson interrupted firmly, taking her hand. “Now come on, we’re late for English.”

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That night at a dinner of semi-expired oatmeal someone had found in the back of the pantry, the girl’s mother announced she had some news for them.

“I’m not really sure how you’re going to take it, so, I’m just going to say it.” She paused a second and, taking a deep breath, said nervously,

“Girls, I’m going to have to send you to live with Aunt Kristi.”

“What?!” They both chorused.

“Aunt Kristi? But she lives in ENGLAND!” Christina said, with a mixture of indignance and confusion.

“And she’s so weird, like, really weird like-” Rose stuttered, taken aback by the news. “Why on earth would you send us *there*?”

How long would it be?” Christina asked, ever practical. “And what about Jackson, I can’t just leave him here, what about his dad! What about me, I need him! He was the only one there for me when dad left, I can’t just leave him” She repeated desperately.

“One at a time, guys.” Their mom said, with a pained look in her eyes. “I have to send you there because I can’t care for you adequately anymore, I want you to have the best you can have, and I can’t give that to you right now, I’m sorry.” Christina saw an army of tears behind her mother’s eyes, fighting to get out. “It will only be for a little while, I promise, just until I can get a better job, I just want to able to know that you will be okay, with food to eat and roof over your head, I’m sorry.” The tears won the battle and started to slowly slip down her cheeks. “I’m so sorry about Jackson, honey, I know how close you are, but you can’t stay here anymore, I’m going to go live in a shelter with Alex, but I want you two to have a home and food and...I’m sorry”

Christina sat in stunned silence, taking in her mother’s words.

Rose got up, went into her room and slammed the door.

And their mother sat there, wiping tears away and rocking Alex in her arms.