One Way Trip to a Dead End

Chapter 4

"April, what would you like on your pizza?" My mom asked.

"Pepperoni!" I exclaimed in excitement! I couldn't wait for two things; to trick the delivery man and to eat some delicious pizza.

"Hello sir, may we please have two pepperoni pizzas and a Hawaiian pizza please?" My dad requested through the phone, repeating the word "please" because my dad is a generous man. "All of them a medium size, please." I was squealing of excitement from inside and let it out through hyperventilating on the outside. "Yes, that's great, thank you. Bye." And my dad completed the order.

I was running around the house like a madman by that time and hoped it would help time fly.

"One minute left till 2012!" My mom made me aware. I instantly stopped running about and hopped onto the bench between my parents. Before I knew it we were counting down the seconds. Ten, nine, eight seven, six, five, four, three, two... ONE! "HAPPY NEW YEAR" we exclaimed to each other. "May this year bring pride and joy to our family!" My dad said. What I remember feeling like forever, turned out being an instant and the delivery man rung our doorbell.

"Excuse me sir, but we ordered the pizzas last year!" My dad said as soon as he opens the door acting to be upset.

I was about to laugh like nobody's business and roll on the floor like nobody's business but I stopped myself the moment I noticed my dad froze. I glanced at him but then looked carefully at who the man actually was standing in front of us.

"Happy new year to you too Mr Brook!" The man said with an evil smile and low voice and before I knew it he jumped forward dropping the pizza and attempted to hurt my father. My dad ducked away but fell knocking the ground hard. I screamed till my throat went dry and quickly fled away from the door to my mom. Through her frustration, she left my company and thrust her body onto the man but he managed to protect himself and dropped her to the ground. My eyes filled up with tears and I was screaming "help!" repeatedly and crouched behind the couch. "Please sir please." I started begging.

"You're next," are the last words I hear from the horrible nightmare when I find my self sitting up right in Aunt Julie's cozy guest bed. I am breathing rapidly and my hands are shaking. My arms are shaking. My whole body is shaking. But I am thanking god that, firstly, it was a dream (of a happy memory of New Year's Eve that has apparently been distorted) and that, secondly, I get to wake up in the morning from the nightmare while the beautiful sun shines through the big window into my room which comforts me. Waking up in the middle of the night to this dissatisfying dream would make it more of a nightmare.

I check the time and see that it is ten o'clock.

I thrust myself of the bed and awkwardly stumble into the bathroom to wash my face. Yesterday, we had nice and long stroll in Hyde Park and sat and relaxed on the grass. Then we got up again and went to eat at an Indonesian restaurant. The food was deliciously spiced and smelled amazing and so I enjoyed a feasty meal for dinner. Finally we walked all the way back to this maisonette and therefore my legs feel cramped today as we did a whole load of walking. Well at least I know I got some good exercise done.

I look into the mirror. My brown hair with its touch of blonde is messily tied up into a bun. I notice a few zits on my face but it isn't anything I am too bothered about. I walk out of the bathroom after refreshing and enter my parents' bedroom to find it empty. No parents, no open suitcases, no nothing. 

I quickly return to my bedroom to dress into a flower dress with a pink vest. I pull out the sandals from my luggage and bring them downstairs. When I enter the living room, I see Aunt Julie's short figure standing in front of the front door. Her grey-brown hair just reaching her shoulders are straight and hang loose unlike yesterday when she tied it up. Something about the way she looked made me notice only now that she's around her forties.