Patience - By AMDelaney

03

There were few chairs still full after a while. Most people at this hour have probably gone home to their families, who will all empathise and keep your chin up. I don't have that right now, though I want it so bad. I drift away from where I had waited, leaving my worries where I sat and peer through one of the many small, square windows along the wall. It is as if it is painted, a moving picture, filled with rows of buildings, all shapes and sizes. And as you look closer you saw more. The lights in each window shining as bring as the others causing the streets to glitter. The people on the streets never seem to stop. The cars pour through the streets like the river that flows along side it. In the far distance the sun begins to rest, illuminating the haze of pollution and the trees stood strong on the distant hills, like soldiers.

***
We helped Dad carry the last of his things to the taxi parked at the gate. Everything was crammed into the good of the sleek black Audi, and then came the water works. Dad gave Alexa and I the biggest bear hug I ever knew, picking us up and swing us around. He placed back on our two feet and smiled at mum. "I'll miss you Ray." She muffled, trying to hold in the tears. "It's okay, stay positive, the girls need you. Only a few months that's all." He smiled and kissed mum on the cheek, turning into a long hug.

Pulling away from mum he put on his cap, messing up his short blonde hair, which was parted right down the centre, combed on top and shorter on the sides. Dad turned and headed for the car and gave one last wave out the car window as he drove down the road into the distance. Mum's tears persuaded me to do the same, us all with cheeks and eyes as red as roses. Alexa and I followed mum inside and flopped down on the couch. "How about a movie?" She smiled, trying to get dad out of her head.

We scrambled to the shelves and pulled every DVD we could from the walls and onto the floor, which could even be seen. After debating for hours over which movie were best mum grabbed us each a bowl of ice cream and we watched the best movie of all time, The Lady And The Tramp.

It's stuck around since then, sitting with a homemade ice cream sundae topped with sprinkles and syrups of all flavours drooling down the sides. Making it was the best part, mum would disagree. She says I need to be more organized and tidy, like Alexa, but that's just not my thing. I prefer things just as they are, no need for boxes and folders and dividers. The teachers in my school agree. With Alexa as a sister it's hard to keep up to standard. My grades aren't good enough, because Alexa gets straight A's but I really do try. Sometimes I wish I had a different sister, more like me, but I wouldn't change her for the world. She is the only person on this earth that truly knows me. She has taught me most of what I know too, she knows everyone inside out, even teachers. I hate teachers, Alexa does to she says, but I don't think so.

The first day of school I didn't want to go, that was after watching Matilda five times over. I was petrified of school, mum told me it would be okay, so I believed her half heartedly, until Alexa reassured me, then I was one hundred percent sure. I bussled around the house looking for all my things, and times have never changed. Mum pulled my hair back into two French plaits, which I then pulled out and begged Alexa to the my hair back into a slick ponytail. I stood in the mirror and stared at myself. A baggy royal blue jumper, the sleeves rolled up at the end to just about show my small frail hands, the collar of my pale blue shirt poking out of the v-necked jumper with a loose striped tie. The grey skirt was long, down over my knees, meeting the grey high knee socks which lead down to my little black leather shoes, each with one little leather bow on the top and one thin Velcro strap which was loosely done. I wasn't sure if I liked it or not, but I knew either way I was going to have to put up with it.

I picked up my small purple school bag, nothing but a lunchbox inside. Alexa helped me put on my fluffy black coat and we went out into the car on the icy cold morning. The car bumped along the road, just like any other. I looked out the window to see the millions of cars swarmed around us. The sounds of car horns and road rage grew louder. Mum pulled over and shook her head. "Flat tyre." She sighed, turning around to the back seat. She turned back around and stared at the clock in dismay. "Girls! School starts in five minutes! Run!" We all climbed out of the car and mum smiled at me, "Good luck today Em." And kissed me on the forehead. Alexa started to drag me by the arm through the busy street. I managed to wave back, before running as fast as my little legs could carry me to a place I wasn't even sure I wanted to go to.

I huffed and puffed as we reached the school, the deafening sound of the bell ringing in our poor ears. I put my hands over my cold ears and continued to run to a place I didn't even know if I would love or hate.

***
I sit still in my seat, wanting to run. To run and see my family or the run and escape this mess, I still do not know.