One Way Trip To Happiness?

Chapter 3

I opened the front door and stepped into the hallway. I breathed in and out, I was still in shock. That was not Mei, the Mei I know would have coward away and endured it.

"Mom?" I called into the silent house, no one answered.

I kicked off my heels and made my way to the kitchen, I saw the mess of papers sitting on the table, I sat down and started flicking through them.

Bills,bills,more bills, rates, flight tickets.

Mom must be pretty stressed I thought.

I lifted a pen and started going through the 'Goodbye! We are going travelling!' cards mom had bought to send the family and friends, cheesy.

Mom had made a list out and I started writing them out.

Aunt Minda, Aunt Lucy, Uncle Rob, Terri and the rest of the neighbours.

I put a stamp on each of them and took them all out to the postbox.

Outside it was getting dark and I realised mom should have been home by now. I quickly posted the cards through the neighbours doors and returned to the house.

I found the emergency numbers and called mom's work.

"Hello, Limber&Parker's how can I help you?"

"Ellie?" I asked  mom's P.A.

"Mei? Is that you?"

"Yeah, yes it is."

"Did Raine leave something at work?" she asked.

I froze.

"Mom isn't there?" I asked starting to panic.

"No...she left at the usual time." Ellie replied.

"Oh....Ok, thanks Ellie." I said

"Is everything Ok? Do you want me to-"

I hung up.

"Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit." I seethed as I ran to grab my shoes and a jacket and my keys and I leave.

I ran out into the street, it was dark and the street lights lit the street up dimly, my heart thudded out off my chest. I had no idea what to do, Mom never goes anywhere without telling me, she knows how much I worry.

I ran over to The Butch house and knocked furiously on the door.

"Mei dear, everything ok?" Wendy Butch said looking concerned.

"No, not really Mrs Butch, have you heard from my Mom?" I asked

"No dear not since yesterday...is she gone?"

I winced, nearly in tears I nodded.

Wendy furrowed her brows for a minute.

"Come on in dear." She said taking my shoulders and guiding me in like a mother hen attending to her chicks.

Her two sons Benny and Charlie were watching some T.V show about trucks.

"Hey Mei." Benny the oldest said.

"Hi.." I said vaguely

I sat down and fiddled with the hem on my jacket.

I heard Wendy talking to Mark her husband outside the door.

"-she was nearly in tears-"

"Should I take the car out and look-"

"-girl, what should I do?"

"-in case she comes back."

I could only hear snippets of what they were discussing.

Wendy came in wearing her warm smile. A very fake one, but I knew it was only to fake calmness, I'd seen such a smile before.