Blondie - IT (2017) R.T.

2: staph infection

After everyone left, I helped my mom mop the kitchen floor and dust the living room. When we finished, my mother opened the fridge to pull out supplies to make dinner. We ended up making meatballs in gravy with noodles. We sat and ate together, my mom telling me about her day and me listening as I always did. After we finished eating, I did dishes as mom changed into her nightgown. She sat on the plastic covered couch, her leg bounced and made the annoying crinkling sound. I handed her a cup of tea with a smile, patting her cheek. She smiled back at me but her attention on the sitcom she had turned on. I watched her smile at the TV as I made my way up the stairs. I opened the door to the bathroom and walked in, locking the door behind me. I opened the shower curtain and turned the water on hot, pulling up the bar to turn the shower on. I closed the curtain and stepped back. I looked in the mirror and wiped my face with the rag on the counter to get the dirt and sweat off. I pulled my hair tie off my hair, my blonde curls falling around my face. A couple of my locks still had pink tips from when I used kool aid packet to dye my hair for a costume last halloween.  I pulled my striped shirt off and tossed it on the floor by the door. I kicked off my shorts and under garments before hopped into the steamy shower. I showered in the small space until the water ran cold, using the time to sing songs to myself and also practice my monologue from the play earlier this year. After all of that, I jumped out and wrapped myself in a fluffy towel. I pulled open the door after picking up my clothes off the floor and quickly scampered into my room and began to get dressed after pulling my curtains closed.

I pulled on some shorts and a big T-shirt and yawned as I threw my dirty clothes in the hamper. I brushed through my hair then pulled it into a ponytail. I opened the door to my room and walked downstairs to get my mom. Her cup of tea was empty and sat on the coffee table, I picked it up and washed it as I let her finish her episode of her tv show. I put the cup in the dish drainer and walked back into the living room and turned off the TV. "Ready for bed mom?" I smiled at her and she smiled back. She stood and grabbed my hand. I took her to her room she shared with my stepdad. "Good night mom." I hugged her. "Good night honey." She hugged back. She walked into the room where her bed was and laid down. I closed the door and went back downstairs. I was cleaning up more when the door opened. "Hi Alice." Chris, my stepdad, said as he kicked off his loafers and took off his suit jacket. "Hello. I put mom to bed." I said as I folded some laundry. I didn't look up, I didn't have to to know he had the same look on his face he always did when he was alone with me. "Thanks." He said as he pulled himself upstairs. I nodded. I placed all the folded clothing back into the laundry basket and began to follow him upstairs. At the top of the stairs he stopped and looked at me for a second. "Good night kiddo." He ruffled my hair and made a disgusted face. "Night." I mumbled as he walked away. I yawned and walked into my room. I walked in and Honey sat on my bed. I climbed in and turned off my side table lamp, closing my eyes and falling asleep.

The next morning I woke up kinda early for summer, but it was fine because I knew it would be worth it. Honey skirted down the stairs to go outside after I opened my door. I walked into the bathroom to brush my teeth, catching my mom on her way out. She was already dressed and ready for the day. My mother was not well. She had a medical condition that was basically rotting her brain until she was treated. By the time it was gone my father was done paying medical bills and "putting up" with her childish ways. He left about 4 years ago when I was 9. I hadn't seen him since but I knew he payed child support. My mom adapted to her new life and medical conditions, she could still cook and clean but that was about it. So she was now engaged to Chris, a nice man who cared for her but not me. He isn't to nice to me and makes rude remarks about me being a tramp because of the kids I hang out with. Let it be implied that he's a dick. But he takes care of mom and pays the rent. He pushes me to get good grades so I'll be more likely to go to college.