The Flare

Chapter 3

My mother has been gone 3 years now. My brother, though he's very smart, believes that she's traveling the world. He's only 8 but is in a 4th grade class.
I'm in my last year of school and wish my mother could see me graduate. My father completely shut down after she died, so I'm taking care of Jace.
"Estelle! Hurry up I'm gonna be late for school!"
"Wow I thought I'd never hear a little boy wanna go to school!" I said as I ran and rounded the corner of the stairs.
"Well I'm not like most boys in my class!
I laughed as he ran out the door to my volts-wagon bug. Or my mom's, she gave it to me before she died. I opened the door to the car and he was bouncing up and down looking at his watch and looking back.
"Come one, come on, come on! Only ten minutes until academic team starts!" He said impatiently.
"Ok, ok. See I'm putting the keys in the ignition." I put the keys in slowly and turned it even slower.
"Come on!!! Stop acting like dad when he's holding mom's picture!" He yelled.
I stopped immediately. Staring out the window. He's never said anything about dad and his obsession with mom's picture.
"Estelle I'm sorry. I didn't mean..."
"Lets take you to school." I interrupted.
I started the engine and pulled out of the drive way. We drove all the way to Whites Tower Elementary, Jace's school, in silence. He started to get out when I grab his backpack just automatically. "Hey, have a good day ok. I love you."
"Look I'm sorry about what I said today I-"
"Don't worry about it. Just have a good day," I interrupted.
He nodded his head and went into the building. Tears were streaming down my face that I did not notice before. I hope Jace didn't see them. I wiped my eyes and started the car. I would not be like the ten families that have lost someone. I'm going to be strong, not weak.