Performance of a Lifetime

Prologue

"You're grounded!" my mom yelled as soon as I walked in the door.

I was only 2 hours late, but to my mom, that's like being 2 weeks late. "I'm sorry! I got held up at school, helping with the council." I was. I was president of student council and our meeting ran late.

"This is the last time Ava, no more excuses. I don't know what punishment we should give you this time.."

Hopefully it wasn't cancelling our trip to the UK. It would be so fun to go, and I was really looking forward to it. "You aren't going to cancel our trip, are you?" I said, putting on my best innocent voice. Usually when I do something wrong I use my innocent voice, it works on my dad but my mom can see right through it.

"No,  of course not....not for us anyway. You on the other hand, are not going." she gave me a stern look, meaning she meant every word of it.

"But that's for 5 months! You can't just leave me here for 5 months! How am I supposed to buy groceries?" how could she do this? I don't have a job, meaning no money.

"Work for the money. You've got 2 weeks before we go. You'll think of something." she said, walking away to make dinner.

Great.

~~~

"Done." I said to my boss, as I finished putting the last jar of mayonnaise on the shelf.

I'm working for my mom's boss, Rick. He owned the grocery store around the corner from where I lived. She talked to him and he agreed to let me have this job for 2 weeks.

"Hm," he looked at every single mayonnaise jar, "Are you sure you counted them all?"

"Yes. There are 500 mayonnaise jars, 500 ketchup bottles and 500 mustard bottles." I said, with a hint of frustration in my voice.

~~~

"Bye! I'll miss you, be good!" my mom called from the car as she was packing every one.

"Bye, mom. I will." I waved back. I still can't believe she's just leaving me here.

I went back inside and turned on the TV. It was going to be a long 5 months.