Beneath the clear blue sky

Beneath the clear blue sky chapter 6

CHAPTER VI

THE MINTY WALLS

            The day had started,I realized I was in the hospital.My dad was still sleeping,he looked calm like a pleasant Canadian prairie without the tractors.Thankfully it was saturday,a break from school.Ever since school had started it seemed like the weekends barely came,the rush of the hours in school had made my days seem so short and meaningless.The ward room was cold,not because of the aircon but the minty green walls which made the atmosphere seemed like im in a daze.I stared out the window,hoping to join the sun outside.There were children playing at the playground,they seemed to be on their own.Their independence  made me smile,when I was their age,I wouldn't even want to roam around town on my own and I always held my mom's hand whenever we go to the supermarket.Shopping mall is a different story,the vastness of the area adds up to the horror I felt when I   was once a lost child in a can food section.I was separated from my family when I deviated as I was too curious about the photograph of a cat on a can,the cat was disturbing,it has huge green eyes which was obviously digitally manipulated.The next thing I knew was that my family were not with me and the cat's eye grew bigger,I walked aimlessly around the shopping mall,hoping to find my family or someone who might recognize me and bring me home.

                     A woman came up to me and asked me.'Where are your parents?',all I can say was 'my name is Maximillian'.My mom taught me to tell my name when I'm lost,so that it would be easier to identify me when such situation occurs.I was asked to sit in a round foamy chair and talk to the mic which was held real close to my mouth by a sales lady,I assumed that her name was 'Rugby' as it was  written on her name plate,or maybe I read it wrongly or worse it was spelled wrongly.I opened my mouth and said 'Mom! come pick me up at the information counter',I knew my mom recognized my voice as she rushed to the counter to fetch me and spank me till my butt was soar.Clearly,it wasn't my fault,it was the eerie green bug-eyed cat.

                     The children were later joined by their parents,I felt envious as I had never seen such a perfect family complete with a cherry on top.I turned to my father and caught him staring at me.'Have you had your breakfast yet?' asked dad.'No I'm fine,I'm used to it' I replied with a deep voice.'Im sorry Lian' dad said looking down.'Dad,there's no need to be sorry about,what happened last night was an accident' I said accurately.'No,I meant for everything,I know I have been giving you a hard time at home,I want to make it up to you' dad replied.Then we were quiet for a moment.

'What about Lana?' I asked.

'She's on her own now,Lian you have to understand the situation' Dad replied with a different tone.

'what situation?' I replied.

'That night when she hit the car,she knew she had caused so much trouble,she had to stay away'.

'It's not about that dad,It's you who pushed her away'.

'Lana's different now,she have changed,I can't control her anymore'

'Because she's not a kid anymore! you have to let her go'.

'and what? make the same mistakes over and over again?!,mistakes that she will regret all her life?'

'Lana's going through tough times and she needs our support'.

'Lian,you don't understand,you're just a kid,you don't know what you believe in'.

'Then tell me what I should believe in..'

'Lana's on drugs'.

'That's a lie'.

'It's the truth'.

'Were not gonna have this conversation,Im going to have my breakfast now'

                I shut the door behind me,hoping that the world would end in a blink of an eye.I ran out of the hospital as fast as I can,to the middle of nowhere,to the middle of my frustrated fears.Tears were trickling down my cheeks,the truth actually hurts,I thought it only happens in the movies,so cinematic,so enigmatic,so scripted,so unreal and too cheesy.

I bumped on someone, 'Hey! watch were you going!' a guy scowled at me.It was the guy from the Red Rooster.

'Im sorry' I replied and turned away.

'Wait,are you ok?' he asked pulling my left wrist.

'Yeah I'm fine,it's just that I have not had my breakfast is all' I lied.

'Is that the reason why you're crying?'.

'Look whatever it is,it's none of you're business'.

'Sorry,just concerned,Im Nick by the way'.

'Lian'.

'Hmmm you seem familiar'.

'Yeah,I'm the one who applied for a job at Red Rooster'.

'Right,I lost your number,that's why I wasn't able to tell you that you can work at Red Rooster only on weekends '.

                        I gave him a smile and my number.That piece of news made my ugly morning into a less ugly one.Somehow,that job will take my mind off things,and allow my heart to regenerate,I don't know if my heart can handle anymore problems.'So I guess I'll see you at the Red Rooster this Saturday,don't be late!' Nick said.'Ok see ya' I replied.We both turned to our own way and continued walking.As we parted,my stomach's growling grew louder.I turned my head and saw nick standing still on the pavement,I stopped and stare,wondering what's wrong.Atlast,he waved and I nod.

                            That afternoon was scorching hot,I made a pitch of lemonade,usually I would just make a glass,but since Sandy's coming over,thought it would be nice to make a pitch to share with my best friend.'Lian! open this freaking door,I'm burning here!' Sandy exclaimed.'Alright,wait a second' I replied unlocking the screen door.We sat on the sofa with our drinks in our hand.'The wasted one's having a party this week end,you in?' Sandy started.'Does Hana Williams even have the money?' I replied laughing.'It will be held at her aunt's place' said Sandy.'Hmmm...I don't know,I'm not even invited' I said.'Don't worry about it!..I'll be your patron'.'Fine..but I'll be staying only for awhile,you'll be flirting with the girls anyway and leave me in the corner' I said fiddling with my hair.'You're allowed to meet new people,you know that right?' Sandy said.'Im just not used to parties,awkward conversations with the gossips and wasted kids' I replied.'In that case,you can pull anyone to come along..' Sandy said looking worried.'Yes! I'll bring Vina!' I said excitedly.'The missing goody-two-shoes's cousin Vina?' Sandy said even more worried.