Like Chalk and Cheese | ✏️

Chapter 4 - Rith

Mteay = Mother
Aupok = Father
Pou = Uncle

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As I pick up a piece of beef from the floor, a drip of red curry sauce drips from the edge of the table onto my forehead, making Greta giggle. Danique arrives with more napkins and two wet cloths, and the three of us continue to clean up the worst accident I've ever done in my entire life. 

My hands are going to smell like curry for the next decade. God, how can my parents fit so much inside our serving bowl?

My face falls as I stand up and see that chunks of rice have been impacted on the carpet. Grimacing, I get on my hands and knees, and pick away at the smushed white grains, flicking it into a nearby bin. 

"Okay, not to look at a silver lining or anything, but did either of you see the look on the guy's face when the curry hit him?" Greta says, beginning to cackle, before turning to Danique, "Did you?"

She rolls her eyes at Greta. "I didn't. Look, can we just focus on cleaning? Don't think Rith's in the mood to be cheered up at the moment."

Greta looks at me, and her face falls. She quickly gets back to wiping the floor. Danique sighs, looking at the girl with a tinge of regret, before cleaning up the final bits of spillage on the table. 

Honestly, I could have used a bit of humour. God knows I'm in for it the moment my parents step out of the kitchen.  

"Thank you guys, for helping me," I say, looking at the both of them. Greta's frown turns into a tiny smile, and Danique nods, quirking the corner of her lip up. "I appreciate you both."

"What are best friends for, Rith?" Danique says. 

Greta's eyes twinkle. "We're always here for you, like how you're here for us."

I nod, smiling to myself. Despite everything that's happened today, I'm grateful to be friends with these two. 

Pou, who's standing at the bar, clicks his tongue and says my name, snapping my attention. He nods towards the doorway, where the final group of patrons are leaving the bar. I look around, and it's desolate in here; quiet, calm, and peaceful. Pou flicks over the closed sign on the glass door, and we both breathe a huge breath of relief. 

Another day, done.

As Pou walks back to the bar, the kitchen door opens, and I see mum talking to him. He looks at me, and judging from his panicked glances towards me, I know that I'm in for some major shit. 

The kitchen door closes once more, and Pou makes his way towards me. Danique's just stood up, having finished the table, and Greta's finished absorbing the curry into a towel from the carpet. They both eye each other, then me, as Pou reaches us. 

"Mteay and aupok want to see you," he said, lowering his voice, "and, they're not happy at all."

I hear Greta whisper to Danique, asking what my uncle just told me. Sighing, I spy the kitchen door, Mum and Dad most likely waiting behind it with crossed arms and at least one kitchen utensil for smacking. 

"Let's get this over with," I say, rolling my shoulders in a feeble attempt to shrug off the anxiety that is building. As I reach the double-swinging doors, I see Pou help Greta and Danique gather the towels for disposal. I sigh and push them open. 

Aupok's sitting at the table near the entrance, his reading glasses on as he tallies up the money from the register and the EFTPOS machines. Mteay is slicing up chicken and beef breasts for tomorrow. She eyes me as the doors behind me fall still.