HIM

CHAPTER 7

Tick tick! Tick!
Shut up stupid alarm! Yeah, it was already 6a.m. What an annoying way to start your morning!
School normally starts at 7am,so this has always been my 'waking up' time. I always snooze it to thirty minutes later. Maybe today I chose to be different, just dismissed it and got out of bed.
I yawned and rubbed my eyes as I made my way to the kitchen. I looked into the fridge to find a carton of milk before I heard Mum's voice right behind me.
"Looking for anything? "
"Uhmm, I was looking for you."
   In the fridge?
Well that was unintended.

"Linn? In the fridge? " She asked laughing at me.

"Am sorry, guess am still sleepy but walking. "

"You sure can say that again, anyway why not have breakfast with Mommy today? "
That sounded really good. I mean, it's been long since we had breakfast together.

"Sure, so long as you don't fail to remind me it's a school day. "
Not that I was going to forget anyway.

We talked about how work was going, it was good she said, talked about school, town, money,blah blah; all those silly talks you know. Before she finally said it was time to depart. Gossiping with your mother is a whole different cup of tea: we literally forgot to finish breakfast over the talk. Funny I know.

Got myself ready in less than fifteen minutes. Do you take more than that? Lucky you then, this is me. On my way to the living room, I saw her struggle with some kind of pain.
"Mum, are you OK? " I was kind of terrified for her.
"Yes my dear, I am. Just a minor thing, don't worry yourself. "

"You sure, I mean, I've never seen you like that before? "

"Am good, thank you for your concern. See me smile, " she said and she really smiled. The smile of a strong woman. That was Mommy! I was now sure she was, though part of me refused it.
"If you say so, am off to school."

"When is the competition dear? "
Oh yeah, the writing competition.

"Tomorrow, from 11am till evening," I was glad she remembered to ask.
"I'll be there then, I promise. So make me proud, OK? "

"Thank you, I sure will," I replied as I gave her a goodbye hug. Then in the next minute I was out of the house.

There was nothing eventful in the school. I was alone almost all my school days along these lane. All over you'd see students in two's or three or even more. Was I so much of an anti-social? Even the other three friends I had were through May. Couldn't I at least make a friend on my own? Oh, there's Flen. Speaking of him, I miss him. But I just talked to him yesterday, right? How in the...

"Hello," someone interrupted my thoughts.
"Good morning, " I replied looking up and meeting the gaze of those deep blue eyes.
Bill!
"What's playing  in that small head, you seem to be lost in thoughts?"

"Nothing, " I tried to act so normal, not like someone who'd just been in some other world a few minutes ago.

"I hope that nothing doesn't lead you to knocking others ahead. Good day," he said giving me a wink.

That meant nothing, right? Come on! What else could that mean?
    Linn!! Would you just shut up and get moving!

Yes, moving. I moved to class and found myself sitting next to May.
"Hello girl, " she said happily.
"Hello May, I missed you. "
Wait! Did I even mean to say that?

I rarely tell people how I miss them, or I don't even miss them at all. But I had missed Flen earlier! Was it wrong? Or maybe...
"Aaw! I missed you too," she interrupted my thoughts again.

But I guess it was true I had missed May. It's been long since we had a talk just the two of us, hang out together, baked out the worst cake, pop some corn and sleep next to each other. It's been long since we had a...

"Girls night! Yes, that was it! " I didn't even notice I was shouting.
"Did you just say Girls night? " May asked.

"Yes, it's been long since we had one. Last week was Miranda's birthday, the other one I don't even remember what happened. So why not this weekend then, at my home? May? "

"Wow! You're right. Let's do it baby girl! On Friday night, tomorrow that is. "
"Sure."
That was done.
"And don't forget that tomorrow am up for a huge task in front of some judges," I added.

"I'll be there of course, " she said. I felt happy like my day was complete.
Maybe if I had more friends, life would be happier.

As I entered the gate that evening from school, I couldn't just think of what to write best for tomorrow. I wasn't satisfied with what I had already. I stepped on the veranda which was the first stop after the gate. It had two benches, flower pots and a bird table. Then came the main door to the house now. Inside the theme was wild lilac and cream: the walls and the three sofas plus a recliner which was always my favorite. Mum had chosen purple for the bottom part of it, and cream for the upper.
In the middle was a coffee table with a flower vase on top. There was the TV set in one corner, the bookcase right beside it. Pictures on the walls, dolls and a radiator all completed the living room which had floorboards and a rug.
To the left,the first corner was the kitchen. A complete kitchen to say so. Cutlery, kitchen units, a dishwasher, shelves, worktop, utensils;all made their stay there.
Then there was the rarely used dining room.
To the right was where the bedrooms were. Mum's room came first, then a small corridor before mine came to view, few metres ahead was Jamie's room. Along that line was the washrooms. There was another door past the washrooms that led to the sitting room as well.
The back door opened to a small sunshade, then there was the small vegetable garden right ahead. The well-trimmed lawn, a water butt and the compost bin.
Mum had made sure she maintained the house to always being a home.
She wasn't home yet, so I went to my room thinking of what tomorrow would bring.