Recently Adjacent

RA 8: Make me angry...I dare you all!

I didn't sleep all night. Second time in a row I've done that. I don't know how I expect to get on with my day.

I slept on the couch with my sister's rose colored suitcase in my hands and I was on my back once again.

Oh boy.

The only reason I slept out here was because I planned on sneaking out while everyone was asleep, but I couldn't do it. I couldn't lay all that responsibility on Andrea.

I'm a coward.

Always have been.

That's why I left this place and that's also why I'm back here. Today. With my kids.

Yeah.

"Are you going to make me something?"

I hear a small raspy voice on my left. Mason.

"Great. You're up," I crouch down next to him, grab his shoulders, and whisper to him as he rubs his eye to wake himself up. "Now go grab your brother and sister so we can sneak- I mean...get out of here. You know, before the monoxide kicks in again."

"What about the lady?"

"What lady? Andrea?"

"Mmm hmm."

"We don't have to tell her anything. This is just between us. She doesn't have to know."

"Is it because you know she'll want us to stay?"

"Yeah. Sure."

"Cool. ANDREA!!!"

WHY?! just...why?

"What?!"

Andrea runs out of the room quickly with a baseball bat in hand and looks around frantically.

"What? What happened?" She crouches down to his level.

He sniffles and starts to sob.

The faker.

"Daddy Henry tried to take me away even though I said I felt like I had to throw up." Sob.

"Really," she asks, her voice laced with concern.

"Yeah. And he said he was gonna leave Robin and X behind because they were being-"

"Being what, dear?"

"I can't say it." Sniffle.

"Why not?"

"Because...because it's a bad word!" Que the water-freaking-works.

Andrea looks down before standing back up, towering over Mason.

"I know I'm no expert in child psychology, but I'm pretty sure that's a lie, kid."

All of a sudden, Mason's countenance completely changes to a completely unenthused one as he folds his arms over his tiny chest and says, "And how would you know?"