Dragons, wolves and giants

Pigeon I Blame You

"Have a nice day," the Game-Stop employee hands me my bag as I walk out. I grab the bag, raising my hand in a wave goodbye. The doors swish behind me, and I head to my mother's car. The sidewalk crunches beneath my feet. I can hear the car engine running.

She is sleeping in the passenger seat. I knock on the window and she wakes up putting the seat upright. I open the driver's side and sit down. I set my new game next to me. Removing my bandana from the top of my head I sigh and lean my forehead on the wheel. My hair goes into my face and I brush it away.

"Time to head home?" my mom says reaching over to drink the iced coffee I got for her.

"Yeah. I have work tomorrow and I wanted to finish setting up my Xbox," I sit up and put the car into reverse as I talk.

"I have to be getting home to your brother. Are you coming over for his party on Saturday?" she asks. I back out of the parking spot and head to the road. I resist the urge to bang my head on the steering wheel.

"Who's going to be there?" I ask turning my blinker on.

"Just me, your dad, Wendy and your brother. The big party is going to be in a couple of weeks. You should go to that one and see your grandparents." We turn onto the road and I press down on the gas to reach the speed limit.

"You know why I don't show up to the big family events. I'll be there at the party this weekend." I get stuck behind a white van. Silence fills the car as we drive.

"What game did you get?" my mom asks, trying to get me to talk.

"Skyrim. A friend recommended it to me," I answer her.

"Ally?" she asks.

"Yeah. How did you know?"

"She's the only that still talks to you."

"Sam and them still talk to me," I snap back. Just because you never see them talking to me doesn't mean they don't talk to me at all.

I take a harsh turn onto the road with my apartment. My mom is quiet as I park outside of the doors. I get out and my mom pops the trunk as she gets out. I grab some bags of groceries and the bag with the game. My mom grabs the rest of the bags and we go inside. I head to the stairs as my mom heads to the elevator ignoring the out of order signs. She pushed the button and waits.

"It's broken. We have to take the stairs," I start walking back to the stairs. I hear my mom sigh as she follows me. I count the steps as I walk up them. One, two, three-

"Are you sure you doing okay out here all by yourself?" my mom huffs as she walks up the stairs.

"I'm doing okay. I almost have enough money for a down payment on my own car" I continue up the stairs.

"Your grandfather could get you a car for only a couple hundred" she continues talking.

"I just want to get one from the dealership," I tried to explain. We reach the second floor and turn left. The carpet in the hallway muffles the sounds of our footsteps. Putting my bags down I unlock the door to my apartment. My mom pushes past me into the hall. I follow behind stepping over the shoes that she knocked over. I put my stuff on the kitchen counter and looked at her.

"Thank you for taking me grocery shopping" I reach out to hug her.

"Why are you in such a rush to get me to leave?" she asks with an accusing tone.

"It's getting late and you have to be at home to put Ethan to bed" I respond looking at the floor. She continues to stand there not moving.

"I barely see you anymore. Just like your sister." her voice drips with anger. My guts twist with guilt at her words.