MY MIND(ON HOLD)

CHAPTER TWO

Family,
The word that brings laughter to my
ears,
The people who hold to me no matter
my fears,
The people who make me want to
cry,
The persons who made me want to
try,
My horrible people that would always
be there,
Even when I am not so near.
__ DAVID SOMFE.

************
"America Andrews!!!, get your lazy ass off that bed right now!!"; My Mom clamored.
I wasn't really a morning person not to talk of a night person. I always threw tantrums whenever Mom shouted like that . It was annoying. It was like she was hell bent on making me fall off the bed. I loved sleeping but Christmas being an horrible month didn't allow that as a rule in my house.
It was only two days to Christmas, and it already felt like it was Christmas day itself. My Mom loved Christmas and she always says it was her duty to make the best out of it and for one reason my mind never failed to ask her 'Are you a freaking Santa Claus? '.
Making my way down the stairs groggily, I couldn't help but feel annoyed. I felt like throwing tantrums again, but I just knew that Mom wouldn't bulge, like the last time I threatened to jump of the window. I was so surprised by her reaction. She didn't beg me or cry to me to leave the window. I remember her exact words
they were; " You want to jump off the window and you don't even know how to do it right. There's grass down there, it would be great if you jumped down on a concrete floor, then it would serve you right". I knew she hadn't meant it but that was enough to make me leave the window. My Mom loved us unconditionally. She didn't have to tell us, we already knew 'cause it was written all over her face.
"America!, get down here this instant "
"Coming "; I said making way to the kitchen.
" Go get the Christmas Ornaments from the basement ,you and California will be putting them on the Christmas tree "
"Do I always have to do this every year? "; I asked.
"Yes, you have to until you and California learn to wake up early on days before Christmas"
"They are crucial times"; she added.
'says Mrs Santa Claus '; I thought.
"get going will you? "
"Wait"; she said stopping me on my tracks.
"Tell Maine to follow you get the Christmas lights from the basement and after that go wake California up, if possible throw her off the bed"
"That girl never listens"; she muttered.
Honestly, I didn't have a problem working with Cali. In fact, I loved working with her, everything became fun with her around. Cali was a print of the old book, but Mom never seemed to realize that.
"Maine"; I called out knocking on the door of his room.
"What is it"
"Won't you let me in?"
"Come in"; replying in a crabby voice.
Twisting the door knob, I made my way towards his room. For one reason, I didn't expect to see his room scattered or in any way messy. That was because my brother was impeccably clean, neat, tidy and anything related to not being dirty. Mom really loved him for that but she never understood why he was that neat. Ever since mom grounded him for a whole year cause he didn't brush his teeth just for a day. That was when I knew my mom was beyond being hilarious. She was really serious that day. Since then, I noticed a change in him and I guess Mom really did well in teaching him to be tidy.
"Mom said, you should follow me go to the basement to get the Christmas lights"; I spoke up.
"funny"; he replied giving a huff .
"I'm serious, I think you gonna be stuck putting those Christmas lights on the front porch"
"urghhhh!!"
"But don't worry Cali and I would keep you company "
"No way!!,I don't need crazy sisters getting on my nerves "
"Whatever you say brother "
"Let's get going "; he said waving me off.
         Maine was the eldest of my siblings and the most practical. He was a 23 year old Therapist and a renowned Consultant. I always wondered how he achieved that at a very young age, because back in highschool Maine was like the school 's 'bad guy' who girls drooled over. He still remained the same except that he had gotten a little bit manlier and more handsome. If Maine wasn't our big brother who protected us and scared all the boys away from us in school, I would have dated him straight up cause my looks weren't the problem. I had always been told I was beautiful but who cares when your beauty doesn't make you happy what the hell was the use. I am actually a brunette with straight curly hair, blue-green eyes and a pretty moderate shape. I'm not to curvy and I'm certainly grateful to God for that.
          Making our way towards the small opening below the ground, I climbed down the stairs while Maine followed my lead. The basement was always cold and dusty, because it was literally the place where we kept the things we didn't need anymore. Searching the boxes of the Christmas ornaments, my hands fell on a portrait. It was an old picture of my family. My Dad held my Mom around her waist ,while my mom cuddled me in her arms and Carli, Rhode and Maine were standing facing the camera. Tracing my hands through the portrait, memories kept bustling in my head and a tear escaped from the corner of my eye. I felt a hand on my shoulder patting me soothingly.
"Come on, I thought you were the strongest of us all why the sudden breakdown?, letting your emotions out isn't a wrong thing but it's the fact that when you let them out it gives you this feeling of emptiness which no one deserves. He is gone and there's nothing we can do about it."
"Mr Maine Andrews, I didn't ask for one of your therapy sessions"; I said brushing out my tears.
" But you would be paying for it and that would be $40,000".
"How do you even get patients? "; I asked which he replied with a laughter.
"I really don't know, I guess when you are depressed or going through serious issues you wouldn't care about the money but just a solution"
"You know, I have always accepted the results life brings and I know there's a reason for everything, but sometimes I wish I knew what the reason was"; he
said and I just wish he knew.
"Me too"; I replied.
There were things life or even our parents never taught us to do, things that had instincts and flowed through no matter the actions we portrayed. Things like crying, sadness, happiness, anger and laughter. They were the core things we were never taught to do, except laughter. I definitely had to learn how to laugh, because my laughter was beyond hilarity,it was like the sound of those  hungry hyenas from the movie 'SIMBA'. The thing was I never really knew until Mom told me out in the public, and I hesitantly stopped laughing in the open.
"Come on, let's head back to the house before Mom would freak"; Maine said after a tense moment of silence.
    Grabbing the Christmas Ornaments, we walked back swiftly to the house. I didn't want to get another mouthful of words from Mom, so I dropped the box  and quickly made my way to Carli's room.
"Carli!!"; I called out making my way into the room.
"Holy Fuck!!!"; I exclaimed.
"In.... "; she said in between breaths.
"Where the fuck is it!!"
Grabbing the bag on her lampstand, I quickly searched for the inhaler.
"Here"; I said pushing the inhaler through her teeth, With a watchful gaze, I waited for her breath to stabilize.
"Carli, why do you keep doing this to yourself, mom said you should always keep it under your pillow. Why didn't you do it?" I asked.
" It's okay, I'm fine"
"It's not okay!!!"; I snapped which she replied with a startled shake.
"I'm sorry I shouldn't have gone over board, it's just that I hate seeing you like this and it pains me that you don't seem to care to take the precautions necessary"
"Who says I don't care, do you think I love this?, do you think I enjoy being weak and helpless?, do you think I love to think that it's not a boy that is taking my breath away? but a goddamned illness?!!"; she said
"You don't understand"
"I don't understand?, I should be the one not understanding all of you cause I don't think you guys understand how I feel. For a moment I thought you understood but I guess I was wrong, you've joined the 'we care about you so much' group".
"Because we actually do and that is because we don't want to lose you"
"And you won't. I want you all to care but you guys are over doing it, it makes it look like you are sympathizing for me and I don't need the sympathies, I just need you all to be there for me"
"I'm so sorry. I never really thought it would make you feel that way"
"Yes we never did"
I looked up to find Maine,  Rhode and Mom in the room with us.
"Oh my baby, I'm so sorry for making you feel that way, I know I was the main character of the'overdoing it' and all but you are my daughter and I love you so much, you can't stop me from doing that but I'ld try I won't promise you though"
"Trust you to make me feel better";Carli mumbled.
"And you are my favorite child so why won't I care too much"
"MOM!!!"; we all chorused.
"Just kidding, I love you all the same"
"Come here my babies"
We gathered around her as we evolved in a family hug.

So what does family feel like?, Anyone? ☺☺🤔. Waiting for your answers. I'm sorry for the late update but more chapters coming up so don't give up on this book.
Also what do you think of California do you think she's right to judge them because  of they care?
About the poem ,what do you think ?
More are to come.
So remember vote and comment.
I love you all.