the green thought

Part 2

Ch 1

Thursday April 10th 4031, Emerly

Mom and Spencer we're already supposed to be back. It was seven minutes past four but our logins lay empty. 'Did the train stop? Did they get run over? Were they hurt? Did they have over time?' I had already triple checked the calendar, there wasn't anything marked. 'Did they just forget to tell me?' Now it was nine minutes past and still no one had come. 'Should I call someone? Maybe the neighbor saw something.' I knocked on Mrs. Wells door but she just scoffed yelling at me "you stupid girl go home and leave me alone." slamming the door in my face. It wasn't the first time, I know I worry a lot but the others on this floor were gone all day, working or amending, we were for the most part alone. Spencer's wife should be home at 8:36 and dad wouldn't be back till tomorrow. I had cleaned the common area, which really was only two low love seats that faced each other only leaving a foot between them. The thick curtains that divided our spaces fluttered and clinked together from the open window. Beneath it the tiny stove rustled against the wind. I checked the rocks tied to the fabric and flopped on the couch. I squeezed my toes that dangled in the air,willing the door to open. 'Ugh this was impossible where on earth were they?'

I rolled off the couch and started pacing. The worst scenarios were swimming through my head. I stopped in front of the two lopsided shards of glass we called a mirror. Groaning I poked at my cheeks that were now hot from worry. I gently turned on the tap wetting my hands twisting it back tightly. I wiped at my face only making them pinker and breathed deeply. 'They'd be back, Just breathe, maybe-' my thoughts were cut off by the squealing door handle. I spun out of the tiny bathroom, pushing through its thin curtain. I bolted, hugging the first person through the door. Spencer laughed, throwing his coat to the floor "Easy! Easy! The foreman wanted to hold a staff meeting so I got caught in rush hour."

I grinned up at his tired eyes and stepped back, letting him untie his shoes. A wave of relief crashed over me "Sorry I couldn't sleep, mom's late too. I knew it had to be something." I trailed off trying to even my breathing. He nodded, reaching into the loose cabin whose bolts had been melted down some time ago to pay rent. He pulled a few baby potatoes out that rolled into a pot. I counted the seconds as the bathroom tap ran, exactly thirteen. The blackened copper shone in the setting sun before disappearing over a burner. "You should sleep, pulling 36 hours days is suicide. Did Francine say when she'd be home? I think I remember her mentioning an extra shift." He didn't turn as he threw in a few bits of carrot. I trotted to his side, pulling pepper from the overhead shelf, I ignored his first statement. I'd heard it too many times for it to phase me.

"Yes she'll be home at 8:36 give or take, Francine said she was covering a half shift for this guy. His kid is sick so he wants to be really careful." Spencer's eyes darkened as he stepped into their space. "Thanks Emerly, just tell me when it's ready." My shoulders slumped, I wasn't going see him again tonight. "Yes I will'' I muttered feeling guilt naw at my stomach. I shouldn't have said anything, I should think more and not just repeat everything like a dumb bird. I was barely taller than Spencer's knee when Francine had her baby- Oliver. He was always coughing and was just so little. The day they brought him to the doctor, he never came home again. They visit him in the care center, every chance they have, I still see him once a week. It's strange that he's like a little brother to me, but other than helping with homework we can't do much. He never really said much about the center. Oliver taught me so many card games, he said they were the ones adults play. I'm supposed to see him at the end of the week. I'm trying to save up to bring him a present. The water slowly started to bubble, nothing floated so I sat back down.

Now it was seventeen past and mom still wasn't back, my nerves were coming back. I watched the pot for what felt like forever, my cheeks flushed and burned. When everything finally boiled I pulled out our strainer, collecting the starchy water in a bucket. To my surprise the handle squeaked open behind me. I quickly placed the pot back on the stove, wiping my hands on my pj jumper as I bounded for the door. "Emerly stop!" My breath caught in my throat as my mom fell forward. "Spencer!" I screamed as my mother's full weight pinned me to the ground. I wriggled out from under her, her head smacked on the floor. "Mom! What happened? Spencer something's wrong!" He was already by my side cradling her head, he tucked loose strands of hair behind her ears. "Amanda, can you hear me? Does anything hurt?" Spencer shook her shoulders as I crumpled to the floor, tears streaking down my face.

I was shaking so violently petting her face, mom's skin was pale and her veins were a deep purple. I traced my fingers down her arm, fresh bruises dotted her forearms. I squeezed her hands "she was amending" Spencer let go of a heavy sigh, heaving mom over his shoulder. I drew our room's curtain, he placed her gently on our mat and pulled the quilt up to her chin. She stirred, her eyes Lazily blinking. After a moment she pulled three round tokens worth twenty five units out of her pocket, her hand shook as they dropped into my palm. "Mom what are you doing, you need to sleep." She shook her head turning away from me. I looked to Spencer for something, anything-an answer but he pulled me up by my shoulders. "Give us a minute Emerly, go plate dinner." I stared at him in disbelief, my vision blurred from more tears. I shuffled away squeezing my arms to my chest, 'what did she do? What was mom doing?' Dazed I pulled out the ironing board and placed the vegetables on three hard plastic plates.

The steam made my face feel soaking wet. I tugged at my sleeve, pulling it over my face but it was too short. I had grown in the last year, now my arms dangled past my knees and my shoulders were weirdly broad. If it wasn't for my scraggly bun I'd pass as a boy. I stood frozen watching the food grow cold, tucking loose strands behind my ears. Rocking on the balls of my feet I strained to make out anything from their mumbles. Spencer emerged from our space, careful to hide mom from view. I held out a plate, watching the curtain but it didn't move. Spencer took the food, chucking it all back into the pot then picked up the other plate. "Where is-'' he cut me off, his voice low and weak. "Amanda's not eating she's-" I sucked a short breath my voice croaked "but mom can't she needs to eat, what was she doing amending? What happened?" Taking my hand he sat me on the couch and put a spoonful of potatoes to my lips.

"Emerly, eat. You'll need your strength, your mother got laid off, she just wanted to make sure you didn't need to take on more work." I nodded slowly, eating another spoon of mush. He sat gauging my reaction, my face was still flush but I no longer trembled. Spencer gazed out the window, pain spreading across his face. "She went too far Emerly..." he let my name hang in the air. I tensed waiting, dreading his next words. "They're going to take her, tonight I'm sure of it. Amanda's being relocated to a care complex." My heart sank bringing my lungs down with it. I couldn't breathe.