Behind The Uniform

Meeting

Part One

Meeting

It was a Saturday afternoon in June, the weather had been unusually warm for that year but I hadn't been able to enjoy it. Instead, I was stuck holed up in my room trying to get maths homework done. I held a small piece of paper in my hands, covered in crossed out numbers and doodles from my general frustration. My other hand gripped the chewed pencil, it's lead sticking out of various places. I wanted to throw the paper on the ground as I realized that I was never going to get this done.

Just as I was about do that, there was a distinct sound of something hitting my window. I looked up and saw nothing until a few seconds later, another thing was thrown, it was a small pebble that most likely had been picked up from my garden. There was only person who would throw pebbles.

Opening my window, I saw a figure covered in the sunlight's fading shadow as they bent down to pick up another rock. 

"Ross!" I called out and watched as the figure turned around. A wide smile appeared on his face as he noticed me in the window.

"He finally answers! It only took two rocks as well this time, it's a new record!" Ross replied, his voice slightly accented. Something that was leftover from his Spanish origins.

"I thought we agreed that you would stop this. You might damage the window!" I shouted.

"You were not answering your phone, how else was I supposed to get your attention? Jamie, you promised that we could hang out today!" Ross answered, running a hand through his wavy black hair.

I sighed, I had forgotten that he was supposed to come around today but Ross was always around my house when he had the chance anyway so it didn't really make much of a difference. 

"Couldn't you have just rang the doorbell like any normal person?"

"Now where's the fun in that? Are you going to come down anytime soon?"

I looked back at the maths paper and rolled my eyes. "No, I've been doing maths homework all day and I still haven't finished it."

Ross looked surprised. "Since when do you do maths homework?"

"Since my mum found out and she doesn't want me to get any more detentions."

Ross seemed puzzled but then his eyes lit up as if he had been struck with an idea. "There's a fair in town that I really want to go so if you come, I'll do your homework for you!"

My eyes widened. It seemed like the best offer and I could easily just lie to my mum and say that I had done it, so that she wouldn't worry. She had too much to worry about these days.

"Okay, let me just ask my mum if I can go!" I shouted. Ross gave me two thumbs up as I shut the window. 

Making my way downstairs, I entered the kitchen and noticed that the washing up still wasn't done from last night. I grimaced, I was supposed do it but I guess my mother had forgotten about it. It looked repulsive, as all the bits of food frothed in the brown water. Ignoring it, I just prayed and hoped that my mother wouldn't notice it. 

The lounge door was open and I saw that my mother was sitting in her wheelchair, aimlessly staring at an auction show. She pulled her dressing gown across her frail body and began to cough, retching a little. I quickly ran to her aid and held her shoulders as she stopped.

"Mum, are you okay?" I asked, walking around to face her.

She tried to plaster a smile that crinkled the wrinkles and lines on her face. 

"Just peachy, you don't need to worry about me."

I didn't look convinced. "Ross has asked me if I wanted to go a fair but I won't go if you're like this..."