I'm No Cinderella

Chapter 2

I knocked on the door cautiously. I could just turn the doorknob and go in, but since I moved away, I never really treated their home like mine, so this was me visiting my parents as a guest.

“Go and get the door, Wilbur!” I heard my mother yelling, probably somewhere from the kitchen.

“Get it yourself, Emma!” I heard my father yell back, probably from his usual perch at the couch. I sighed; maybe I should have just opened the door myself. I placed my hand on the door knob just as my mother opened the door, muttering to herself.

“Always in front of the TV, never helping me,” she said and as soon as she saw me I gave her a beaming smile but all she did was narrow her eyes at me, “Sam! You could have saved me the trouble and get the door yourself right?

“Err…” I said. No matter how far I go, my mom will always make me feel like a tongue-tied teenager.

“Just close the door behind you!” she cried out as she hurried back to the kitchen, muttering something -about the vegetables are going to burn. I walked into the living room and said hi to my dad – who merely grunted and nodded his head without looking at me. I carried my bags to my room and then came downstairs and headed to the kitchen, where my mom was bustling about preparing for lunch. I sniffed the air as I caught the smell of my favorite dish – mixed vegetables with oyster sauce.

“My patience is getting up to here,” mom said, gesturing to her head with the knife. I hope she wasn’t talking about me, “All he does is sit in front of the TV and never lifts a finger to help me around the house! I’m not getting younger you know!”

I watched her rant in silence; I knew better than to come in between my parents’ arguments. If I even said a word, the whole situation will be turned in my way. I took a dirty bowl from the sink and washed it to make myself look busy.

“I don’t know how else to tell him anything,” mom went on, “Everyone in this family are so thick-headed.”

Excuse me, I stopped washing and turned to look at her. Who else does she mean? Edward, my brother – or me?

“Don’t you look at me like that missy,” mom said threateningly, “I am talking about you.”

“Which part of me do you think is thick-headed, mom?” I asked her hotly. It is always a mistake to come home, “I listen to whatever you say – I help pay part of your rent for this house, and yet I’m thick headed?”

“I’m always telling you to find a man, but you don’t listen!”

“There you go again – again with finding a man!” I snapped, “Can’t you just accept me the way I am now? I am happy without a man, mom! I don’t need a man to seek happiness – and then end up like you and dad!”

“What do you mean like me and dad?”

“You know what I mean,” I said, “You guys hate each other and you barely talk to each other. I don’t need a man if it’s going to end up that way!”

“That’s what you think do you?” mom yelled back at me, “If you keep up with this attitude, you’re never going to find a man!”

“I don’t care if I don’t get a man mother!” I cried out, “Stop harassing me about it!”

“I will keep on harassing!” mom bellowed at me, “As long as you’re not making an effort, you will never find someone. As long as you join those friends of yours, you will never find a man for yourself!”

“What is that supposed to mean?” I asked her, clenching my teeth.

“You know how they are,” mom said, “Linda, Holly, Britney and Jennifer are all beautiful – and if you keep on hanging out with them you’ll never get a man.”