know the tickets go on sale this week. I was thinking, if we had a little extra, we’d book them today and take a nice Christmas vacation early.”
“I don’t know, hon. We don’t have that kind of money right now,” Dad grunts.
Loretta fixes her eyes on me. “It’s only a bit extra. We can definitely save it if we cut down on…. expenses .”
And now she’s pounding the guilt nail into my coffin.
“I keep asking her to get a loan,” Dad sighs. “Everyone else has one.”
I slam my fork down, hard. “So that it, then? You abandoned Mom and me, and left her to raise me for the last ten years. You decided to come back into my life when I graduated, and I asked you for help, but suddenly I’m a burden? Didn’t you say the shop was doing well?”
“Expanding to another location costs money, Eve,” Dad swells up. “So yes, you and your mother are financial drains on me right now -”
I stop listening, whether out of shock or disgust, I can’t tell. My ears ring with rage.
“So that’s it, huh? That’s all we’ve ever been to you - drains. We drained you of happiness, so you left. We drain you of your patience. And now we drain you of your precious money.”
“How dare you speak to me like that -”
“God does not look kindly on girls with smart mouths who disrespect their parents, Eve.” Loretta uses her warning voice.
“Shut the hell up, Loretta,” I snap. “This doesn’t involve you.”
Loretta looks like I’ve stabbed her. “Clarence!” She practically shrieks. “Did you hear what she just said to me?”
Dad shakes his finger at me, face a beet-red. “You apologize right now, Eve, or so help me -”
“You’ll what?” I snap. “Throw me out? That’s fine. I was just leaving, anyway. Oh, and don’t worry about the tuition - enjoy New York.”
I stand and storm to my room. Dad follows me, yelling.
“Unlock the door right now! Eve! I command you to unlock the door right now!” His fist banging on the door is terrifying. I’ve never heard him this angry before. I stuff everything in my backpack and pull the window open. It isn’t a far drop, and I’ve done it before to sit on the first-story roof and watch the stars. I’ve just never gone all the way down. This is crazy. This is absolutely crazy, but I need to get away from this shitty family. I lower myself from the edge and drop into what looks like a bush. It was taller than I expected, and my leg twists under me. The pain only lasts a second, though. I’m on my feet and walking away as fast as I can through the cold, wet grass. I can hear Dad’s yells from the open window, faint and still as furious as ever. It only spurs me on faster. My heart is jumping crazily in my chest, adrenaline pumping my legs farther. I head for the only place I know is open at this time - a McDonald’s. The tired-looking woman at the cashier doesn’t ask questions at my harried appearance, she just gives me the soda and french fries I order. I sit in the back, farthest from the window so I can’t be seen from the street in case Dad drives by.
I open my phone with shaking hands. I have nowhere to go. I could call a cab, but I don’t know how many would drive out this far to the suburbs to pick me up, and it would be ridiculously expensive. I need every dollar of my emergency debit card to buy a bus ticket home.
I scroll through my contacts, and Hayley’s voice echoes in my memories.
‘ I’ll come get you. No matter what time, or what the weather is. I promise.’
It’s worth a try. I’m sure she won’t even bother coming to get me after I interrupt her at whatever party she’s at. But I have to try, at least.
Hey, I text. Sorry to bother you, but can you come get me? My Dad chased me out of the house.
The answer comes a moment later.
Who’s this?
I’m worried for a second I have the wrong number, but then I realize I haven’t entered her name in my phone, either. It’s just numbers. She probably gets a ton of numbers
“I don’t know, hon. We don’t have that kind of money right now,” Dad grunts.
Loretta fixes her eyes on me. “It’s only a bit extra. We can definitely save it if we cut down on…. expenses .”
And now she’s pounding the guilt nail into my coffin.
“I keep asking her to get a loan,” Dad sighs. “Everyone else has one.”
I slam my fork down, hard. “So that it, then? You abandoned Mom and me, and left her to raise me for the last ten years. You decided to come back into my life when I graduated, and I asked you for help, but suddenly I’m a burden? Didn’t you say the shop was doing well?”
“Expanding to another location costs money, Eve,” Dad swells up. “So yes, you and your mother are financial drains on me right now -”
I stop listening, whether out of shock or disgust, I can’t tell. My ears ring with rage.
“So that’s it, huh? That’s all we’ve ever been to you - drains. We drained you of happiness, so you left. We drain you of your patience. And now we drain you of your precious money.”
“How dare you speak to me like that -”
“God does not look kindly on girls with smart mouths who disrespect their parents, Eve.” Loretta uses her warning voice.
“Shut the hell up, Loretta,” I snap. “This doesn’t involve you.”
Loretta looks like I’ve stabbed her. “Clarence!” She practically shrieks. “Did you hear what she just said to me?”
Dad shakes his finger at me, face a beet-red. “You apologize right now, Eve, or so help me -”
“You’ll what?” I snap. “Throw me out? That’s fine. I was just leaving, anyway. Oh, and don’t worry about the tuition - enjoy New York.”
I stand and storm to my room. Dad follows me, yelling.
“Unlock the door right now! Eve! I command you to unlock the door right now!” His fist banging on the door is terrifying. I’ve never heard him this angry before. I stuff everything in my backpack and pull the window open. It isn’t a far drop, and I’ve done it before to sit on the first-story roof and watch the stars. I’ve just never gone all the way down. This is crazy. This is absolutely crazy, but I need to get away from this shitty family. I lower myself from the edge and drop into what looks like a bush. It was taller than I expected, and my leg twists under me. The pain only lasts a second, though. I’m on my feet and walking away as fast as I can through the cold, wet grass. I can hear Dad’s yells from the open window, faint and still as furious as ever. It only spurs me on faster. My heart is jumping crazily in my chest, adrenaline pumping my legs farther. I head for the only place I know is open at this time - a McDonald’s. The tired-looking woman at the cashier doesn’t ask questions at my harried appearance, she just gives me the soda and french fries I order. I sit in the back, farthest from the window so I can’t be seen from the street in case Dad drives by.
I open my phone with shaking hands. I have nowhere to go. I could call a cab, but I don’t know how many would drive out this far to the suburbs to pick me up, and it would be ridiculously expensive. I need every dollar of my emergency debit card to buy a bus ticket home.
I scroll through my contacts, and Hayley’s voice echoes in my memories.
‘ I’ll come get you. No matter what time, or what the weather is. I promise.’
It’s worth a try. I’m sure she won’t even bother coming to get me after I interrupt her at whatever party she’s at. But I have to try, at least.
Hey, I text. Sorry to bother you, but can you come get me? My Dad chased me out of the house.
The answer comes a moment later.
Who’s this?
I’m worried for a second I have the wrong number, but then I realize I haven’t entered her name in my phone, either. It’s just numbers. She probably gets a ton of numbers
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