Read Online Spilled Milk: Based on a true story by K.L Randis - Free Book Online Page B

with home life I used to make money or study. Sure, it was going
to help when I applied for college, but I felt like I was missing out on
something. I never got a chance to do something because I wanted to. I did
things because I had to. Without thinking twice about it I ripped the flyer off
the bulletin and stuffed it into my book bag.
    Mom picked me
up from work a little after nine. “What took so long?” She huffed, turning the
key in the ignition.
    “Had to fill
out a lot of paperwork. I book a lot of appointments.”
    “Oh, that’s
good. Did you reach the daily goal? What is it, two appointments a night?”
    “Yea. I made
twelve.”
    I demolished a
bowl of cereal when we got home. “Mom I wanted to see what you thought about me
trying out for cheerleading.”
    She didn’t look
at me. “I don’t have the money for all you guys to do after school things.”
    “I’ll pay for
it,” I offered. “You won’t have to pay for it I just wanted to see what you
thought.”
    “I don’t know
Brooke, as long as I don’t have to pay for it and you continue to help out with
things around the house when they need to get done I don’t care.” By things she
meant money and cleaning. I was pretty sure I could juggle everything.
    “I’ll keep my
job, and I’ll pay for it. Tryouts are in two weeks, but I would need to get a physical.”
She sighed with the force of a cough and looked at me. It would mean she would
have to make the appointment, pick me up from school and wait the hour at the
doctor’s office to bring me home.
    “Or I could
just do the physical the school offers. It costs more but…Yea, that’s what I’ll
do.” I dumped the milk from my bowl into the sink. “Need to study, goodnight.”
    The only time I
took off work was to study for mid-terms or finals. So when I told my boss I
needed the Saturday off for tryouts he laughed. “Ha, Brooke, if you have
another exam I understand, you don’t have to lie about why you need off.”
    I wasn’t sure
why, but the remark offended me. “I’m not lying. I really am going to try out
for cheerleading.”
    My tone changed
his remark. “Oh, yea, I know. Um, sure. That’s great, that’s fine. You need to
do stuff like that anyway, you know, go be with the kids your age.”
    “Should I work like the kids my age too?” I looked around the office at all the middle aged
women talking away on their phones. He gave me a two week trial period to prove
myself, and I’ve blown away office records ever since. “I mean, I don’t need to be the top operator for a fourth month in a row. Maybe I should give someone
else a shot.” I smiled.
    “Very funny.”
He sunk into his leather arm chair. “Keep doing your thing, go do your tryouts,
just make sure it doesn’t affect your numbers here.”
    I nodded.
    I spent the
next week worrying about tryouts. I couldn’t even do a cartwheel. A few other
girls I knew wanted to try out too, so at least I knew some of the people who
would be there.
    “Have you been
stretching? I know they do a lot of jumps and kicks so be sure you’re
stretching.” Sonia whispered her advice to me between classes. “Most people
diet too, but you don’t have to worry about that.”
    “Yea, you don’t
have to worry.” Carmen adjusted the glasses on her nose. “Have you ever done
cheerleading?”
    I shook my head.
“No, I just thought it would be something fun to do. I’m not banking on making
the team, I know they choose a lot of the same girls.”
    “Well, we’ll
all make the team, I’m sure.” Sonia smiled. “They can’t always pick the same
girls. And we’re pretty enough, how hard could it be?”
    Mom dropped me
off the Saturday of tryouts. I spent an hour that morning trying to figure out
what a cheerleader looked like when they practiced. I settled on a pair of navy
blue shorts and a white cami with a light blue sports bra underneath. My hair
was pulled into a tight ponytail and, at the suggestion of Sonia, I