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Authors: Kelli Kretzschmar
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mom’s talking to our neighbor in the
driveway. She is wearing a low cut
tank top that enhances the cleavage Derrick bought her and is holding a wine glass. She waves at Lexi as she drives away.
As I walk closer, I
catch the last few words coming out of my mother’s mouth and cringe. Putting on my best plastic smile, I
turn to our neighbor.
“You’ll have to
excuse my mother, Mrs. Rider. I haven’t
even turned in my college applications yet, so there’s no way I’ve been
accepted to Harvard.” I glare at
my mother, embarrassed that she is spreading rumors of my acceptance.
My mom flashes her
laser-whitened teeth. “Oh, but she will , Danielle. I’m sure of it. She’s brilliant. And once she wins Prom Queen this year,
they’re sure to take my girl.” She
brings the wine to her lips and takes a sip.
I can smell it on
her. I wonder how many glasses
she’s already had, but I keep my mouth shut about it. She turns into a bitch if I say anything about her
drinking. I’m sure she knows what
I’m thinking, though, because when she glances back in my direction, her eyes
are cold.
I can take a
hint. “Nice to see you, Mrs.
Rider,” I say, already turning to walk up our front steps. I hear Mrs. Rider wish me good luck with
Harvard, before the door slams shut behind me. Great. Why does
my mother have to tell everyone about her plans for me? Now I’ll have
another person to disappoint. I
hate her.
I march up to my
bedroom to change into my gym clothes. Nothing gets the frustration – or the vodka – out
of my system better than a hard run. I stuff my iPod and earphones into my purse, grab a towel from the linen
closet, and make my way to the Benz.
“Bye, mom!” I yell
over my shoulder, as I jump into the front seat. I can’t back out of the driveway fast enough. I pull onto the street with my music
blaring and my windows rolled down, letting in the late summer breeze.
I push myself
enough on the treadmill to let go of my frustration with my mom. Later, when I get to work, I feel
better. My headache is finally
gone, and my brain is not as foggy as it was this morning. Derrick was at home playing with Marcus
when I left for the restaurant, which made me feel better too. I hate leaving Marcus home alone with
my mom when she is inebriated, which seems to be more than ever lately.
Two hours into my
shift, I see Emma and her dad come into the restaurant. It makes me think of my own father and
how much I miss him. My dad used
to live in Orange County. After my
mom left him for Derrick, he stuck it out in OC for another eight years before
moving away. I saw him every other
weekend and for two weeks in the summers for eight years. I only saw him once last year. We still talk on the phone a lot, but
it’s not the same. Yeah, I miss him.
My shift moves
quickly, and soon I’m clocking out and saying goodbye to everyone in the
kitchen. By the time I get home at
ten, Marcus is in bed watching the Disney Channel. I sneak in and give him a kiss on the cheek. He tells me about school and how he’s
sitting next to his arch nemesis, David Klein. I tell him maybe he and David will get to be friends this
year, and he gives me a dirty look that makes me laugh.
After I say
goodnight to Marcus, I go to my bedroom to get ready for bed. My mom knocks on my door to ask me how
work went. She seems sober, so talking
with her isn’t half bad. It makes
me happy she actually remembered to spend time with me.
I text Lexi before falling asleep to ask
her what she’s doing tomorrow and if she wants to go to the beach. She tells me she’s doing something with
her family all day and that she’ll see me at school on Monday. She never does anything with her
family. I text OK and tell her
goodnight. Maybe I’ll go to the beach
with Candace tomorrow. I’ll call
her in the morning.
Eleven
driveway. She is wearing a low cut
tank top that enhances the cleavage Derrick bought her and is holding a wine glass. She waves at Lexi as she drives away.
As I walk closer, I
catch the last few words coming out of my mother’s mouth and cringe. Putting on my best plastic smile, I
turn to our neighbor.
“You’ll have to
excuse my mother, Mrs. Rider. I haven’t
even turned in my college applications yet, so there’s no way I’ve been
accepted to Harvard.” I glare at
my mother, embarrassed that she is spreading rumors of my acceptance.
My mom flashes her
laser-whitened teeth. “Oh, but she will , Danielle. I’m sure of it. She’s brilliant. And once she wins Prom Queen this year,
they’re sure to take my girl.” She
brings the wine to her lips and takes a sip.
I can smell it on
her. I wonder how many glasses
she’s already had, but I keep my mouth shut about it. She turns into a bitch if I say anything about her
drinking. I’m sure she knows what
I’m thinking, though, because when she glances back in my direction, her eyes
are cold.
I can take a
hint. “Nice to see you, Mrs.
Rider,” I say, already turning to walk up our front steps. I hear Mrs. Rider wish me good luck with
Harvard, before the door slams shut behind me. Great. Why does
my mother have to tell everyone about her plans for me? Now I’ll have
another person to disappoint. I
hate her.
I march up to my
bedroom to change into my gym clothes. Nothing gets the frustration – or the vodka – out
of my system better than a hard run. I stuff my iPod and earphones into my purse, grab a towel from the linen
closet, and make my way to the Benz.
“Bye, mom!” I yell
over my shoulder, as I jump into the front seat. I can’t back out of the driveway fast enough. I pull onto the street with my music
blaring and my windows rolled down, letting in the late summer breeze.
I push myself
enough on the treadmill to let go of my frustration with my mom. Later, when I get to work, I feel
better. My headache is finally
gone, and my brain is not as foggy as it was this morning. Derrick was at home playing with Marcus
when I left for the restaurant, which made me feel better too. I hate leaving Marcus home alone with
my mom when she is inebriated, which seems to be more than ever lately.
Two hours into my
shift, I see Emma and her dad come into the restaurant. It makes me think of my own father and
how much I miss him. My dad used
to live in Orange County. After my
mom left him for Derrick, he stuck it out in OC for another eight years before
moving away. I saw him every other
weekend and for two weeks in the summers for eight years. I only saw him once last year. We still talk on the phone a lot, but
it’s not the same. Yeah, I miss him.
My shift moves
quickly, and soon I’m clocking out and saying goodbye to everyone in the
kitchen. By the time I get home at
ten, Marcus is in bed watching the Disney Channel. I sneak in and give him a kiss on the cheek. He tells me about school and how he’s
sitting next to his arch nemesis, David Klein. I tell him maybe he and David will get to be friends this
year, and he gives me a dirty look that makes me laugh.
After I say
goodnight to Marcus, I go to my bedroom to get ready for bed. My mom knocks on my door to ask me how
work went. She seems sober, so talking
with her isn’t half bad. It makes
me happy she actually remembered to spend time with me.
I text Lexi before falling asleep to ask
her what she’s doing tomorrow and if she wants to go to the beach. She tells me she’s doing something with
her family all day and that she’ll see me at school on Monday. She never does anything with her
family. I text OK and tell her
goodnight. Maybe I’ll go to the beach
with Candace tomorrow. I’ll call
her in the morning.
Eleven
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