1"You don't understand me. How could you, you're to old?" A girl of thirteen was angry, as was her mother. Her sister was grown up, had a job and her parents were split. But none of this bothered her. She hated her sister, didn't trust her mom, and rarely saw her mom. All you had to do was put the puzzle together She wasn't wanted and never would be.
"I have enough on my mind" her mom yelled back "without you lying to me. When was the last time you told me the truth?"
"Today!"
"How do I know that you're not lying."
"Mom it was the cleanser I lied about it's not exactly a life or death situation." Her mom slammed the car door in her face.
"Alright" she muttered "be that way."
The basement was flooded and home life just sucked. She took a chance and told her mother that the reason she lies was because she didn't trust her reactions. Her mom yelled back about her always trying to blame it on someone else and about how ignorant she was.
"Well if you wanted me gone all you had to do was tell me" she retaliated before storming to her room. Safe in her room she cried something she only did at home. Homework was a breeze and she soon made her way into bed.
Her dreams weren't peaceful however. They were full and jumbling with the day's thoughts. One stuck out particularly about her mother, one she couldn't ignore. This dream was not only about her mother she for once was in her mothers shoes and she spotted all she did.
Thousands of papers were strewn across the counter bills, assessments, school handouts, oh a thing for camp. After reading the price I put it down and gaped. The phone rang it was lawn care service claiming that they had trimmed our yard and needed a payment. As I looked up my child body ran into the room and shouted for something. As I was trying to listen I hushed her and she sat on the sofa pouting. I don't do that I thought.
"Ma'am" someone was saying on the other end.
"Oh yes."
"We'll come with the bill sometime this week."
"That will be fine. Thank you."
My child form had seemed excited and I wanted to know what had happened so I hung up and went to her side.
"What did you need dear?" Did I just call myself dear? Oh well.
"Mom I was picked as a lead for the spring musical. Will you come? It's on May 3rd."
"Let me see what I'm doing that day dear." My child self looked beyond hopeful. Taking out my mother's calendar I noted that she had a Doctors appointment on that day so I told her.
"When you find out what time it is come tell me." My child self half frowned but got over it and ran up the stairs, but as she reached the top she tripped and fell and I woke up all sweaty. My mother was in the doorway.
"Dear its time to get up don't forget your play is today."
"Thanks mom."
I was still tired and momentarily oblivious to my dream. I dressed in Jeans and my play T-shirt. More awake than before I dashed to the car.
"Ready" mom asked.
"All set" I answered back in awe. It was the first time that I hadn't received the 3rd degree.
"I'm sorry about last night dear" she said as we arrived at school.
"It's all right mom, see you later" I called as I ran to meet my friends. School day went as usual, boring history, messed up math, silly science, and libel language arts. The reason I say libel is that we were supposed to write about what we were feeling. Like I would do that. Especially not if the teachers going to read it. When the day was over I rushed to our school theater. In the back room we were going to eat pizza and have some fun before the play started.
It reached 7 o'clock, playtime! We were doing an Egyptian love story. I was the Pharaohs daughter and I was the first to sing. My make up, hat and dress were perfect. I couldn't wait for my mom to see me. I knew she would be proud of me no matter how good or bad I was.
We arranged ourselves behind the curtain and stood still as they announced us. Than the curtain rose and the music started and as I sang I searched for my mom. No where! And as I ran off for my next costume I thought that maybe she's just late. I mean that could happen. But the play flew by and no sign of mom anywhere. I checked one last time when we went out for bows but still no mom. And in the hall way daughters and sons were eagerly hugging their parents but I wasn't.
I went to my backpack and looked at my phone. There was one message on it. I pressed the listen button.
"Hey hunny I'm about 5 min. away. I hope I don't miss too much of your play. I love -" the line went fuzzy but I could make out a scream.
Desperate I dashed into the hall. No mom only a few mingling parents. So I went into the theater and sat at the middle of the stage, alone. Her mom would come she knew it. All she had to do was wait. Her mom probably had a very good excuse.
"Are you Lisa's daughter?" a policeman was standing there her brother close behind him. She nodded a little frightened. "Well, I'm sorry but your mother was part of an accident right down the street. She's in a coma at the hospital." She broke into tears as the policeman brought them both to his car. "Were going to the hospital right now your father and sister are there." The car ride was silent and she as to shocked to cry anymore. But her brother wasn't
"What's a coma?" he said in between sobs.
She quickly replied "don't worry mommy's just sleeping." Picking up her phone she listened to the message one more time. Her mother had been calling to tell her why she was late when she should've been paying attention to the road. She would much rather have her be safe. She stooped thinking that. It wasn't the truth. She would've demanded a reason for why she was late. And her mother in a rush to please her had hurt herself.
The policeman led them from his car to their mothers room. The diagnosis was sitting on the table and for once she was glad that her brother couldn't read.
"Is mommy all right?" his little voice asked.
"Mommy is going to be just fine" their dad said "let's go get something for mommy, okay."
"Okay" he replied happy to help mommy. My sister went with them. I checked the heart machine and it was growing steadily slower.
"Mom if you can still hear me, I love you too. I'm sorry for all those times when I've been selfish or mean and I'm happy for all the laughs and tears we've shared. I never imagined I would run out of time to tell you this but mom I love you." And on the last note her mom faded away. Gone to her just a blessed memory. She remembered crying herself to sleep beside her mother.
When she woke up her brother was staring into her face "where's mommy?" he asked.
"Mommy was sick and God decided that it was time he should care for her. Mommy is safe now in the peaceful calm of heaven."