It was 7 p.m. dark outside. David, Kate, my younger sister Melissa and I were all having dinner - cheese pizza - at my place, on the white sofas in the lit, white living room. It had been a long day, starting with ballet at 4 a.m., school from 8 - 3, cheerleading from 3 - 4 and then ballet again from 5 - 7. Kate and I went to both, as did Melissa, and gymnastics. Mom, as usual, was at work. Claire and her 2 sisters, Miranda, her mom and her sisters and Matt had moved to New York; Matt was still in rehab there. About a year ago my dad had died.
Kate, David, Miranda and I were 17: Matt's 15, and Melissa's 13.
"It's been a long day," David said.
"Yes, yes it has," Kate returned.
I noticed a line of light blue bruises on Melissa's left arm.
"Melissa?" I asked.
"Hm?" she asked.
"Did something happen?"
"Oh, no. I don't know how these got here."
"You don't bruise easily," David observed.
"No, no I don't."
"Do they hurt?"
"No, I've........I've just been really tired lately, moreso than usual."
"Oh. How's gymnastics?" Kate asked.
"Hard."
At that moment Mom walked in, putting her long black wool coat in the coat close that was in the hall. We turned to her.
"Hi," David said.
"Hi."
She came over, smelling of smoke. During the day she worked as a secertary and in an office and at night she was a waitress and bartender.
She grabbed a slice of pizza out of the white cardboard box which was on the coffee table in front of us.
"Hi, I actually can't stay- Melissa, what happened to your arm?" Mom asked.
"I don't know how these got here."
"Oh. Did something happen at school?"
"No."
"Oh. Do they hurt?"
"No."
"Well, I have to get ready for bartending. I'll be out late tonight. Kate, you can stay."
Mom stood up and went upstairs. Kate smiled.
"Wow," Kate said.
"She doesn't stay long," I informed her.
"Yeah I know."
"Oh."