Clara's Empty Echo
Chapter One: The Small, Little Town
"Run you clever boy, and remember me…"
"What?"
"Huh? I didn't say anything."
"Yeah you did, I heard you say something about a boy."
"No I didn't. Just, come on."
I was walking home from school with my sister that day. My life isn't the best, but I don't complain. My sister is a senior that always tells me what to do. She's been like that ever since mom and dad got divorced. Our little town never has much to eat, but we still survive. I never really talk to anyone, and I do things on my own. I maybe only sixteen but I still act like a kid.
"Michelle, come on we have homework to do!" my sister exclaimed.
"I told you not to call me that! Call me Clara, it feels more fitting," I called back.
She rolled her eyes and went into the house. I sighed and followed her. I laid my book bag down, and sat on the floor. There are no chairs, only my mom's bed. We only have a living room, a small kitchen, a bathroom, and me and my sister's room. We both started on our homework. An hour went by, and I asked my sister, "Don't you think there's more out there, Steph?"
She snapped at me, "No. This is all we have and all we'll ever have. We can't ever do anything. We're stuck here. Last year of high school and still we won't get anywhere!"
I looked down, "But…What if-"
"No! There's nothing!"
"We can do things!"
"Shut up! We are doomed to fail. That's it."
I just nodded, and continued to do my homework. Now, don't get me wrong, I love my sister and she loves me. She's a wonderful person; she just gets turned down a lot. It's not uncommon either. Everyone in my town is struggling. Somehow we survive. One time I heard this guy even ate his own arm because there was no food! But that was a long time ago though.
After we finished our homework, I ran to my bed and looked at the newly arrived newspaper. I flipped to the comic section first because why not? Then I took a look at the front page, the picture caught my eye. It was him again! I quickly cut out the story and the picture. This one was titled, "Man with Blue Box found again!" I hung it up on my wall. I was overjoyed! All over my wall were these stories about this man with a blue police box. The stories say he can disappear in the box. Some even claim that he's an alien! I just like the stories because it is something to think about. It's also quite interesting! I always look forward to finding those stories.
I went back into the living room, and my mom just walks in the door. So I exclaim, "Mom, I found one again! They saw him again!" My mom slowly nodded and sat down on her bed. Her bones slowly stiffened but she didn't complain. Then she spoke, "That's nice, Shell. Did you get everything done?" Steph then butted in and said, "Yes, mom. And she did her homework on the floor again!" Mom sighed and looked at me, "What did I tell you? The floor is too cold and isn't clean enough for you to be sitting on it! You'll be 17 soon and you still don't listen to me." I just stared at the floor.
Steph crossed her arms and sighed, "Still no dinner tonight?" Mom looked over at her, "I'm trying. You should get a job…"
"Well I can't! There are no jobs in this stupid, little town!" Steph yelled. She accidentally swung her arms and knocked down our only vase.
Mom got up and picked up the pieces, "That was worth something. You know how valuable vases are these days." We both got grounded to early bed that night.