"Fay-Fay, is that you?"
Fayleen Knowle did not respond to her mother's call, it was not as if she were able to even if she wanted. She closed the door behind her and made her way through the kitchen, water dripping from every inch of her body.
"Fay?" Her mother appeared in the kitchen doorway, emerald green eyes widening. "You're all wet! Did you forget to take the umbrella with you this morning?"
Fayleen shook her head. She had not forgetten as the forcast for the day had said it would be sunny. The sudden rain-fall had taken her by surprise.
"Hang on, I'll get you a towel." She disappeared from the doorway.
Before her mother returned, Fayleen kicked off her sneakers and hurried up to her room, taking the stairs two at a time.
Once she had shut the door, she tossed her book-bag on the floor by the computer desk and commenced removing the sopping wet clothes.
In one quick movement, she stripped off her t-shirt and capris to drop them in the basket at the foot of her bed.
She sat down in her swiveling arm-chair to peel off her socks.
There was a soft knock at the door. "Fay-Fay, may I come in?"
Fayleen stared at the door, giving no response.
"Okay, I'm coming in anyways." Ms. Knowle opened the door.
Fayleen watched her mother as she came forwards.
"Here you are, sweetheart." she said, smiling as she held out a dark blue towel.
Fayleen took the towel and began drying off her arms and upper torso.
"How was school today? Did you do well at track practice?"
Fayleen halted her movements, giving her mother an exasperated look.
"What? Did I say something wrong?"
Fayleen shook her head in response.
"Why won't you answer me? Did I upset you?"
Fayleen rolled her eyes and picked a digital pad and stylus off her desk. She quickly wrote something on it and held it up for her mother to see.
Surgery. Can't speak. Remember?
Her mother gasped and clapped her hands together. "Oh! Oh, yes. I forgot."
Fayleen shook her head. iOnly been the twelth time you've been reminded. Seriously need to keep that pad with you, Mother./i
"Well, I am going to go get dinner ready, is there anything you would like?"
Fayleen wrote something else on the board: Fruit smoothie.
Ms. Knowle smiled brightly. "Well a smoothie isn't much for dinner, but I'll make it for you."
She quickly made her way out of the room, leaving her daughter to finish drying herself off.