A Roommate

Chapter 1: Moving

Sadie knew there was something wrong when she came home from work to find her mother still awake, sitting at the kitchen table mindlessly rearranging cookies on a plate.

"Wow, what are you still doing up? Don't you have work early tomorrow?" Sadie hung her purse up on the hook by the door, then sat down at the table.

"No. I mean, I have work in the morning," said her mother. "I just can't get to sleep yet. I have a lot of things to think over."

"What's wrong?"

"Sadie... I was offered a promotion today."

"That's great, Mom!" Sadie smiled but quickly noticed her mother was still chewing on her lip and pushing cookies around on the plate. "So what's wrong? What's wrong with a promotion?"

Her mother got up from the table and began to make two cups of coffee. That was a sure sign that they were going to have some kind of "talk", Sadie thought. With her mother, serious conversations always called for a cup of coffee and some kind of treat. It looked like this time it was cookies.

"The job's in Riverville. We'd have to move," her mother said. "Well, I'd have to move, but I think you'll want to come with me. There's a college nearby. You could live with me while you go for a degree, save some money."

Sadie stayed quiet for a few moments, not knowing what to say. She couldn't leave Beach City. She couldn't leave her home. How could her mother even think about moving for a job? They had a nice home and friends here. How could she think that she would ever consider moving out of town? But where would she live if she stayed here?

"Sadie, I'd like to take the job," her mother said in almost a whisper, interrupting her thoughts. "There's no room for advancement in this town. If I want a better job, I have to leave. You of all people should know there isn't any real office work here. I mean, you've been at that donut place for almost three years now, and have you been promoted to manager or found anywhere else to work?"

"Maybe I like Big Donut. Maybe I haven't looked for anything else."

"You know you can't work at Big Donut forever. You've been out of school for two years, haven't gone to college, have no way of earning a living except by donuts?"

Sadie hadn't touched her coffee or eaten any of the cookies. She pushed her chair back, stood up and began to walk off to her bedroom. "I can't leave. I can't leave now." She hadn't realized that she had started crying but suddenly found herself wiping tears from her cheeks. "It's almost summer. The summer rush will be here soon, and how will they run the donut shop without me?"

"Honey, they'll find someone else."

"I don't want them to find someone else! I just want to stay here with my friends, okay?"

Her mother got up and gently rubbed Sadie's arm. "Is that what this is about? Riverville is only two hours away. You could visit." She paused. "Besides, everyone eventually leaves their hometown and their school friends. You'll make new friends at college."

It made sense, Sadie knew. She'd make better money somewhere else. Normal people eventually move away from their parents, get real jobs or go to college, get their own places to live. At 20, Sadie was still living with her mother, working at Big Donut with no tangible plans of leaving soon.

On the other hand, the more emotional hand, it just didn't feel right. Beach City was a special place. There was something strange and beautiful about it, and it felt like home. Because it was home. Sadie's friends were here too, and she couldn't imagine uprooting herself and leaving them here. Her life was here in Beach City.

"I'll let you think about it," her mother said. "If I'm moving for this job, though, I need to sell the house. We need to pack up."

Sadie didn't say anything.

"If you want, Sadie, you could pack all of your things separately. Just in case," said her mother. "I know it's hard to leave, but I think we'll both have more opportunities elsewhere."

"Okay."

"'Okay' as in you'll come with me?"

"'Okay' as in I'll think about it. And I'll pack my things separately in case... you know, in case I find somewhere to live. Here."

Her mother looked at her sadly but nodded. "I'm glad you're at least thinking about it. You know that I just want the best for us, right?"

"I know, Mom. Goodnight."