Title: Clams and Headbands

Summary: Drabble. Natalie and her mother have a conversation.

Author's Note: Oh hey. I thought it might interest some of you that this is based on a true story. :D This is an exercise for me to improve my dialogue skills; please tell me how I did!

I was just walking home from where the bus dropped me off. Nothing new. Not a big deal. Except today it seems like miles away and I'm glad that home is in sight. Wow, that's weird, never thought I'd say that. But that's when I see it.

There she is, sitting in the car, staring into oblivion.

I take my earphones out of my ears, and sigh.

What the hell is she doing now?

I slowly approach the car and knock on the window.

She continues to stare at God knows what.

I sigh and try to open the door.

Success.

"Mom?" I question cautiously.

No answer.

"What are you doing in the car?"

"Listening to The Clams."

"You can do that inside the house, you know. Right?" I state in a matter of fact tone.

"I know."

"Then why are you in the car?"

"Because I'm listening to The Clams."

"Ok. Well, I'm gonna be inside. Come in soon."

"Ok."

I slowly climb the stairs to my room and am too confused to think a coherent thought. Just as I throw my backpack on my bed I hear the car door open, and slam. The front door to the house then opens, and slams.

I sigh again and creep down the stairs to make sure she doesn't injure herself or the house. We've had enough experience with that to last a lifetime.

Tonight is gonna be one of those nights, I can just feel it. One of those nights when I focus only on trying to get through without cracking.

I stop at the base of the stairs and see my mother watching television. Although it's more like flicking through the channels.

I take a seat next to her on the couch.

"Hi Natalie."

"Hi Mom."

"How was school?"

Well this is weird. She's actually expressing an interest in my day? Weird. "Fine."

"Learn anything new?"

"Not really."

We lapse into silence, and she never takes her eyes off the infomercial playing on the television. The only sound throughout the entire house is the man's enthusiastic voice trying to sell us something. Until she breaks the silence.

"What are you reading in English class?"

What's up with all the questions? "The Catcher in the Rye."

"Oh. That's nice."

"Yup."

So this is awkward. I bite my lower lip and adjust the headband holding my hair back.

"I like your hair with that headband. It looks nice when your hair isn't hanging in your face."

"Um thanks."

"What do you want for dinner tonight?" She questions, her eyes still on the television.

I want so badly to just snap and ask her why the hell she's asking me all these questions?! But I don't. I don't know why. But I don't.

"Anything special?" She asks.

"Anything really. I'm going to go start my homework upstairs. Call me if you need me."

"Ok."

I climb the stairs again and start my homework. I only emerge from my room when Dad calls my name for dinner.

She doesn't look at me the entire dinner. She doesn't say a word either. Why the hell is she doing this to me? One second she actually begins to act like half a mother, the next she ignores me. Can she not see me or something? Dammit! I am not invisible! Why can't she see me?!

After dinner I run up to my room and rip the headband from my hair.

I get an odd sense of pleasure seeing it snap in two.

Thank you for reading! A review would make me one happy Next to Normal fan. :D Oh, and The Clams is a real band. I don't listen to their music though, my step dad does. Random Fact: during act one, Gabe reads The Catcher in the Rye, so I thought it would be cool to have Natalie read it too. Remember, if you review something of mine, I'll review something of yours. (The bribing is now over.) :)