"Audrey. Wake up Audrey," Said a gentle voice. Audrey blinked slowly, waking from a deep sleep. She yawned, eyes closed as she pulled herself up.
Her mother sat on the edge of the bed, smiling, amused by her antics. "C'mon Audrey, it's your first day of school. Arn't you excited?" Her mother asked.
Audrey crossed her arms, laying against her bedframe. "No," She huffed. "Do I have to go? Can't it start next week?" She asked. Her mother merely laughed.
"Audrey, school won't wait for you. Now get dressed, and i'll make you an egg," Said her mother. She got up, closing the door behind her.
Audrey dragged herself out of bed, looking around for something to wear. She searched threw her drawers, until she found and outfit she liked. Jeans and a yellow sweater.
She studied herself in the mirror, making cute little poses. "Audrey, you done?" She mother asked, opening the door. "Mom!" the girl yelled, embarrassed. "I'm changing!" She yelled, throwing clothes to block her sight. "Alright, alright!" Said her mother, closing the door.
"By the way, breakfist is ready," Said her mother from the other room. Audrey walked to the kitchen taking a seat at the table. She poked her food with her fork, grumbling to herself.
"Is this about school?" her mother asked. "Audrey, you have to go, it's mandatory. Remember when Kelly came home from her first day of school?". Audrey thought back when
her neighbor, Kelly, came home from her first day of school. She was a year older then Audrey. She had gushed about meeting cute boys and trading nail polishes and other girly
things with her new friends at school. Audrey frowned. "I don't have and nail polish," She thought. She mother got up from her seat, only to return a few moments later.
"How about I let you wear my lucky headband?" She asked. Audrey stared, before grinning. Her mother's sparkly pink headband had always appealed to her, and her mother always told about how well the days went when she wore it. " I don't think it will help,"
Audrey tried to hide her smile, a sign of defeat in the struggle that was going to school. "But take it anyway," Her mother smiled. I know how much you like it," She said. She grabbed two bags off the chair, before bekoning her daughter over with a wave. " I'm driving you," She explained.
The two walked out of there apartment complex, an old and rickity brick building, jumping into the old car her mother owned. As her mother started the car, she set a hand on her daughter's shoulder.
"Listen, your going to love school. your going to make a lot of new friends," She said. Audrey leaned her head back and sighed.
" I hope so," She said quietly. They drove though metropolis, passing large building and towers. Finally, the arrivred.
The school was white and red, and a large flag flew in the middle of the entry. Audrey opened the door, but her mother shut it turning her daughter's attention to her. "Audrey, remember. No fire. Whatever you do, you musn't make a fire. Understand?" she mother asked, holding her daughter's hand.
"Yes mom," Audrey said quietly. Her mother pulled her in for a kiss, smiling to lighten up the mood. "Kelly is going to help you on and off the bus.
You and her are going to walk home together," She said. Audrey walked out of the car, giving her mom a small hand wave. "See you tonight," She smiled. Her mother waved back. "See you tonight," She replied.
Her mother had been right. She enjoyed the first day of school very much. " I met a bunch of friends today, and we all played double dutch on the playground, then kickball, and then we all ate lunch together. I met a girl named Heather and we both wear the same pair of sneakers! Isn't that crazy?! And all the girls thought my headband was super cute, and they said it went great with my hair!" She gushed.
Her mother set the dinner plates at the table where Audrey was sitting, then taking a seat herself. "So I assumed you liked it? I thought you didn't want to go?" Her mother grinned.
Audrey blinked, before breaking her smile into a weird shape. " It was ok, I guess," She said, shrugging her shoulders. Her mother laughed.
"So, did you get any homework?" She asked, a bit of laughter still in her voice. "None yet. But, I did get a piece of paper for you to sign," With that, she handed her mother a yellow slip. "It's stuff you have to write about me," She explained. "Allergies and stuff," She said.
Her mother looked at the paper, before grabbing a pen. "Alright, i'll be done in a giffy. Now go wash up and get your pajama's on. I'll out on T.V," She said.
Audrey scurried off to her room, slipping on her pink bunny printed pants, with a mix-matched blue top.
She hopped onto the couch, her mother sitting taking a seat beside her, pulling her close. Her mother flicked on the television.
An image of superman appeared on a news report. "Mom, how did superman become a superhero?" she asked. Her mother looked back at her. "I don't know, sweetie," She said.
" Well, like how some people become supervillians, hon. Circumstance," She explained.
Audrey caught her mother's facial expession sadden. "I'm sorry for asking," She said. Her mother looked back at her, surprised. "Why?" She asked. "You looked sad," Audrey explained.
Her mother smiled gently, pulling her daughter into a hug. "Oh sweetie. I'm not sad. I just feel bad. For all those people who become villans. There life must've been hard, you know?"
She explained. "Oh. Ya, I guess that makes sense," She said. "C'mon kiddo, lets put Super-star Kitty on. You don't wanna miss it, do you?" "No!" shouted Audrey, looking at her mother.
"There's a new episode on tonight!" She said. Her mother flipped though channels, until finding the show. Audrey smiled, enwrapped in the T.V show, not noticing her mother getting up from the couch.
She walked into the kitchen, doing who knows what, Audrey felt her eyelids grow heavily, sinking into the couch. Her mother picked her up, rubbing her back as she carried her to bed. "I'm glad you liked school," She whispered, her daughter barely picking up on it. "Ya..." She daughter mumbled, her head sinking into her pillow. "Good night," her mother said, tucking her daughter in. She kissed on the forehead.
Three weeks had gone by seemingly normal. School was starting to grow less exciting, but still just as fun during recess.
Today was a special day though, as everyone was dressing up as a farm girl or farm boy, in celebration on finishing there first class book, Charlotte's web. "Mom, My hair wont curl at all," huffed Audrey, sitting in the sink.
Her mother was busy curling her hair and puttinh them in two big blue bows. She wore a cute little blue dress with a white apron, and a pair of little white cowgirl boots.
"Don't worry, Audrey, there fine," her mother reassured, bobby pins in her mouth muffling her voice. She spit them out, setting the cheap curler on the table. "There," She said. She placed her hands on Audrey's shoulder, before putting her head on one.
"You look perfect. I've never seen such a pretty cowgirl," She said. Audrey grinned. "You really think so?" She asked. "Of coarse. Now we better hurry, or were going to be late," She said. Audrey jumped off the bathroom counter, running to grab her coat.
She hopped into the car, eager to go. She was so excited, her outfit was positivly awsome! She felt tingly inside, smiling at the thought of people liking her dress. As the reached the school, she hopped out of the car, rearing to go. "Have a good day! I love you," Her mother called out. Audrey turned, waving to her mom. " Love you too."
"Bye Kelly," Audrey waved, her friend walking two the next building over. Audrey opened the lobby door, looking over at the mailboxes. She grabbed her keys, opening her and her mothers. Full. "Mom?" She said to herself, as her mother normally got the mail after work. She shrugged, thinking nothing of it.
She continued up the stairs, before unlocking the apartment door. She walked inside nonchalaughtly, looking around for her mother. "Mom?" She called out. No answer. "Mommy?" She asked. She walked into the kitchen, looking for some kind of letting. "Mom, where are you?" She called out.
She turned to walk out, before she froze. Something stood in the shadows, hidden. "Your mother's not here," Said a cold voice. Audrey stepped back as the man approached.