Disclaimer: I don't own anything. So you won't even be able to sue a dime out of me.
Author's chitchat: I'm new to the whole writing thing. Although an avid reader I never wrote a single piece myself. Time to change that!
Before I forget: I'm not a native speaker, so I guess I will make tons of grammar and vocabulary errors. Which is why I need a beta reader. Any volunteers? Or do I have to come at night and kidnap one??
Vertigo
Chapter I
The annoying sound of the alarm clock reached his ears like the horn of a steamship.
"Mah mew…", and other strange noises escaped his mouth while he reached one hand out to turn the clock off and stretched his long limps at the same time.
6:30 'o' clock. He swung his legs out of his bed and took two long strides to the windows. The mild spring sun was already peering through the beige curtains (his mothers choice, he had wanted the blue ones). He pushed them aside and opened one window, a fresh breeze hitting his sleepy senses and inhaled deeply. He would take the bike to school today. Definitely.
"Lennon! Are you up?" his mother called from downstairs. She was probably in the kitchen preparing a small breakfast for the two of them. They both weren't big breakfast diners. A small bowl of cereal with fruit and soymilk was all they both needed, along with a hot steamy, black cup of coffee, of course.
"Yeah, Mom! I'll be down in five!" he called back and began searching for his jeans. He had seen them somewhere next to his desk last night… they had to be there. Digging through a pile of clothes he did not hear his mother approaching him.
"If you are looking for the same pair of jeans you wore yesterday you can stop. I put them into the washing machine. They were dirty. Put on some clean jeans. You belt is in the laundry room."
"They were dirty? I didn't notice." Lennon looked confused and scratched through his dark, slightly curly hair.
"Yes, I know. Please clean your room after school, Lennon. This is a mess." she smiled at him.
"Oh! But Moooom! I wanted to go photographing after school! And it's Friday! Sean and I are meeting at the skate park at six! I don't have time to clean up. And by the way, it isn't as dirty and messy as you make it sound!" Lennon whined immediately.
"Stop whining! You always claim to be old enough to take care of yourself, so it is your duty to take care of your room yourself, too. You really are your father's son."
"Do you think he will be here next week?" he tried not to sound as excited and hopeful as he was, but he really wished his father would make it to his birthday next week. He had been occupied with a patient last year and had only called him. He had come by three days later and they had a men's weekend with pizza, sport and rock music, but still, it wasn't the same. He wanted his family to be together on his birthday, it happened rarely enough.
"If an emergency doesn't come up he will. He already has a truckload of presents." his mother answered him and gave him a kiss on his temple before turning around and heading towards the stairs.
"And hurry up to get dressed. Breakfast is ready." she called back over her shoulder.
"Yeah." he said and went over to his cupboard to take out black cord pants and a red Foo Fighters T-shirt. He jogged downstairs, took a short stop at the laundry room to get his belt and joined his mom in the kitchen. He poured himself some coffee and started eating his cereal.
"I'm taking the bike today. The weather is terrific." Lennon informed his mother while chewing on a piece of banana.
"Good. Guess I won't see you tonight?" she asked.
"No. I'll be with Sean and I'm staying over. I'll be home tomorrow morning though. You have your free day tomorrow, right?!"
"Yes, how about we go shopping for you tomorrow? You need a new pant and you could use a hair cut. It has grown really long."
"I'm in for the new pant but not for the haircut. I like it this long. How about a new skateboard than?" he asked while combing through his hair with his long fingers. It nearly covered his ears and had reached his eyes, hanging in his face. He didn't bother.
"We'll see. So a new pant it is. ", She stood up and put her bowl and cup into the dishwasher. His mother left the kitchen and left him eating in peaceful silence. Ten minutes later she said good-bye, told him to behave, hugged him and gave him a peck on the cheek before driving of to work.
He still had twenty minutes left and went into the bathroom to get ready for school. While brushing his teeth he thought about his mom and how hard she had to work and how much she loved it anyway. He knew of other families, where a mom was always at home, taking care, making the bed, cleaning up after the kids, cooking, meeting the next door moms to have a chat over a cup of coffee, being married to a nine to five white collar worker, and they always had minivans. Always! His mom was different. She was the boss of a whole hospital, she was independent, smart and caring. She did not need a guy to bring in the money or to take care of important things. She did it all by herself. She had raised him to be just like that. Independent, free, hard working and proud. And he was proud, especially of her. He was glad he did not have to grow up in one of those stereotype homes. Maybe they weren't perfect, but at least they were not boring. Like Sean's parents. Sean's dad didn't do anything at all. Besides complaining, of course. He always complained about work, his coworkers, his boss, his office, the coffee machine at work, his parking space, bla blab bla bla, yadda yadda yadda. Lennon once dared to acknowledge that his job was quite easy going compared to the jobs his parents had and that he didn't understand why he complained and bothered so much. He got his answer in the form of a kick out with the statement that Mr. Sean's dad didn't need to take such an insulting crap from a brat like him.
He went back into his room and put a grey zip hoodie on and grabbed his backpack in the hallway. After taking the bike out of the garage he swung on it and sped towards school.
It was going to be a long day. He smiled slightly.