THREE

"And so I told Mrs. Strathorn that she was absolutely refusing to work with me, and she was sent to detention," Carrol Montella was explaining the events of the day to her best friend, Emily Tubbs, who was away because of the flu.

"Wow, then what happened?" she asked curiously.

"Then Mrs. Strathorn paired me up with Paul Lining, the nerd," Carrol shivered.

"Oh wow," Emily laughed. "I missed one day, and a lot of stuff has happened without me." Carrol visioned her friend, laying on her stomach on her bed, with her feet in the air with fuzzy purple slippers on, and her curly brown locks, in curlers. She would have a fuzzy robe on, over blue pajamas with her pink dog in her arms, holding the phone.

"Are you coming tomorrow?" Carrol asked.

"I think so," she answered. "My grandma has this 'magic' syrup that'll cure me."

"That's cool," Carrol smiled. She had to admit, Emily's grandmother was amazing. She always knew how to lighten a mood, she could come up with ways to help you out at the last minute, and, of course, she had 'magical' things that could help you out a lot.

"So how's 'Hell on Earth' going for yeah?" she asked. Carrol laughed. Emily was talking about her hectic household. There was her mother, Hannah her father, Joseph, her grandfather, Walter, her 8 year-old twin brothers, Zak and Mak, her 17 year-old brother, Herold, her 19 year-old sister Janice, and her 3 year-old sister, Mallory. It was a big house, but having so many people in it made it feel smaller.

"It's OK, I guess," she shrugged, fixing her hair behind her ears. "It's finally quiet though."

"You know you can come to my house anytime to get away from it," she said.

"I know," Carool sighed. She loved her family and all, but she was treated like Cinderella, with 4 times the evil step sisters. "I have to go now. I need to put the twins and Mallory to bed."

"Have fun," Emily said cheerful, in a sarcastic way.

"Oh I will," she assured, and hung up the phone. Carrol got off her bean bag chair, and placed the phone on her dresser. She entered the hallway, surprised not to hear any noises. Just as she was smiling with relief, Mallory came running out of her room screaming, followed by two taller boys in masks, growling. Mallory ran into Carrol, and grabbed her leg for dear life.

"Zak and Mak, bed now!" Carrol ordered pointing to their room.

"Aw, but Carry," they complained.

"Do you want some cheese with that wine? I said bed!" Carrol shouted. "You too Mallory." Carrol scooped her up, and followed the boys into their room. Carrol made sure they got dressed, and brushed their teeth, while she helped Mallory out. It went well, besides being bit by Mallory, and the twins running off to play a late game of Hide-and-Seek. It took Carrol 20 more minutes to finally get the three of them tucket in bed, and staying there without making any sounds.

Exhausted, she went down stairs to the kitchen, where her mother sat shuffling through business papers, and typing away at a calculator. Her brother was in down the stairs in the rec room, playing video games with his friends. She had a new one every week. Carrol went over to the fridge, and helped herself to some strawberries and whipped cream.

"Carrol!" her mother said, her voice growing louder. She sighed with annoyance.

"Yes mother?" she asked.

"Why can't you keep those kids under control?" she demanded, looking up at her. "I work day in and day out, along with your father. The least you can do is keep them quiet."

"They are quiet," Carrol complained.

"They weren't earlier, and I had to do the taxes, and I had to redo them over and over again," she shouted.

"Well why don't you get Harold to help? Or Janice?" Carrol snapped. "They don't do a damn thing around here!"

"Don't you speak to me like that young lady!" her mother warned. "You want to be a perfect mother when you get older, and this is great practice for you."

"I don't want to be some damn perfect mother!" Carrol shouted, throwing her bowl onto the table. "No mother is perfect, and I can say you are one of the far candidates."

"Excuse me?" her mother demanded.
"I said you are a terrible mother, and you put all of your responsibilities on me!" she repeated, fuming. "YOU wanted kids, YOU take care of them. Or are they just side effects of having fun with dad at night?"

"You watch your mouth young lady!" her mother was now on her feet, fists on the table.

"Why what are you going to ground me?" she challenged. "How will you be able to remember when all your time is about work?"

"Go to your room!" she shouted.

"You don't even know what goes on in our lives," Carrol continued, not moving.

"Harry spends all his time playing video games, and smoking crack, and Janice has a new boyfriend each weekend, and every single one of them is an ass."

"And what do you do then huh?" her mother snapped. "Waist your money on clothes to perfect your look!"

"No that's your sister!" She insulted. "I spend my time, and my little allowance on ballet." Her mother was silent. She just looked at her with her wholesome black eyes.

"Your taking ballet?" she asked, seeming a little more calm.

"Yes," Carrol said, tears coming to her eyes. "And you would know that if you paid one ounce of attention!" She ran out of the kitchen, and down the hall, passing the stairs.

"Carrol," she heard her mom call. Carrol slipped on her shoes, and not even bothering tie them up, ran out the front door. Her vision blurred by her tears, she ran down the street, made many turns, and continued. Her heart pounded with mixed emotions. She was mad at her parents for never being there, fed up with taking care of everyone, and exhausted from running.

She continued her run down a brightly lit street. She looked at the numbers until she found 1307. She took the porch stairs two at a time, and knocked desperately on the door. Her tears still were in her eyes, and haven't left them yet. The door was answered by an old lady, who was taller then her, and grey locks. A puzzled look was on her face as she looked down at her. Tears left Carrol's eyes, she gasped as sobs over came her, and threw herself into the lady's arms.

"Carrol, dear, what's wrong?" she asked.

"Oh Irma," she gasped, shaking her head.

"Come inside dear," the kind woman helped her into her house and sat her on the couch.

"Emily!" she called. There were thundering footsteps, and Emily Tubbs bounded into the living room expecting a big surprise. But when she saw Carrol sitting there on the couch, her expression changed, and she hurried over to her, and hugged her tight.

"What happened?" Emily demanded.

"I said...some things," she said, between sobs. "I shouldn't have said...Why me?" She buried her face in Emily's robe, and cried even harder.