I rubbed my hands nervously as I sat on the sofa while Gramma paced the floor in front of me. My head was completely facing the floor and my neck was bent forward so much that from behind it must have looked like I had no head. I took a small glance at Grandpa; he was ignoring everything and watching TV instead. Should have known I wouldn't get any help from him.
"Why is it that whenever I ask you to do something you just do the exact opposite? I told you not to go outside for too long, you stay out over night. I tell you not to go out at all, you go out anyway. What is wrong with you? Honestly Wybourn I don't know how long I can put up with this! You're daddy wasn't have the trouble you are! When he asked me to look after you I thought it would be a walk in the park, but no! It's a flipping hike through the desert!"
And so she rambled on. You know when you get those feeling when you know you're doing something wrong but you don't care at the time? You'll get yelled at and you think you can handle it, but when you do get caught you feel horrible and wish you had just done as you're told in the first place?
Well that's how I felt at that moment. I felt horrible for putting Gramma through this. I should never have... wait!
Not feeling very guilty anymore I crossed my arms over my chest and raised my head up. "Oh I'm such a trouble maker because I wanted to go outside and play huh?" I asked angrily.
Gramma looked shocked for about a second but soon fell back into her evil glare. "You know it's not as simple as that! I do not want you outside by yourself in the woods Wybourn!" she shouted.
I stomped my foot on the ground. "I'm not a kid anymore! I'm eleven years old, I can look after myself" I shouted. Most people seem to forget that I'm not a baby now. I turned eleven last month; I deserve some kind of independence!
After I put across what I thought was a winning argument it all fell back on me when Gramma started to laugh. "Oh please, you think that just because you got past ten you're now mature enough to look after yourself?"
"I am!" I shouted back desperately.
"Oh really? Can you clean? Can you cook? Do you know how to do the laundry?" she asked sarcastically. I looked to the floor for a second, "Uh... T-that's got nothing to do with going outside!" I complained.
"Oh okay then. What would you do if you we're all alone in the woods and there's a strange man there, then suddenly he starts walking towards you huh? What would you do then?" she asked, sound sarcastic yet serious at the same time.
"I'll run away from him" I said. Typical that that was the first idea that came into my head.
Gramma rolled her eyes at me "Oh please your slower then a worm, he's bound to catch you before you could even make a step."
"Then I'll call for help!" I said while standing up.
"No one could hear you past the trees. Sweetie don't you get it? There are horrible people out there who will do horrible things to young children! I know, one of them took my sister!"
Great back on that subject again.
"You have no idea how bad it gets out there. There are people out there who hurt children for no reason and-"
"No, I don't want to listen!" I cried out angrily. I have heard this talk so many times and it was annoying! I know what to do if I get in trouble, I know to call for help, I know, I know, I know!
"Wybourn don't be ridiculous. You were just complaining about being treated like a kid so stop acting like one. You'll need to learn about stranger danger and all that trouble one day" Gramma said.
"I already know!" I yelled before running towards the stairs. Gramma tried calling after me but I slammed the door and ignored her.
I leaned against the door for a while, just gathering my thoughts and what not. I jumped as I felt something move around in my jacket. I look down to see Cat pop his head out before giving a small meow and jumping to the floor.
Well I had to laugh at that. I had completely forgotten he was in there. My mood quickly dimmed down though as stomped over to my window. I placed my hands on the glass. "It's not fair! I don't see the big deal about me going outside. Who's going to be dumb enough hang around this stupid place? No offence" I said while looking down at the cat. He jumped up onto my desk and sat himself down.
"Side's, there's no point in someone lurking around here, the only people that live here are old! I'm the only kid here and I'm- Oh wait... I forgot there was Coraline too" I said stubbornly while mocking her name. I stared down at the cat before reaching my hand out to stroke his fur.
"It's all her fault!" I shouted while slamming my fist down on the windowsill which made the cat jump. "This whole thing started when she came here! She's ruined everything just like I knew she would. Gramma was fine before but now that Miss Blue Head is here she's trying to... I dunno, show off or something!" I said while walking around my room.
I slumped down on my bed angrily with my arms folded. "I just wish there was a way to get rid of her!" I shouted. "Agh! What is it that girl's hate!" I cried while gripping my hair.
For the first time since Coraline came here, cat actually seemed to be paying attention to what I was saying. He walked to my bed and crawled past my feet until he was under the bed frame. I jumped from the bed and landed on my knees before bending down and looking under my bed.
I lifted my head back up when I saw him crawl towards me with something in his mouth. When he was out from under my bed, he sat in front of me and dropped a dead rat next to my hand.
I picked up the dead thing by its tail and lifted it in the air. "I always wondered what that horrible smell was" I muttered to myself while waving my hand in front of my face. The stupid rat stank! How long had this thing been here? Eww, I hope it hasn't been doing its business under my bed! Boy, I don't think I want to stay in this room anymore...
A smile suddenly came to my face.
"That's it!" I said excitedly. "You my friend are a genius" I said to the cat while patting his head. Who knew the cat wanted Coraline to move away too?
I quickly looked for an old box and put the dead rat inside it, I'll have to take care of it later. I've got something much more important to do. I walked to the door only to stop. "What am I thinking? I can't go out now! Gramma would kill for disobeying her three times on the same issue" I said while facing back to the cat. He only tipped his head to me.
I looked back at the door like at held the answer I needed. I tightened my fist and nodded determinedly, "Well then... I guess the smart thing to do this time is not to get caught."
I quickly walked to the window, sure enough it was raining again, but that wasn't going to stop me. I opened the window and climbed onto the window still. There was a large tree right outside my window, the branches were old but they were pretty strong too... I hoped.
I looked back to see cat lying down on my bed next to an old stuffed animal my dad got me ages ago. "What, you're not coming with me?" I asked, slightly annoyed that he was expecting me to do this alone. The cat simply looked up at me before curling back up on my bed. "You traitor."
I looked back at the old tree. Was I really that desperate to get rid of Coraline that I'd climb down a tree that is wet and slippery and is very high of the ground?
I guess I was.
I held my hands together tightly as I reached the Pink Palace. I looked around carefully to see if anyone was watching. I was in the clear.
I opened my hands slightly and took a small peak at the large rat I found in the woods. This was all to perfect. This rat was ugly as hell... it was perfect for getting rid of Coraline! If a dead one could get me to want to leave my room, then there is no way the Jones are going shrug off a live one.
"Hehe, say good bye Jonesy. You should have known that there wasn't room for the both of us- Ouch!" I cried out as the stupid vermin bit my finger. "Stupid rat!" I hissed at it. I sighed before searching for an entry point. I looked all around the house and finally found one. One of the windows was open slightly to let some air through. It wasn't enough for a person to fit through, but it was perfect for a rat.
I walked over to the window and shoved the hopefully diseased infected rat through. When I heard it drop to the floor and made a run for it before anyone could stop me and ask me what I was doing.
Side's I had to be back soon. The sun was going down and I desperately needed to not get caught this time.
