Not Always What It Seems
Written by: Stacey, Dani, Shayna, and Shelby
Chapter one by Dani
A small tear dripped down my perfect brown complexion as I hid at the top of the stairs. They were screaming, yelling, ARGUING again. I shivered in the cold house, alone in the world, or so it seemed. I clutched my palms to my knees as my puppy, Scruffy, licked my bare right ankle. I picked him up and laid him in my lap gently. I petted his soft, furry back as it became damp with salty tears. I couldn't help but cry. I was only 10, after all. The hollering got louder. I couldn't take it anymore as it rang in my ears and rattled my aching head. I let my puppy run before I rushed down the steps, fury growing with each flip-flopped step. My cry echoed through the hallways, through my head and through my parents' ears. "ENOUGH!" I screamed with all the decibels my ten-year-old lungs could create through my voice box. The pitch and intensity frightened the two immature adults that stood before me. I watched my mother take a step forward, and say the words that crushed my heart… "I want a divorce," she declared in a worn, tired, raspy voice. My father's eyes seemed to be filled with fire and rage, but he suppressed it and nodded to her. The next week was like a horrible nightmare. More fights, papers being signed, and my dad packing. The day he was to leave, I chased him out to his car. He was all packed, he was ready, and Mama was inside, shoulders heaving with sobs. Dad was in the driver's seat, getting his keys ready to start the ignition. The song "Hey Jude" by the Beatles was playing when the radio fired up. "Where are you going, Daddy? Why are you leaving me? I love you Daddy, don't leave me, why are you leaving me?" I sobbed into his arms. He held me close and petted my black hair. "Baby, I'm going to find my home." He told me simply. "But Daddy, this is your home! Here, with us!" I sobbed harder. "I love you, sweetheart, but I can't stay here. I still love you with all of my heart, but your mama and I just can't get along. You'll have some peace and quiet. Now go inside and stay with your mama, you hear me? You'll see me again someday, I promise…" Then he got out of the car, lifted me high in the air, and set me forward on the driveway. He kissed my forehead, leaving the scent of his cologne in the air, got in his car, and left. I screamed at the car, "Daddy come back!" But he never did, and that's how I know promises are lies…
Tears filled my eyes as the flashback haunted my sleepy morning thoughts. I blinked them away stubbornly and wiped any sign of them off my face. I stared out the window, in a thoughtful trance. Until…"Libby! Get down here now, Missy!" I heard a loud female voice yell. I rolled my honey brown eyes and grabbed my book bag off my desk. I trudged down the stairs where a semi-cheery Cindy was waiting at the bottom. We dashed out the door without a word to my mother. We were getting to be queens of that. My mom shook her head as we ran to catch up with the bus and smacked into Jimmy and Sheen, who were also running for the bus. The collision ended up in a heap on the sidewalk, in pain. Sheen extended a hand and I didn't accept. "Boy, please. I can get up myself." I told him with my snappy attitude. I wasn't about to open up to any guy, especially not Sheen. I mean he was…Sheen. And I was…Libby. It just didn't work that way. I stood up, brushed myself off, and picked Cindy up from the ground. She rubbed her head painfully. "Why don't you watch that big head of yours, Neutron!" she spat. "Why don't you bring your nose from the air so you can see where you were going, Vortex!" Jimmy shot back venomously. I rolled my eyes. "Let's go, Cindy." I demanded, too annoyed to care what Cindy did. Arguing was NOT a fun thing with me. Obviously.