It's Been Awhile--Chapter Two
(Four years later)
"Mom!" Aarick called as he walked inside of the apartment they had lived in for eight years. "I'm in my room!" Chris called. Aarick walked down the hall and flopped himself onto the bed. Chris turned around and rolled her eyes, "I TOLD you not to wear that!" he exclaimed, clearly exasperated. Aarick was wearing way-to-big pants that a cousin had given. Aarick was so excited that he had something that was 'so totally in'! that he had worn them at least three times a week, no matter how much Chris badgered him about it. He was also wearing a Nike shirt that was at least a size to big, hanging off his body that had a hole over his stomach. He had grown out of his angelic stage and into one that was keeping Chris on her toes. Between feeding him and talking to teachers, she rarely had time to really sit down and talk to him. Aarick was determined to look 'tough'. This meant doing his hair as most of the boys in Nevada were doing-letting it grow over their ears until almost an inch from the end of their ears. He also, on his way to the busstop, usually stopped and wiped some dirt onto his use-to-be perfect face. It was now the home of three scars-one noticeable on his forehead from when he was trying to ride a skateboard and fell, and two faint ones from various accidents.
"Aww c'mon mom, it's-" he started but interupted, "I know, I know, 'whats in'!" she finished, sighing. "Go get cleaned up. We're going out to eat tonight," she said. "Oh, no," he whined. "What?" she snapped. "Whenever we go out to eat, it's something bad!" he pointed out. "Oh go get cleaned up." she answered, not making eye contact.
He mumbled something that sounded very much like one of the 'forbidden words' in the Kelly household. "Aarick!" Chris yelled a warn. She then sat on her bed and took out a letter. It was from TC, dated back to two months ago;
'Dear Chris,
Hello. Before I tell you how the kids are, I need to tell you something: we're moving a little South of Santa Monica. Not any specific reason other than that I think we need some more space. I'll send you a letter once we're settled.
Anyway, about Ashley. Still as demanding as ever!! I've been telling her how she has to share with the other kids and be nicer, but she's just determined. It takes every ounce of strength i have not to crack up when I see her get angry. Her nose flares, she stomps her feet, and makes her eyes into little squints. I'm going to have to start grounding her, or taking away her toys, instead of lecturing her.
Aarit is getting a little more talkative. He gets more active as he grows, especially when he's away with Ashley. He's losing his 'baby-look' which I'm guessing Aarick is, too. How is he? I sometimes wonder if we've made a mistake. It doesn't seem fair. Send a photo of Aarick in your next letter. I've included 4-Aarit's school picture, Ashley's, them together, and them together with a friend named Jamie. He's actually more Aarit's friend-I think he's scared of Ashley (haha!).
Well I'll see you later.
Love, TC'
Aarick and Aarit were identical, except Aarit wasn't glaring at the camera like Aarick was. He had a large, cheeky smile that looked all-to much like TC. Ashley was a little diva, she smiled just as she saw her favorite singers on TV. It was weird for Chris to think of them as her son and daughter because, except for that day eight years ago, she had never held them-never kissed them, hugged them, told them how much she loved them..."Hey mom!" Aarick said, "ready!"
(later that day)
"Finish your spaghetti," Chris said as Aarick looked longingly at the desert menu. "But-" Chris finally gave in. She was going to give bad news, anyway. "Okay. But no complaints if you get a stomach ache or are hungry later, deal?" Aarick smiled happily.
"So, Aarick, remember when I talked about possible us moving the a really sunny, warm state?" Aarick nodded as he ate ice cream. "Well, we will...California!" Aarick's face fell. "But...But, mom, I just made the rec team!" he exclaimed. "I know, sweetie, but this is really important for us. We'll be able to have a bigger house, more people, and you'll have your own yard!" Aarick didn't answer. "Dad lives there. Could I see dad?" he asked hopefully. "Um..I don't know where he is at the moment. Maybe later," she said, like it was something as casual as a new toy. Aarick nodded. He was use to that.
"I don't want to move. California sucks!" "Hey! I said don't use that word. No copying from Joey and your other friends and especially no copying Mike or any of your other cousins." Aarick threw down his spoon. "I don't WANT to move!" he yelled. "Come on-we'll discuss this later," she said as she picked him up, and practically had to drag him out of the restraunt as he kicked and yelled.
(Four years later)
"Mom!" Aarick called as he walked inside of the apartment they had lived in for eight years. "I'm in my room!" Chris called. Aarick walked down the hall and flopped himself onto the bed. Chris turned around and rolled her eyes, "I TOLD you not to wear that!" he exclaimed, clearly exasperated. Aarick was wearing way-to-big pants that a cousin had given. Aarick was so excited that he had something that was 'so totally in'! that he had worn them at least three times a week, no matter how much Chris badgered him about it. He was also wearing a Nike shirt that was at least a size to big, hanging off his body that had a hole over his stomach. He had grown out of his angelic stage and into one that was keeping Chris on her toes. Between feeding him and talking to teachers, she rarely had time to really sit down and talk to him. Aarick was determined to look 'tough'. This meant doing his hair as most of the boys in Nevada were doing-letting it grow over their ears until almost an inch from the end of their ears. He also, on his way to the busstop, usually stopped and wiped some dirt onto his use-to-be perfect face. It was now the home of three scars-one noticeable on his forehead from when he was trying to ride a skateboard and fell, and two faint ones from various accidents.
"Aww c'mon mom, it's-" he started but interupted, "I know, I know, 'whats in'!" she finished, sighing. "Go get cleaned up. We're going out to eat tonight," she said. "Oh, no," he whined. "What?" she snapped. "Whenever we go out to eat, it's something bad!" he pointed out. "Oh go get cleaned up." she answered, not making eye contact.
He mumbled something that sounded very much like one of the 'forbidden words' in the Kelly household. "Aarick!" Chris yelled a warn. She then sat on her bed and took out a letter. It was from TC, dated back to two months ago;
'Dear Chris,
Hello. Before I tell you how the kids are, I need to tell you something: we're moving a little South of Santa Monica. Not any specific reason other than that I think we need some more space. I'll send you a letter once we're settled.
Anyway, about Ashley. Still as demanding as ever!! I've been telling her how she has to share with the other kids and be nicer, but she's just determined. It takes every ounce of strength i have not to crack up when I see her get angry. Her nose flares, she stomps her feet, and makes her eyes into little squints. I'm going to have to start grounding her, or taking away her toys, instead of lecturing her.
Aarit is getting a little more talkative. He gets more active as he grows, especially when he's away with Ashley. He's losing his 'baby-look' which I'm guessing Aarick is, too. How is he? I sometimes wonder if we've made a mistake. It doesn't seem fair. Send a photo of Aarick in your next letter. I've included 4-Aarit's school picture, Ashley's, them together, and them together with a friend named Jamie. He's actually more Aarit's friend-I think he's scared of Ashley (haha!).
Well I'll see you later.
Love, TC'
Aarick and Aarit were identical, except Aarit wasn't glaring at the camera like Aarick was. He had a large, cheeky smile that looked all-to much like TC. Ashley was a little diva, she smiled just as she saw her favorite singers on TV. It was weird for Chris to think of them as her son and daughter because, except for that day eight years ago, she had never held them-never kissed them, hugged them, told them how much she loved them..."Hey mom!" Aarick said, "ready!"
(later that day)
"Finish your spaghetti," Chris said as Aarick looked longingly at the desert menu. "But-" Chris finally gave in. She was going to give bad news, anyway. "Okay. But no complaints if you get a stomach ache or are hungry later, deal?" Aarick smiled happily.
"So, Aarick, remember when I talked about possible us moving the a really sunny, warm state?" Aarick nodded as he ate ice cream. "Well, we will...California!" Aarick's face fell. "But...But, mom, I just made the rec team!" he exclaimed. "I know, sweetie, but this is really important for us. We'll be able to have a bigger house, more people, and you'll have your own yard!" Aarick didn't answer. "Dad lives there. Could I see dad?" he asked hopefully. "Um..I don't know where he is at the moment. Maybe later," she said, like it was something as casual as a new toy. Aarick nodded. He was use to that.
"I don't want to move. California sucks!" "Hey! I said don't use that word. No copying from Joey and your other friends and especially no copying Mike or any of your other cousins." Aarick threw down his spoon. "I don't WANT to move!" he yelled. "Come on-we'll discuss this later," she said as she picked him up, and practically had to drag him out of the restraunt as he kicked and yelled.