Nobody Understands
Chapter 6 – A Moment
A/N: For once I actually have nothing to say – shock, shock horror! Well, I do have one thing to say – enjoy!
We're going on holiday. I'm not sure whether I am pleased about this or not, I haven't decided yet. Dad's advertising company is shooting an advert up in Vermont and he's bringing Mum and me with him. The only reason he's taking the both of us is because Mum is 8 months pregnant and he doesn't want to leave her, and he's taking me because he's taking her. I can't stay with other people because they don't understand me and my ways. It's an advert set on a mountain so we're going to be skiing whilst we are there. Well, I will be skiing, Mum will be watching. I've skied before so I know what to do. One of the good things about not being sociable is you get your own instructor and I'm not distracted by others on the slope.
At the moment Dad is loading up the car whilst Mum is shouting instructions through the window from her place on the sofa. That's typical of Mum, always has to be in charge. I'm in my usual place at the top of the stairs. My suitcase is packed as is my camera bag. I'm hoping to get some great pictures of Dad falling over.
I can hear Mum slowly getting herself off the sofa. Looking at my watch, I can guess what she is going to say to me. She sticks her head out of the door and looks up.
'Have you packed?'
'Yes.' She's just making conversation before getting to the point.
'Are you looking forward to the trip?'
'I guess.' I shrug my shoulders in a nonchalant way. I can see that she is searching for another question so I stop her. 'Mum, we both know where this is going. The answer is no.'
'Why not?'
'I don't want to.'
'But, honey, you know what you get like on long journeys.'
'Please, Mum, I can do it, I know I can.'
'Sweetie...' She trails off and I know what her answer will be.
'NO!' I scream loudly over and over again and run up to my bedroom. As my door slams I hear Dad come in and then I hear Mum explaining what has happened.
There's a gentle knock at my door and, when I make no noise, it opens. Dad comes in and looks at me for a few seconds. I can tell he feels sorry for me, I've seen the look a lot of times. I'm curled up on my bed and I'm trying not to cry but not succeeding very well. He sits down on the end of my bed, a movement which is strange for the both of us.
'Honey, your medication...'
'No.' I sob pathetically, getting all worked up again. I hate my medication. Whenever we go on long journeys I always get worked up so the doctor prescribed me a type of medication. It's a sort of sedative and just quietens me down. However, when I do take it, it can take up to 12 hours for the effects to wear off so I walk round like I don't have a clue for the rest of the day. It also makes me feel really weak and pathetic. I can control the rest of my life without pills and tablets, just not that part.
I think Dad understood why I didn't want to take it. 'I'll do a deal with you,' he said after a while. I looked up. 'You don't have to take it now but if at anytime during the journey you get upset you take it then. Do we have a deal?'
I nodded. I could do this, I could make it.
***
I realised about twenty minutes into the journey that I couldn't do it and I couldn't make it.
'How much further?' I whined. I was sitting in the back by myself. Dad was driving and Mum was sitting next to him.
'About 2 hours, sweetie.' Dad said, casting a quick sideways glance at Mum. I groaned in frustration and kicked the back of Dad's seat.
'Hey!' He shouted in surprise. I didn't apologise, instead I kicked Mum's seat. She gasped in shock and then turned around to glare at me. I just glared back and unbuckled my seatbelt, which I am not allowed to do, but at that moment I didn't care. I moved up and down the seat, muttering to myself. There was this buzzing noise, it droned above everything. Mum and Dad were talking but I couldn't hear them, not above the buzzing. My breathing became faster and my throat became dry. I needed to get out of there.
Suddenly I flung myself into the boot where all the luggage was. I found a space and curled up in it. It was at this point that I realised the car was stopped. I don't know how long it had been in that state for. All I could think about was the fact I needed my medication. Suddenly the door opened and a hand passed me a drinks bottle. That was my medication. Sobbing, I lay down and drank it like a baby. It soothed me and soon I fell asleep. Whether it was due to my tiredness or the medication, I couldn't tell you.
***
I awoke to find myself in a bedroom that wasn't mine. It was very simple with a bed, a wardrobe and a door, which I presumed led to the en suite bathroom. Glancing out the window I could see snow and I realised we had arrived. I sat up and rubbed my eyes. My head was a lot clearer than I expected it to be. Normally when I wake up I still feel groggy. Then I realised that I had already woken up. All my clothes were flung around the room and my suitcase was open on the floor. Mum had obviously not been into my room yet.
I decided to go and see where Mum and Dad were. Carefully I got out of bed. I was still wearing the clothes that I had on in the car. I knew I had to change but decided to find them first. The tiled floor was cold on my feet so I grabbed a pair of sock, putting them on as I went. The cabin we had rented was fairly large and only had one level. In the centre of it was a massive living area with a real log fire. The other rooms were situated all around.
I walked out and found Mum sitting on one of the sofas. She looked up and gave me a smile.
'Feeling any better, honey?'
I nod and cautiously sit down next to her, tucking my legs up under me. 'Where's Dad?' I ask, glancing round.
'Oh, he's gone to meet the people involved with the shoot tomorrow. Then they're having dinner. I've got a pizza in for us. I figured you wouldn't want to go out tonight.'
I smiled gratefully. I never like going out after one of my 'episodes'.
***
'What do you want to watch?' Mum asked as she bought the pizza in. I looked up at her in surprise; we hardly ever eat in front of the television. She saw me gaping and winked, 'I won't tell if you don't. I'll never live it down.'
Jumping up I looked at the selection of DVDs that were in the cabin. 'How about Charlie and the Chocolate Factory?'
'That's really old.'
'It's a classic. Then after that, The Wizard of Oz.'
'Ok, ok.' Mum sat down on the sofa with the pizza box and I popped the DVD in. Settling onto the sofa next to her, I reached out to grab a slice of pizza.
For the next couple of hours Mum and I were in chocolate heaven. At one point I thought she was actually going to bite the TV.
'AARGH!' Mum groaned in frustration. 'I can't take it anymore.'
Pausing the film, I got up and went to the kitchen. A moment later I returned with a tub of chocolate ice cream and two spoons.
'God bless you, Madison Bing.' Mum ripped open the lid and stuck her spoon in. However, the ice cream was properly frozen and when she tried to pull it out, it refused to budge and it bent. She stared at it for a moment. I couldn't tell you why but at that moment we both started laughing. Harder and harder, until we were practically on the floor; our sides hurting from laughing too much. I caught Mum's eye and then I realised something. We had had a moment.
A/N: For once I actually have nothing to say – shock, shock horror! Well, I do have one thing to say – enjoy!
We're going on holiday. I'm not sure whether I am pleased about this or not, I haven't decided yet. Dad's advertising company is shooting an advert up in Vermont and he's bringing Mum and me with him. The only reason he's taking the both of us is because Mum is 8 months pregnant and he doesn't want to leave her, and he's taking me because he's taking her. I can't stay with other people because they don't understand me and my ways. It's an advert set on a mountain so we're going to be skiing whilst we are there. Well, I will be skiing, Mum will be watching. I've skied before so I know what to do. One of the good things about not being sociable is you get your own instructor and I'm not distracted by others on the slope.
At the moment Dad is loading up the car whilst Mum is shouting instructions through the window from her place on the sofa. That's typical of Mum, always has to be in charge. I'm in my usual place at the top of the stairs. My suitcase is packed as is my camera bag. I'm hoping to get some great pictures of Dad falling over.
I can hear Mum slowly getting herself off the sofa. Looking at my watch, I can guess what she is going to say to me. She sticks her head out of the door and looks up.
'Have you packed?'
'Yes.' She's just making conversation before getting to the point.
'Are you looking forward to the trip?'
'I guess.' I shrug my shoulders in a nonchalant way. I can see that she is searching for another question so I stop her. 'Mum, we both know where this is going. The answer is no.'
'Why not?'
'I don't want to.'
'But, honey, you know what you get like on long journeys.'
'Please, Mum, I can do it, I know I can.'
'Sweetie...' She trails off and I know what her answer will be.
'NO!' I scream loudly over and over again and run up to my bedroom. As my door slams I hear Dad come in and then I hear Mum explaining what has happened.
There's a gentle knock at my door and, when I make no noise, it opens. Dad comes in and looks at me for a few seconds. I can tell he feels sorry for me, I've seen the look a lot of times. I'm curled up on my bed and I'm trying not to cry but not succeeding very well. He sits down on the end of my bed, a movement which is strange for the both of us.
'Honey, your medication...'
'No.' I sob pathetically, getting all worked up again. I hate my medication. Whenever we go on long journeys I always get worked up so the doctor prescribed me a type of medication. It's a sort of sedative and just quietens me down. However, when I do take it, it can take up to 12 hours for the effects to wear off so I walk round like I don't have a clue for the rest of the day. It also makes me feel really weak and pathetic. I can control the rest of my life without pills and tablets, just not that part.
I think Dad understood why I didn't want to take it. 'I'll do a deal with you,' he said after a while. I looked up. 'You don't have to take it now but if at anytime during the journey you get upset you take it then. Do we have a deal?'
I nodded. I could do this, I could make it.
***
I realised about twenty minutes into the journey that I couldn't do it and I couldn't make it.
'How much further?' I whined. I was sitting in the back by myself. Dad was driving and Mum was sitting next to him.
'About 2 hours, sweetie.' Dad said, casting a quick sideways glance at Mum. I groaned in frustration and kicked the back of Dad's seat.
'Hey!' He shouted in surprise. I didn't apologise, instead I kicked Mum's seat. She gasped in shock and then turned around to glare at me. I just glared back and unbuckled my seatbelt, which I am not allowed to do, but at that moment I didn't care. I moved up and down the seat, muttering to myself. There was this buzzing noise, it droned above everything. Mum and Dad were talking but I couldn't hear them, not above the buzzing. My breathing became faster and my throat became dry. I needed to get out of there.
Suddenly I flung myself into the boot where all the luggage was. I found a space and curled up in it. It was at this point that I realised the car was stopped. I don't know how long it had been in that state for. All I could think about was the fact I needed my medication. Suddenly the door opened and a hand passed me a drinks bottle. That was my medication. Sobbing, I lay down and drank it like a baby. It soothed me and soon I fell asleep. Whether it was due to my tiredness or the medication, I couldn't tell you.
***
I awoke to find myself in a bedroom that wasn't mine. It was very simple with a bed, a wardrobe and a door, which I presumed led to the en suite bathroom. Glancing out the window I could see snow and I realised we had arrived. I sat up and rubbed my eyes. My head was a lot clearer than I expected it to be. Normally when I wake up I still feel groggy. Then I realised that I had already woken up. All my clothes were flung around the room and my suitcase was open on the floor. Mum had obviously not been into my room yet.
I decided to go and see where Mum and Dad were. Carefully I got out of bed. I was still wearing the clothes that I had on in the car. I knew I had to change but decided to find them first. The tiled floor was cold on my feet so I grabbed a pair of sock, putting them on as I went. The cabin we had rented was fairly large and only had one level. In the centre of it was a massive living area with a real log fire. The other rooms were situated all around.
I walked out and found Mum sitting on one of the sofas. She looked up and gave me a smile.
'Feeling any better, honey?'
I nod and cautiously sit down next to her, tucking my legs up under me. 'Where's Dad?' I ask, glancing round.
'Oh, he's gone to meet the people involved with the shoot tomorrow. Then they're having dinner. I've got a pizza in for us. I figured you wouldn't want to go out tonight.'
I smiled gratefully. I never like going out after one of my 'episodes'.
***
'What do you want to watch?' Mum asked as she bought the pizza in. I looked up at her in surprise; we hardly ever eat in front of the television. She saw me gaping and winked, 'I won't tell if you don't. I'll never live it down.'
Jumping up I looked at the selection of DVDs that were in the cabin. 'How about Charlie and the Chocolate Factory?'
'That's really old.'
'It's a classic. Then after that, The Wizard of Oz.'
'Ok, ok.' Mum sat down on the sofa with the pizza box and I popped the DVD in. Settling onto the sofa next to her, I reached out to grab a slice of pizza.
For the next couple of hours Mum and I were in chocolate heaven. At one point I thought she was actually going to bite the TV.
'AARGH!' Mum groaned in frustration. 'I can't take it anymore.'
Pausing the film, I got up and went to the kitchen. A moment later I returned with a tub of chocolate ice cream and two spoons.
'God bless you, Madison Bing.' Mum ripped open the lid and stuck her spoon in. However, the ice cream was properly frozen and when she tried to pull it out, it refused to budge and it bent. She stared at it for a moment. I couldn't tell you why but at that moment we both started laughing. Harder and harder, until we were practically on the floor; our sides hurting from laughing too much. I caught Mum's eye and then I realised something. We had had a moment.