There was a strange fog over the house, almost magical in appearance. She felt the urge to walk into the house although she did not recognize it at all. The path to the door seemed to unfold in front of her, and as her hand touched the strangely shaped doorknob the house fell away into a black. She gazed around and the doorknob started circling her, slowly at first then with increasing speed, morphing as it turned. It was her dog, her mom and dad, all of her friends. Then it slowed and turned into her brother, she began running, running as far from the object as she could. She slipped and fell into the dark.
Waking with a start Hope realized that there was a scream caught in her throat and tears all over her pillow. She'd had this dream before, the house and the strange doorknob seemed familiar yet strange. Getting out of bed she realized it couldn't be later then 7 o'clock in the morning. Yawning Hope made her bed, careful not to wake up Lucy her younger sister, though it did not help make the small 4 room apartment any cleaner. Without looking she knew what she'd find outside of the bedroom. Bottles around the couch, and a lot of mess in what they called the "Main" room. In her parents room she knew that Mama would be alone and if she was awake she would be sobbing. Dad would out drinking, he always left after their fights.
Hope crept out and went into the bathroom to wash her face. She looked in the mirror and brushed her chestnut hair, it was short and the ends curled inward giving her china doll face a more delicate look. Her family could not afford any hairdryers or curlers, she couldn't even afford make up. When she was little Hope loved Mama's eyes, they were such a pretty amber color. Mama had long dark brown hair once soft and beautiful, now greasy and tangled. Her nose was small, like Hope's, but her chin was sharp. Hope always wondered where her chin cam from, certainly not her Dad with his broad jawbone. Her Dad was a classic handsome, blue eyes brown hair and a five o'clock shadow. Now looking into her own green with specks of Mama's amber she was very content with herself and not only her eyes but her body and face. She dressed in a red shirt and her favorite jeans and went into the living room to clean. Hope tried to make her family's life better by doing all she could, after straightening she got out a pan and started cooking some eggs when she heard a moan from her mother's room.
"Hope?" she groaned.
"Yes, Mama? What do you need?" Hope tried not to roll her eyes as she replied
"I need some help honey, your Mama's not as young as she used to be you know." She broke into tears at the end of her sentence. "Oh Hope, I've done it now! Your Daddy ain't gonna come back! He's left me! He left! I don't even remember what on God's Earth we were fighting about! Oh Lord what've I done?" She wailed.
"Mama, you can't yell you're gonna wake Lucy up." Hope ran into Mama's room knowing full well that Lucy could sleep through an earthquake. "You need to calm down Mama. Everything will be okay, just calm down. I even made you some breakfast."
"I know Hope, I know. And thanks a lot, you knew I wouldn't be in a cookin' mood, never am after a little disagreement with your Dad. I just need some help up. But, oh, if your Daddy's left me I don't know what I'll do! Sorry dear, sorry." She sighed.
Hope helped Mama to the table then gave her a plate of cold eggs. She murmured an apology, however it seemed as though Mama didn't care much she ate the eggs in a minute flat then carried her dish and plopped it in the sink. So far so good thought Hope, Mama seemed to be doing okay until she reached their worn down loveseat. Then she started laughing.
"Hope, did you ever realize how this loveseat sinks so far down! I swear I can feel the floor! I remember when we bought this chair you were just a baby, not even a month old." She started crying, "This was supposed to be a temporary house. And now look! Look! Your eight-teen and we're still in this little apartment with the same old chair. Steven, your Dad I mean, he's left because of me!" She began to sob hysterically. Hope ran over and hugged her.
"It's okay Mama, its okay. Daddy will come back." She whispered as she tried to calm down her Mama.
"No Hope! It's not okay! You hear me! Don't you ever compromise! Listen to your heart, but only so much! Look at my life, I don't want you to have this kind of life! Get a good job, go to school and only look at the best of men! Rich men don't last long, money fades but love, real love, doesn't." She yelled, she was shaking Hope, as if trying to make her understand what she was saying.
"Okay Mama, okay. Be a little quieter you're going to wake up..." She stopped as Lucy walked in hugging an old teddy bear once belonging to Hope.
"I heard loud voices, is everyone okay?" She asked. Although Lucy was 14 years old she still slept with the teddy bear, she claimed it was habit.
"Yes Honey we're fine." Mama said, lowering her hands.
"Breakfast's on the table, a bit cold though." Hope warned. "And only 2 more days of school left! I can't wait!" She said happily trying to cheer everyone up.
"I think Lucy and I better have a talk." Mama said, her tone of voice signaled that it was about Daddy and Lucy wouldn't like it. Lucy was always clueless and it showed as she stuck her tongue out at Hope as if this proved she was now the favorite. Lucy had always hated that about Hope.
"Okay then, I'm going to leave for school, can you drive Lucy today Mama?" She asked.
"Sure Honey." She said half heartedly. Hope wasn't sure she should leave but the look Lucy gave her convinced her to leave. She tried to do so without thinking about her Dad, Mom, or any other troubles.
