Monica found her way to the dining room when she began to smell food cooking. She found a table set for three, and could hear movement in the kitchen next to the dining room, so she invited herself into the kitchen, thinking she would find Jessica making dinner, but instead, she found Chrissy struggling to get the plates out of the top cupboard. She was standing on a chair, on her tiptoes, reaching to get the plates. She was a small girl, and Monica smiled as she watched.
"Looks like those plates are a little high for you. Would you like some help?" Monica asked with a little laugh. Chrissy turned and saw Monica watching. Chrissy shook her head.
"No, I'm fine, I get them out every night and put them away every night. I don't need any help." She said, as she continued getting out the plates. She never looked at Monica, and Monica knew why. How hard is it going to be for me to reach Chrissy now that her mother doesn't want her to talk to me? Monica didn't care, she had to reach Chrissy somehow.
"Do you cook dinner every night?" She asked as she leaned against the counter. Chrissy stepped down from the chair, holding three plates and walked into the dining room, setting the plates down.
"Yeah I do." She answered simply, as she returned to the kitchen to drain the spaghetti. Monica smiled, admiring this girl's patience and responsibility.
"Well, it looks lovely." She complimented. Chrissy didn't answer, she just continued on around the kitchen.
Not long afterward, Monica was seated at the dining room table, with Chrissy to her left, and Jessica to her right. She noticed that there was no dinner conversation, as Chrissy poked at her food, and Jessica devoured it. Monica decided to start some conversation.
"This is wonderful spaghetti Chrissy. I think this might be, without a doubt, the best spaghetti I have ever tasted." She said as she ate another mouthful. Monica was sure she finally saw a smile come out of Chrissy, but noticed it disappear quickly when Jessica shot her daughter an angry look.
"I'm not one for cooking. I would love to learn though. Maybe you could teach me how to make this, Chrissy." Monica continued. Chrissy seemed to brighten up a little.
"Sure, I'd love to." She said with a little smile, and that was when Jessica slammed her fist on the table.
"Chrissy, go to your room! Right now!" She yelled. Chrissy stared at her mother, with scared eyes.
"Why? What did she do?" Monica asked, not meaning to intrude, but not knowing what else to do. She felt so confused.
"NOW!" Jessica screamed as Chrissy jumped up from her seat and walked away from the dinner table, leaving her dinner untouched. Monica suddenly felt uncomfortable, as she waited for Jessica to say something. Jessica turned and stared at Monica with cold, angry eyes.
"You stay away from my daughter. Do you understand? You're only here for the room, not to socialize." She said coldly.
"Please Jessica, I was only trying to be friendly." Monica replied.
"We don't do 'friendly' in this household. If you don't like it, you can leave, but I want you to stay away from my daughter." Jessica said again. Monica only nodded, as Jessica stood up, and grabbed her bag. She put on her coat, and headed toward the door, leaving Monica sitting at the dining room table alone.
"Chrissy, I'm going out! Clean up this mess! It better be clean when I get home, or you'll get it!" Jessica yelled up the stairs, and she left the house, slamming the door behind her. Monica cringed when the door slammed, and she said a silent prayer for patience and wisdom.
Upstairs, Chrissy sat on her bed, crying uncontrollably. In her left hand, she held a razor blade that was already covered in blood. On her right wrist was a new scar, bleeding. Chrissy cried as she put her razor blade back under her pillow and walked to the bathroom. She washed out the wound, to make sure it wouldn't get infected, and rolled her sleeve back down. She went back to her bedroom and laid on her bed, clutching her teddy bear tightly, crying silently. God, I don't know if you're there, but why? Was all she could think about saying. She couldn't understand why she was the way she was, and why she had to live the way she did. She wanted so badly to have somebody to talk to, and Monica seemed so nice, but she knew that if she talked to Monica, her mother would get angry, and Chrissy couldn't take much more of her mother's anger.
Downstairs, Monica surveyed the clean dining room and kitchen. She had cleaned it herself. At least Chrissy won't have to clean now. She thought, and then decided she would go against Jessica's wishes, and talk to Chrissy. Monica walked upstairs and found her way to a door that had a sign on it. "Chrissy's room, Keep out." Monica knocked on the door quietly. Inside, Chrissy jumped up, and wiped away her tears quickly.
"Come in." She managed to utter. Monica opened the door and knew immediately that Chrissy had been crying. Monica smiled at her and said hello.
"Hi. Do you need something?" Chrissy asked, trying to get rid of Monica, since she knew she wasn't allowed to talk to her.
"No, I just wanted to see if you were okay. You look like you've been crying." Monica pointed out as she walked into the room further and sat on Chrissy's chair near her desk. Chrissy looked uncomfortable as she shifted on the bed.
"No, no. I'm okay. I have allergies, that's all." She lied as she rubbed her eyes. Monica smiled at her. Chrissy was silent and Monica knew Jessica forbid the two from talking, but Monica also knew that Chrissy was in trouble, so she pushed.
"Chrissy, I don't know why, but your mother doesn't want us to be friends." She pointed out. Chrissy sighed.
"I know." She said simply.
"Well, why? Why can't we be friends?" Monica asked and she noticed Chrissy looked like she was going to cry again, but she seemed to ignore her emotions.
"I don't know Monica. My mom is weird. I wish I knew why she was like that, but I don't." She replied. Monica nodded.
"Where is your mother now?" She asked.
"She goes out every night, probably to a bar. She doesn't get home until early in the morning." Chrissy replied.
"And she leaves you by yourself?" Monica seemed surprise and Chrissy shrugged.
"Well, I'm 14 years old. I can take care of myself. Besides, it gives me some alone time."
"Well, Chrissy, now that I live here, do you think maybe we could take your alone time and become friends? I know your mom doesn't want us to talk, but I would love to be friends with you." Monica waited, fearing Chrissy would get upset or scared, but instead, she seemed to be thinking.
"Well, as long as my mom doesn't find out about it. You can't tell her Monica! If we are going to be friends, we have to keep it a secret!" Chrissy seemed to stress this point. Monica smiled and nodded.
"I'm pretty good at keeping secrets, you know. If you ever need someone to share your secrets with, I'm here." She said. Chrissy nodded, unsure.
"Well, anyways, I have to go and clean the kitchen before she gets home in the morning." She started to get up but Monica put her hand on her shoulder.
"It's already done little one." She smiled. Chrissy looked confused.
"I cleaned it up for you. I figured maybe you're sick and tired of cleaning, so I thought I'd give you a break." Monica explained and Chrissy smiled, just a bit.
"Thank you," Was all she could say. Monica smiled and thanked God for this opportunity to be Chrissy's friend.
"Now then," Monica said, "What do you like to do for fun?" Chrissy seemed surprised at the question, but smiled.
"I like to watch movies." She replied shyly. Thus starting a conversation between the two for hours until Monica said it was really late and that they should go to bed since it would be a long day tomorrow. Monica went to her room, leaving Chrissy to get ready for bed. As Monica sat in her room, she prayed that God would offer more opportunities for her to get closer to Chrissy.
She just hoped that Jessica would not find out about it.