Where There's A Willows
Catherine lay back in the driver's seat of her car. She was waiting for the final bell of the school day to ring. After night after night of wading through the oceans of death and despair, she wanted a little time with her daughter. Her arm was thrown over her face, hiding her eyes from the intense afternoon sun. Hers was not the only car along the school's curb. There were innumerable cars, SUVs and minivans driven by anxious parents. The 'Doll Collector' had rattled many parents' cages.
In the distance she heard the shrill bell ring and almost immediately after, the loud roar of middle schoolers followed.
Lindsey Willows hefted her backpack and walked between her friends, Tricia and Jessica. They were dressed in matching black tee-shirts. Tricia grinned, "So, L, your mom give you permission to go to the concert tonight?" Jessica jumped in, "She has to. I mean you can't miss it, it's like the concert of the year!" Lindsey smiled, "She has to work tonight. I'm sure I can figure out some way to get there." The two other girls grinned and high-fived. "This is going to be totally cool!" Lindsey grinned and they left the school building behind them. Lindsey went on her tiptoes to see if her mom was there. Yes, there was their SUV. "Damn. My Mom's here." She shrugged one shoulder, "I'll see you guys later tonight." The other two girls waved and headed towards the big yellow school buses.
Lindsey frowned at the car as she reached it. She wished her mother would let her ride the bus. It just was not cool to have to ride with your mom every day. She opened the back door to the SUV and threw her bag in. Her mother, who was half asleep in the driver's seat, uncovered her eyes. "Hey, Linds." Lindsey closed the back door and opened up the front. "Hey." She slid into the relatively cool interior of the car and reached for her seatbelt.
Catherine squinted at her daughter. The afternoon light came through the tinted window and Lindsey had a reflective halo around her. Catherine, though, knew very well that her daughter was no angel, she had too much of her mother in her for that. "How was school?" She returned her seat to the upright position so she could drive as Lindsey outlined her day. Predictably, her daughter left out all academic pursuits, but Catherine learned that Adam Haney dumped Felicia Primstone for Gillian West, who was, apparently, a renowned boyfriend stealer. Michael Dowes and Freddie Peterson had been caught kissing under the bleachers out by the football field which was, according to Lindsey, okay by her. But the football team was not as tolerant and the two boys had been forced to run. The gym teachers had been forced to physically pull the players off of the two young men.
Her mother's frown did not stop Lindsey. She knew that if she could lull her mother into a sense of security, and boredom, it would be easier to get permission to go to the concert.
She tossed her blonde locks, an unconscious move that she had picked up from her mother, and continued. "Then Angela Hernandez was caught roller blading in the quad and was sent to the principal's office. She's actually really good, but Mr. Rossi was not impressed by her practicing her grinding techniques on school property and now she has to repaint all the rails she used...which is a bummer because the hottest concert of the year is tonight and Angela is a huge fan and she already coughed up the fifty bucks for the ticket."
Catherine hit her turn signal and went around a slower drive. Her daughter was good, very good. Catherine, though, was better. "And when is this concert?" She actually smiled when Lindsey blew out an exasperated breathe. "Tonight. The girls and I got the tickets already." Catherine's hands tightened on the steering wheel. They had not discussed any concert. "Where did you get money for a ticket, Linds?" Her daughter looked out the window, the reflection of her blue eyes in the tint was the picture of innocence. "Sam gave me some a while back."
Catherine muttered a curse under her breathe. She had told Sam more than once that she did not want him giving Lindsey anything, including money, without talking to her first. She knew all too well how generous he could be. She also knew that he didn't understand boundaries well. She cringed at the memory of being allowed to dance in his clubs. No, she was not going to let him spoil Lindsey. She knew where that path went and she didn't want her daughter following her footsteps down it.
"You didn't even ask me, Lindsey." The girl turned to face her mother, blue eyes met blue. "It's just a concert." Catherine sighed, "Well what band is it?"
Lindsey rolled her eyes. How could her mother be so incredibly dumb? "You're kidding." Her mom shook her head. "No, Lindsey. Who is it?"
Catherine wracked her brain, trying to remember a single band name. "Is this that Evan Six thing?" Her daughter stared at her blankly for a minute, "You mean Evanescence?" She shrugged, "Right. So it is them?" Lindsey chuckled, "Uh no. Broken Innocence, Mom. You know, they just put out their new album, White Coffin." Catherine narrowed her eyes, "No, what kind of music is this, Lindsey?" Lindsey once again rolled her eyes, which was her most used facial expression. "Fine, I'll let you listen." She unbuckled and twisted around in her seat. Catherine automatically put both her hands on the wheel. "Lindsey Willows, you sit in your seat and buckle up." Lindsey came back around, backpack in hand. "Chill." She buckled back up and started to rummage in the very messy backpack. She pulled out a personal CD player, one she wasn't supposed to have at school with her, and removed the obviously burnt CD. She popped the CD in and a moment later, Catherine's ears were assaulted with the furious rifts of guitars and the thunderous roar of drums. Catherine could not make out most of the words, being all but screams, but she was immediately sure, as they pulled into the driveway of the Willows Abode, that she did not want Lindsey at the concert. She turned off the radio and the CD popped back out.
Before Lindsey could get her CD, her mother took it. "Where did you get this music?" Mentally, Lindsey cursed. "Jessica burnt it off for me. There's nothing wrong with it." Her mother's face went hard and her mouth set in a scowl. It was, Lindsey thought, her mother's 'Bitch Face'. "This music is violent, Lindsey. Besides you know the rule, I'm supposed to listen to the CD before you buy it." Lindsey crossed her arms. "I didn't buy it." Then her mother dropped the bombshell, "You are not going to this concert, no way." For a moment, Lindsey couldn't speak. The words all jumbled up in her mind and her throat was too tight to let them tumble out. "I..You...But..." Her mother only stared at her. "That's my final word, Lindsey." She clenched her fists, "YOU ARE RUINING MY LIFE!" She opened the car door and jumped out. "THIS IS THE SOCIAL EVENT OF THE YEAR AND YOU WON'T LET ME GO!" Lindsey grabbed her bag and stomped up the drive and to the door. She let herself in and slammed the door behind her. Her screamed, "I HATE YOU" reached Catherine's ears before the door shut.
Catherine's heart hurt at Lindsey's words. What kept her rooted to her seat, though, was Lindsey's shirt. The black shirt was new and Catherine had never seen it before. The picture on back... it was of a fair haired girl with a white dress standing in front of a white coffin. Catherine's mind raced. Was it a coincidence? Broken Innocence...it was too perfect.