CHAPTER NINE
After school I went to work and then straight home. I didn't give the boss a bigger fight for the minimum wage work force; I just didn't care at the moment. I had bigger things on my mind like what Ebony could have possibly been up to? I have never in my natural born life underestimated my sister Ebony. She was a cute kid when she was younger but even then she could be a vicious brat who would suck the life out of even the nicest of souls…like my Mother for instance. Don't get me wrong she was Ebony's as much as mine, but it was just some days Ebony never seemed to want to play happy families with the rest of us…meaning Siva and me.
I got home only to find my mother sitting at the dinning table with a steaming mug of coffee next to her. She was staring out into the distance. Something I noticed she did a lot these days. It was almost like she was trying to figure something out. I couldn't stand to look at her long. With my thoughts so much changed since Ram's inquiry, she wasn't my mother just a vivid shadow. I raced up the stairs to get to my room. I wanted to stop by Ebony's room and bash her head in but knew it was better not to. Instead I poked head into Siva's room right next to mine. She was sitting on her bed staring intently at her school books all stacked neatly on the corner of her turquoise and pink bed comforter.
"What did I miss?"
Siva looked at me eyes blurred with tears, "Ebony got expelled."
"I figured as much, so she'll probably just go to Craven Ridge High right?"
Siva shook her head wiping away her unshed tears. "No," her voice quivered, "We're all going. Mom took all of us out of school."
I froze. Many thoughts raced through my head. The main one being that I was a respected member of St. Paul having spent my entire school career there. Teachers came and went but Java was a solid stone of superiority and leadership. With lest then a Semster of school left how would I gain my current status at a new school! I emitted an unsophisticated squeak before I charged to Ebony's room across the hall. Bursting in I was greeted by the scene of Ebony putting on a fresh layer of make up, obviously readying herself to go out.
"WHAT…did you do?"
Ebony looked up and smirked, obviously knowing what I was talking about. "A slight misunderstanding…Momma thought I would miss having family at my new school so…" She put down her lipstick and raised a fist in the air, "GO! Craven Ridge Vikings!" She laughed mockingly walking out of her room and bouncing down the stairs.
I noticed as she left that Mother hadn't said anything. When I checked she was asleep at the table…her coffee untouched and going cold.
The next morning I went to slip into my all too familiar uniform when I remembered I wouldn't need it anymore. I was apart of the public school system now. I snorted pulling on a pair of jeans and a purple button up shirt. I went downstairs to find my mother cooking eggs to order, sausage, bacon, and toast. This was probably done out of guilt because she fell asleep at the table and didn't make dinner. Ebony sat at the table taking advantage of it ordering two eggs over medium and waiting for Mother to bring her plate of toast and bacon to her. I frowned in disgust grabbed a piece of bacon and sat down to a glass of orange juice.
The fact that I was going to a new school wasn't the only reason for my fowl mood, but the fact that I couldn't get in touch with Ram. I had called and his Mom last night and being the ditzy housewife she was answered with a hearty, "Hello!"
"Hey, its Java could I talk to Ram."
"OH! He's working his father on their top secret invention thingy…it's all terribly secret, but Ram did tell me about you cute little date you had. Did you have fun with my Ram?"
"Uh…yes, of course."
"OF COURSE! Of course you did, you always have fun with my Ram don't you, yes?"
"Yes, m'am. Um…are you sure Ram isn't there or could you give me a number I could reach him at."
"Oh no, I can't top secret invention and everything; they can't even receive calls during the day so if my Ram or his father forget anything I just well…I just have to have it delivered actually."
"Delivered?"
"Yes, you know through the mail! I really hate to do it so I actually started making list for both of them and it works out great! Ram even thought of keeping double of each for when he went off. He most definitely gets his efficiency from me!"
"Um well…if you do get in touch, tell him to call me. Thank you, bye!" I rushed the last part hanging up the phone.
It was morning and I chomped on my bacon cringing. Ram's mother was a neat freak and a psycho…scary to the average female even in the daylight.
Ebony looked up at me. "Ya know if you eat any more of that bacon," She mused eyeing my fifth slice, "You're going to get fat."
"And this coming from a cow," I snatched the magazine she was reading and flipped through it. My eyes laughed just over the top edges.
Her gaze narrowed on me, but then widened with fear. "MOMMA!"
I turned around just in time to see my mother sway and fall to the ground unconscious.
