Chapter 3- Sarah
"Amber! Hurry up!" Sarah yelled, laying on the car horn. In the back seat, she saw Drew flinch and pull up the hood of his hoodie. She felt sorry for him, he didn't like loud noises, but she couldn't deal with this right now. "Drew, hood down, we're inside. Amber!" she yelled again, honking twice.
This morning had started so well. Sarah had slept better than she had done in weeks. Both her kids were home, safe. Yes, okay, maybe Amber was a flight risk but it was time to turn over a new leaf. Her kids were good kids, great kids.
Sarah had reminded herself of that time and time again yesterday night. Driving around Fresno at one in the morning, silently cursing Damien for his couch-surfing lifestyle, she wondered if they were somehow beyond repair. She banished the thought from her mind as soon as it crept in but it stayed there stubbornly, niggling at her. It was her fault, of course, if they were.
"AMBER!" Sarah tried, yet again.
"Mom, I think you should just go get her," Drew said.
Sarah sighed. "Fine, wait here."
"Where else would I go?" Drew mumbled sarcastically to himself. That boy and enunciation, honestly. Amber drove Sarah crazy but at least when she was yelling she was communicating. The teenager years had really brought the curse of the monosyllable on her once chatty little boy.
Sarah stormed into the house and flung open the bedroom door. "Are you sick?" she said, emphatically.
"No," came Amber's surly reply.
"Then get your butt to the car," Sarah said quietly, desperately trying to keep her composure.
"I don't want to, mom."
"Tough."
"Please?"
"Amber, don't beg, it's demeaning."
"Mom, I..."
"No, I am not taking this shit from you today! We are starting fresh, we are turning over a new leaf, making a better life for ourselves and all of that starts with you going to school. This is non-negotiable, get in the car." Sarah put her hands on her hips, hoping that gave her some kind of gravitas.
"You're not even gonna listen to me?" Amber whined.
"I've tried that, Amber, it didn't work remember?"
"But, I..."
"Car. Now."
Amber picked up her stuff slowly and trudged out to the car. Sarah was stunned. This small act of compliance felt like a monumental win. Putting her foot down had literally never worked before. It was suspiciously effective. Sarah shook her head. She should give Amber more credit. Every kid has a moment where they realize what's truly important to them, don't they?
