Chapter 3: Smile
Thomas Orosco dropped his daughter off at the Blue Creek Apartment complex. He was no doubt going off to drink again after working all day. Angela entered room 109 and pulled off her shoes. Her mother was at work, and the sounds of video games was coming from her room that she shared with her nine year old brother, Harold.
To say that he was the spitting image of her father was an under-statement. Harold was nothing more than a cretin; lazy, over-weight, irresponsible, and able to get away with any-thing their father let him. He let out a thunderous whoop of joy as an explosion echoed through the television.
Angela took off her back-pack and flopped down on her bed. Her long hair splayed messily about her head as she buried her face in the soft fabric of her pillow. She drowned at the sounds of the video game and found her-self recalling the days events. She smiled as she remembered Ms. Hunter. She was a very nice lady whom Angela liked very much. She marveled at her beauty and gracefulness. Angela even began to think of her as a friend. She could still hear her words clearly in her mind...
You're very pretty when you smile...
"Harold?"
Her brother didn't respond, still stuck in what-ever game he was playing.
"Harold!?" Angela repeated.
"Whaddaya want?" He responded, eyes still transfixed on the screen.
"Do you think I have a pretty smile?" She tentatively asked.
Harold chortled maliciously. "What kind of question is that!? No, I don't think you have a pretty smile! It's so ugly!"
Angela felt a stab of hurt prick at her heart. "My teacher told me today that I did..."
"Well, your teacher lied to you. YES! TAKE THAT!!"
Feeling dejected, Angela left her brother to his own devices and entered her parents room. She walked over to the large mirror and stared at her-self. She smiled at her reflection as wide and broad as possible. It made her feel better, looking at that smile. No one knew what was hidden behind it, her own little terrible secret...
Angela Orosco stared at her reflection and practiced smiling for hours. Eventually, she could hear the front door open and the sounds of uncoordinated foot-steps barreling into the room. Even as she knew what inevitable fate waited her, she continued to smile, the pain hidden behind a facade of happiness.
"You're very pretty when you smile..."
The bedroom door behind Angela opened and her father shuffled in. She continued to smile, despite his ominous presence.
Just keep smiling. She thought. You very pretty when you smile...