Learning & other things
1472 Words
The following day was the last day of school for the kids so she took them to the park and for ice cream, as she told Athena she'd get her some.
"Alright kids" she started, gathering them in front of her. "I have to tell you something important you listen carefully alright?"
They all nodded
"You're on vacation, but it doesn't mean you stop learning okay? It doesn't have to be school like, just read signs, keep recycling, even help people ! Everyday you can learn new things. Even when you're all grown up."
"Do you learn things everyday?" Aaron asked
"Yes I do. And so do everyone else. Without knowing it!"
"What did you learn today?" Aaron asked again
Cara started thinking and looking around. Then she walked to the ice cream truck and she asked "excuse me, would you agree to teach me and these kids how you make ice cream? It's their last lesson today"
"Sure!" He said, actually stepping out of the truck.
"Thank you that's very nice of you" Cara said
And so he told them about the ingredients, and how the ice-cream machine keeps stirring it to keep it solid but not rock solid.
They thanked him again after finishing their ice cream and left to her apartment to wait for their parents.
"Thank you Cara" they said hugging her before leaving her one by one.
"Don't forget, even though I won't teach you anymore, I'm still here if you need me" she told them.
"What do you mean you won't teach them anymore?" Josh asked as he arrived to pick up Athena.
"Aaron and Isla are moving and Noah's going to a special school so he won't need me anymore"
"So Athena's the only one left?"
"Yeah I guess"
"Are you gonna be okay with the money? Or are you gonna look for other kids?"
"What I don't actually need money, I'm doing this to help. Also you're paying what you should pay for two kids so… I'll be okay"
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah. I'm good with my firefighter's salary. This is just extra"
"Alright. I wanted to ask you something"
She looked at him, waiting
"Are you and my brother dating?"
She looked up, as though she was thinking, and said "no, why?"
"Are you sure?"
"Am I sure I'm not dating your brother ? Yes duh"
"Then what was it yesterday"
"What was what?"
"Nothing" he said as Athena joined him with her stuff
"No, tell me" Cara insisted
"Maybe it's just me the way he reacted when I hugged you after the truck thing with Athena"
Cara frowned
"Nevermind it's probably all in my head"
The following week, Athena's grandmother called Cara and insisted for her to come and eat with them and then talk about Athena's next teaching year.
She drove there in the evening wearing whatever she could find that was a bit classy. And that was one of Mary's dresses. But when she arrived, Josh was at the front door wearing pretty much the same clothes as Nathan, she almost thought it was Nathan.
"Hey" she said, walking towards him "what's going on?" She asked
And just like that, he tried to kiss her. She moved away in time and was about to ask what he was doing when he grabbed her by the waist and pulled her towards him.
"What the hell let go of me" she said, trying to get away
"What, aren't you used to it ?" He asked, still holding her
She tried to push him but somehow she lost all her strenght and was filled with fear.
"Let go of me. Please" she said, her eyes filling up
"Oh come on" he said
"Let go" she kept trying to get his hands off of her, even though she knew she was just touching them.
"She said let go" Nathan said loudly, grabbing his brother's hand.
Cara stepped back as he was asking his brother "what the hell are you doing"
"Are you okay?" He asked Cara, who jumped a step back as he turned towards her.
"I'm sorry. I have to go" she said, walking fast to her car.
She opened her door, put her seatbelt on and tried to get the key in but she was shaking so it fell.
She grabbed it back and rested her head on her seat, mad at herself for losing control of her own body.
"Can I come in?" Nathan asked as he opened the passenger door.
She nodded and he sat there, not saying anything.
After a few minutes she spent concentrating on Nathan's breathing rythme, she turned towards him and said
"Why?"
"There's no excuse. I'm not done with him. Do you want me to drive you home?"
She nodded, her eyes filling up again, before getting out of the car to swap seats.
As he parked her car in front of her building, he asked her if she needed anything else.
She shook her head.
"I'll wait with you 'till your driver arrives." She said
"You don't have to"
"I know. Thank you"
"For what?"
She shrugged.
For stopping him. And driving her home. And not trying to find an excuse.
As he got home, the first thing he did was punch Josh in the face. And again, 'till their mother arrived and asked what was going on.
"You know why Cara didn't come? He assaulted her" Nathan said, still holding Josh to the floor.
"Go on" she said, leaving.
And he punched him one more time before standing up and leaving him. Josh didn't defend himself. There was no point.
When Cara got home, Stuart was sitting on the couch and watching tv.
"What happened why are you… what happened ?" He asked getting up.
"I don't wanna talk about it" she said, rushing to her room and closing the door.
So when Mary came back, she heard him tell her to come check on her. So Mary knocked on Cara's door and got in without waiting for an answer, as always.
She sat next to her and asked "alright what's going on?"
And so Cara cried. She held it for too long.
Mary hugged her and waited for her to calm down before telling her she was making her tea. But instead of doing so, she shouted "Stuart make us some tea. And bring cookies" making Cara smile a little.
She told her what happened.
"That son of a b***h" Mary said "I'm gonna break his bones" she added, standing up.
"No you're not" Cara said. "Please don't tell anyone"
Mary nodded.
But the next day at work, Christopher was just passing by as he tapped her shoulder and she jumped. So she didn't want anyone to touch her. But when she told them, they made fun of her.
"I'm serious." She told them, but they were all ignoring her.
She is famous for always hugging people. Or was.
"Chief" she said, following him to his office "I need to take a few days off"
"Okay" he said, sitting down as she closed the door.
"I'll have Mary fill you in. But you can't tell anyone, please"
"Sure, what's going on ?"
She knew if she talked, she'd cry.
"Can I go now?" She asked
"Is it something serious?"
"Yes. I'll tell Mary to come right now. I really… don't want.. sorry" she said, breaking up because of her crying voice.
"Alright, you go. We'll talk later"
She left the office and was telling Mary to go and tell Douglas when Josh arrived with a brused face and a basket of cookies and walked towards her. She didn't even react that Mary grabbed it from his hands and threw it on the floor.
"I'm sorry" he started, looking at Cara, but the latter didn't even look at him
"Get out" Mary told him.
None else was there, so Cara was relieved none saw that. And then she just left to her car and home.
For a week, Josh went to the firehouse to apologise. Or so Mary told her. And for a week, Cara stayed in her room doing nothing other than eating and watching documentaries. The only time she dressed up a bit was when she called her mom.
After a few more days, Mary got in Cara's room and told her to get up.
"Nah I'm good" she said
"No you're not. Look at you ! You haven't left your room since last week."
"Hey at least I still shower" she joked
"Come on Cara" she grabbed her arm and pulled her up. "Let's go shopping. I need new clothes"
"Go with Stuart"
"You know it's not the same" Mary said
And so she insisted again and again until Cara agreed and they went to the mall.
- Writer
