Descendant of Elroy

Growing up might be hard

TEN YEARS LATER

Emma has grown to be an independent yet clingy young girl. Laurel went back into the room to wake her up after break was ready.

“Emma wake up.” Lately said tapping her gently.

“Leave me alone Mom, I want to sleep.” she groaned as she rolled back to the other side of the bed

“You will be late for school.”

“If am late I won't go to school,” she said suggesting a solution to the problem that may arise.

“Come on, Ted is waiting for you, you will make him late,” Laurel warned.

“Tell him to leave.”

“I won't tell you stories tonight then,” Lauren said as she pretended to leave.

“I will go then but I don't like school,” Emma complained

“Come on baby I will get you ice cream once you get back from school.”

“Okay, I'm off to the bathroom,” she announced as she dragged herself into the bathroom.

“Go tell Ted when you are ready, and be quick he is waiting for you.”

“Okay, Mom,” she shouted for the bathroom.

“Brother, I'm ready,” Emma said rushing out and at the same time wearing her shoes.

“When will I stop going late to school, I'm in my final year,” Ted complained as he looked at the time.

“I’m sorry, I promise to be early.” She said after she wore her shoes.

“That is, always promising, please keep to it this time am tired of going late to school, am off.” He said as he left expecting her to follow.

“Okay let's go, I hope you don't get flogged because of me today,” Emma mumbled worried.

Later at noon.

"Oh, we are home, Mom's not home yet,” she announced. “I’m hungry Ted." She said turning to him slowly.

“You said ?” He asked looking at her like he didn’t hear what she said earlier.

"I’m hungry." She repeated.

"Do I look like a slave to you?" He asked.

"Sorry." She said dismissively.

"No, tell me, am I your slave? You woke up late and I receive your punishment at school every day. Do you have nothing to say to that?” He said angrily but tried to keep his anger in check.

“Everyone laughs at me but I put on a smile just to keep you happy. Isn't that enough? Do you think you have the right to control my life? Look, I am tired of you, I’m tired of seeing you, I’m tired of you making me regret that I am me and that you came into my life." He shouted.

"I’m sorry, I only said I was hungry." She said not seeing the reason he was angry.

"So, I am the slave to serve you? I failed a three-year project today, and you are the reason for it. Everyone cares for you like you are an egg, why then are you making it hard for me?" He asked angrily.

"I’m sorry, I promise I will wake up early, I will be quick," Emma said, trying to fight her tears back. Both were doing the same.

"The problem is you make too many promises and will barely keep one, and I hate you for that.” He said as he turned to leave and stopped. “Just leave, please walk out of my life if you are never tired of bringing bad luck to me. Just disappear from my life, I’m tired of you. My life has been a total waste because of you. All comments were he is this but never punctual. Aren't you tired of missing classes, or failing? Well, I am tired, very tired." He screamed those words and stormed into his room, leaving Emma where she was.

"Alright, I will just leave, I will move far away, I will just move till am tired and I won't stop. If that is what you want, I will just do it, but I’m sorry, I’m sorry." Emma also shouted as she ran out of the house.

Emma left the house and walked away from the

town. She kept walking till she got to the sea, where she sat on the reef. She tried not to cry.

"He is fed up with having me around, I really bad luck? He looked so disappointed." She said remember how Ted looked at her.

"Your brother right?" A voice spoke up beside her.

Emma almost fell off the reef she sat on.

"Don't be scared, I won't hurt you." A creature said coming out of her hiding place.

"You are not a human." She said surprised.

"I’m not a beast either, I am Adella. Mind if we become friends?" Adela asked sitting close to her on the reef.

"You look pretty with your tail. Can I touch it?" Emma asked placing her hands on Adella’s tale, even before she consented.

"Ok, of course you can, what’s your name?”

"Emma, it's soft. Are you supposed to be here? You don't look like us." Emma said finally looking up from her tale.

"Of course, but I couldn't help it, everyone is annoying down there." She said and snorted.

"Good for you. I’m the one annoying up here, my brother is really mad at me. I wish I could do something about it. I can't stand seeing him angry, it makes me sad and feel guilty." Emma said looking guilty.

"Oh, poor baby, should I cheer you up?" She asked and she let her take into the sea.

"How?" Emma asked distinguished

"Let's swim," she suggested jumping into the water.

"I can't swim."

"Trust me, I will teach you," she said as she stretched out her hands.

"Okay," Emma said jumping in also.

Hours passed and Emma was lost in that pleasure she derived in swimming.

"Shall I show you my Kingdom?" she asked.

"I would love to see it."

"You will have to hide, no one should see you."

"Okay."

Later in the evening, Laurel walked in and met Howard scolding Ted, who walked out of his presence immediately after Laurel walked in.

"How dare you walk away while am still talking?" Howard shouts at Ted, who just bangs his door sharply as he gets in.

"What's wrong?" Laurel asked.

"He just failed his final exams," Howard said frustrated.

"It's not possible," Laurel said laughing in disbelief.

"Well, maybe it is, he lost half the marks already."

"How can the teacher be so cruel? He is brilliant. I will find out what happens tomorrow. Where's Emma?" She asked.

"Emma should be home." He answered.

"She didn't come to you." She asked looking confused.

"I don't get you." He said but Laurel left quickly to check for Emma in her room.

"Emma is not home, I thought she was with you." She said looking worried. Laurel stormed into Ted's room.

"Do you know where Emma went to?" She asked.

"I’m not her guard, she is old enough to decide for herself." He said showing his disinterest in the topic.

Laurel felt weak instantly.

"What's wrong with you, Ted?” She asked looking more worried and torn between who she shouted to care for first.

“It's going to rain soon, you better go look for her, she hates it when it’s cold." He said as he covered himself with his duvet.

Laurel couldn't comment, she just left to look for Emma. She searched every house and corner in the village, but Emma was nowhere to be found.

The clouds open up and rain begins to fall angrily. Laurel and Howard decide to search the mountain when Emma appears from nowhere wet from head to toe. Out of anger, Laurel gave her three resounding slaps.

"LAUREL!!!!" Howard shouts. "She's just a child."

"Maybe you should treat yours like one, you won't teach me how to train my child," Laurel said angrily as she dragged Emma away.