The Butler

Chapter 4- Skipping Class

I woke up to birds chirping and a vicious sun ray beaming into my left eye. I open my eyes to see my mom gone. I sit up with much effort and groggily set my feet on the floor. I glance around to see that her wheelchair is gone. Walking into the hallway that leads into an open space of the living room and kitchen, I observe on the modest kitchen table that there is a bowl of various sliced fruits. I look to the left of the kitchen table where there is a sliding door that leads to the backyard. My mom is sitting on her wheelchair seeming to enjoy the sunlight. 

I slide the door open. "Good morning, mom," I smile.

"Sorry, hun. I couldn't stay on my feet long enough to make breakfast, but I'm definitely feeling stronger. I actually wanted to tell you that I've stopped taking chemotherapy. The pills are draining me out and making me nauseous. I want to eat some delicious food and cook for my daughter tonight."

I could feel the tears prick my eyes. I was about to argue with her, but she gave me a look that ended my sentence before it could even surface.

"I know you're going to nag and try to get me to take my pills. I just want to enjoy my days with my daughter in full energy. Is that too much to ask for?"

I didn't even know what to say. I wanted her to take the pills, but I see how happy she actually looks for the first time in months, I couldn't bring myself to tell her that she has to take the pills. I was about to tell her she still has to go to radiation therapy, but she looked at me quizzically.

"What's wrong," I asked as I got distracted.

"How do you go to school? Doesn't Damon pick you up? I woke up around 10, and I think you came out here thirty minutes after me."

My jaw dropped while I went to full panic mode. I ran to my room and grabbed my phone. I checked the time to see 11. I am so late I thought to myself. I yelled a slew of curse words. I check my messages to see if Damon messaged me. It was weird how he wasn't in my ear all cheerfully waking me up because he had keys to my home in case I did oversleep. There were no messages.

"How weird," I pondered to myself.

"Is something wrong," my mom asks as she comes strolling in behind me soundlessly scaring the soul out of me.

"Damon hasn't messaged me. He would have already woken me up, mom."

"I don't know, hun. How are you getting to school?"

I consider my choices. I could walk to school, but that's going to take a whole hour and a half probably. I can also call a taxi, or I can just skip school for the first time of my life to spend time with my precious mother.

I smile, "How about you just let me skip class today? We can play board games, chat, do face masks and talk all day. Besides today is a Friday which is close enough to a weekend day."

"Deal. Don't tell the other mothers how terrible of a mom I am because I actually was going to suggest you skip as well. Friday is the new Saturday," she kids.

We both stare at each other and burst out laughing. I love my mom so much. I stride behind her to grab the handles of her wheelchair and position her back into the hallway. I dash into the living room with her in tow, as she squeals in surprise and joy.

"I challenge you to a round of Monopoly. You're going down, mom."

"Oh you're so on, daughter," she smirks.

We play Monopoly for a whole two hours until I land on her blue boardwalk that had 3 houses on it. Giving her the money, I stomp my feet and act like I'm throwing a tantrum.

"Looks like Stella is a sore loser," my mom playfully teases.

"Am not. I just let you win."

She rolls her eyes and shakes her head. We decide to do face masks next. Luckily, I got clear and perfect skin from my mother, but I liked pampering myself on a rare occasion and today was going to be it. We made face masks out of avocados and a whole bunch of healthy ingredients that's supposed to brighten your complexion. 

We chat about stories of her past. How guys would turn their heads just to look at her. How many guys would ask her out to prom. Apparently Dad was good looking as well, but his eyes were really bad. Guess we know who I got my farsightedness from. She had a melancholy look on her face as she talked about my dad. Looks like she still loves him. She looked back at me and smiled sadly as she went into the bathroom. I follow her as well to wash my mask off. As she washes her face, I check the phone to no avail. I frown because the lack of communication from him worried me. She turns around.

"No message from Damon still," my mom inquires.

"Yeah. He might have gone to a party or maybe he had a game today. I don't pay attention to our school games, and I definitely don't go to parties," I mumble.

"Why don't you go to parties?"

SHOOT! I forgot I didn't tell my mom I get bullied at school. The one time I went to a party, I was immediately targeted. I had liquor poured all over me, and I got slapped by Macie Sterling, Caleb's girlfriend. Of course, Damon came back cheerfully after being dragged by all his friends but immediately got enraged when he saw me. This party was when Damon gave Caleb the scar on his eyelid.

"Oh. I just don't like to drink," I laugh nervously.

"Suuuureeeeee." I guess she thought that I was laughing nervously to try to act like I don't drink as she winked at me. I sigh of relief.

There was this growing anxiety in the back of my mind telling me to text him and check up on him, so I decide to text him. I waited for a few minutes but didn't want to waste precious time with my mother. Skipping to her room after I washed my face, I decide to spend the weekend with my favorite person ever, my mom. Damon is fine I assure myself over and over again.