The Prophecy of Hydrangea

ELEVEN *EXHAUSTION*

Andrea’s POV

"Please Brenda, come help me out with these carrots, I have no idea what I'm doing..." I confessed.

Kitchen work was never my thing, in fact domestic chores in a whole was not my thing. I would gladly do any work no matter how stressful it might be, but not in the kitchen.

Yet here I was, sweating in an air conditioned kitchen over carrots. Brenda continued on with her work as if she had not heard me. She wanted me to start and finish myself this today, at least for the first time ever.

In fact, my mother and her ignore me. Brenda and my mother worked so calmly together, this attribute Brenda shared with my mother was special, my mother is so drawn to Brenda as a result of her love for the kitchen.

I don't envy the bound they both share with domestic activities, I don't envy at all. I had other passions, like gardening or even driving around with Uncle Jasper, he never had me do any chores...he knew how bad I was at them.

I loved food, I loved good cooking even though I could not do it myself.

Maybe this explained my fondness of Betty. She always knows how to satisfy my cravings for good dishes and even though my mother cooks better, Betty doesn't drag me into the kitchen with her or makes me do anything apart from tasting so, I love it when she is the one in the kitchen.

"Andrea, don't you think you've taken a long time with that?" My mother said, her brow arched as she looked at me.

I looked at the carrots then back to her, "Well, the carrots aren't complaining."

Brenda walks up to me, she lays a hand on my shoulder," You are doing great Andrea." She said.

To others, her words might have sounded ironic, seeing as how I've only done half the carrots, but to me, it was compliment. I blushed but instantly remembered how they ignored me earlier when I asked for a little assistance and it's not like they stopped ignoring me, they just wanted to rub it in my face, kicking me when I am already down. My mother takes the sandwiches and salads, putting them aside.

I noticed lately that she would take it upon herself to do the cooking and find excuses to bring me in with her, Brenda was one of those excuses but I was tired of this.

It was high time she realized that cooking is not and might as well never be my thing. She found out that making Brenda come help in the kitchen works for bringing me with her. I always love been around Brenda, I love the company of my friends.

I love it when Brenda is in the kitchen, she makes it less work and more fun but today is simply different. Obviously, she is tired of my attitude towards domestic chores, cooking in particular. I'm willing to do almost anything to make Brenda happy but just not this.

Betty walked into the kitchen, she gave me a little smile as she opened the freezer, took what she came for, and left. I watched as she leaves, envying the fact that she could just come and go of her own free will.

"Some people don't know how lucky they are to freely exercise their free will..." I uttered under my breath, I intentionally made sure my mother heard what I said.

She turned to look at me," What, free will Andrea?" she asked curiously.

I looked away from her," I was talking to myself." I responded.

I could still feel my mother staring at me like a bullseye dart," And we both know talking would not do the cooking." She stated and continued with her chores.

I stared at her wide eyed, did she really just say that?

"Hey Andrea, are you done yet? I'm going to need those carrots soon." Brenda said, I looked down at the carrots that were only half way finished. I had to find a way out of this...

I understood that this was Brenda's hobby but she didn't have to drag me along, just as I didn't drag her along on mine.

I only saw one way out. I bent over faking that my stomach was starting to hurt. "J-Just a moment Brenda..." I said trying to make my voice breathless.

"Andrea what's wrong?" My mother asked as she runs to me and placed a hand on my shoulder.

"I-I don't know, I feel so sick..." I started to act like I had become dizzy. "I think I need to sit down."

"Brenda help me get her to the couch please." They helped me to the couched and sat me down.

"Are you alright?" Brenda asked. "Can I get you anything?" She was in panic, hoping nothing bad happens to me.

I smiled up at her, happy to finally get her to care for me. "Yeah, I will be okay. An egg would be nice I think I haven't eaten much today." I said as I closed my eyes groaning in pains.

"I'll get Betty to cut the carrots." My mother started to say.

"No, no I'll cut the rest Luna, don't worry about it." Brenda volunteered as she went to the fridge to get the egg.

Brenda came back with the egg, peeled off the shell and handed it to me and went back to he kitchen to cut the carrots. I ate the egg and sat on the couch with my eyes closed, pretending to be in a little pain.

My plan had worked perfectly, the only way I was going to get out of there was if I made them think I was ill and needed to rest but I was famished.

I peeked at Brenda as she skillfully sliced the carrots and I smiled inwardly.

After some minutes, I heard my mother speaking, "Let's take the dishes to the dining area, and please be careful with them, we mustn't wake Andrea" she instructed Brenda.

"Alright Luna, she looks so exhausted. Poor Andrea." Brenda replied I instantly felt bad for having them do all the work.

"Hey, you know what I think I feel a little better now, I can help you. Just tell me what to do" I said as I sprang up from the couch. Brenda and my mother stared at me, surprised by my sudden display of strength.

When Brenda couldn't keep it inside of herself any longer, she asked, her question directed to my mother. "Is it just me or do you believe Andrea just pulled a prank on us?".

"No Brenda." My mother replied, "It is not just you." My mother's expression clearly showed she was done with my antics and done with bringing me into the kitchen.