Little White Wolf

Is mom missing?

Almost sleepless night comes to an end. The sun is peeking through the window straight to the pillow my head is resting. I keep my eyes closed trying to fall back to sleep. Somehow it's odd, that mom isn't back home yet. Maybe she's just doing groceries after work. She's always busy. It's been a while since we spent more time together. I almost forgot the feeling of having her around. I blindly search for my phone not even lifting any other bone. As I found it I opened one eye to check on the notifications. Apparently there are none. Miss Linn. Damn that witch. She probably ground Jin from going out and took her phone. I turned to my back and with one eye open I wrote to Jin. 'Hey! I hope you're ok. I found numbers on the paper with moonlight, take a look.' I've attached a photo and sent it. Giving generous yawn off of my lungs I stretch my back. I'll call mom, I'm carving a soda.

I take my phone and make a call. There is no answer. Nor answer from Jin. Sigh. The silence of the house is giving me pain in my brain so I crack the window letting in the flow of city sounds. I decided I'll start cleaning the house since Saturday was always cleaning day for us. I remember when I was younger and dad was helping with all the heavier stuff. For some reason he loved to vacuum and do the dishes. That thought put a smile on my face. I think this is how I want to remember him. He was always making us smile, joking around even if he was... tired. I cleaned the dishes and moved to the bathroom to do laundry. My mom insisted on taking the laundry machine from our old house and I understand why. Simply it's convenient to have it close and laundry across the street is, well full of crackheads as my mom says.

I look at the clock and it's almost noon. It's unusual for mom to not let me know if she goes to another job right away. I will try to call her again. Nope. No answer. I make myself a coffee and I get back to undusting. Finally I take the trash and open the doors to walk out to the trash bins. A long hall before me has this annoyingly blinking light. Nothing changed here I guess. I close the door just for one lock as I'll be coming back soon. The elevator is still broken and the neighbor cat is resting on the cabinet someone left outside their apartment a while ago. I lean in to pet him and as always he shows me his belly to then follow me down the stairs. Cat took off probably chasing another rat as we reached the cellar with trash bins. I casual thrown bag in and walked back to flat.

I close the doors and open the fridge. I'm hungry, the fridge is almost empty. Mom probably planned to make groceries. I take out two remaining eggs and lone onion from vegetables cabinet. I made scrambled eggs with onion, took last slice of bread and sat by TV to eat and watch a show. It's boring, watching group of people crowded in a house yapping at each other. I've put empty plate on table and lay on the couch. Started scrolling my phone. Nothing unusual. Laundry machine gave of sound letting me know it's done. I lift up and go to take wet clothes out. I hang them over bathtub and crack the window so the will dry nicely.

I hear the news on TV started and they speak about brutal murder. I freeze and rush to the room. "A woman, around 35 years old was found dead in a dark alley close to Navy street." That's two blocks away from us. "Police suspects it was another victim of gang fights. The woman was tortured and rip apart. Her identity is unknown. Due to the brutality of the scene we will not show any footage of it. Please check on your families." I gulp. It's 4 PM already. Mom didn't come back yet. I reach for the phone to call mom. I stop as it rings. It's uncle John. Oh no. Please, not right now. I respond.

"Hey Dorothy! How are you? it's been a while since we spoke..." I shrug walking to the kitchen to wash the plates. "Hey uncle, I'm ok. You know, being a teenager still." He laughs. His deep voice was always scaring me, somehow today it's soothing my mind. "Good good. Listen kid, I can't reach out to your mom. Do you know if she's angry with me or something?" Seems like uncle wants to repair a mistake of not showing up in person. "Why would she be angry with you, you're our family friend." I laugh running water to wash the dishes. Again. Ugh house chores. "Well, you met Mister Petrov, didn't you?" I roll my eyes "Yeah, I did?!" He laughs hearing my sarcastic tone. "Seems like me being busy and sending him didn't work well. She doesn't respond my calls. Could you pass her message when you see her?" So she didn't speak with uncle either. She usually respond even if she's mad at someone. "Sure thing." I say drying my hands trying to keep my phone close to ear as it's squeezed between my cheek and shoulder. "Tell her I'll be coming to see you guys tomorrow. I would like to see you too so don't take off anywhere far, okay?" My eyes sparkle of excitement and I give out little scream. "YAY! IT'S BEEN A WHILE!" He laughs and continues "Petrov will come as well, he needs to learn how those businesses are done. Hey! Do me a favor and make me steak as daddy thought you!" If there would be any steak in fridge. I haven't make any since we left our old house. "I'll try my best uncle. Do you really have to come with him? I wanted to show you something I discovered."

I reminded myself a puzzle as I walked into my room and it was still laying on the floor, a bit misplaced with gust of the wind. I closed the window and put it back together kneeling on the floor before it. "Ummm. We shall see I can always make him watch Twilight in other room right?!" He laughs out loud making me snort. By the phone he sounds like Santa Claus. Now his jokes makes more sense actually. He was always making jokes I didn't understand. About wolves, dogs, all the Twilight series or other fantasy films. "Okay kiddo, I gotta go. See you tomorrow!" Before I can even say proper goodbye he hangs up.

Well I guess I need to do groceries by myself. I go to my mom's room as I know she have cash there in safe at her closet. That's also thing dad told her to get when they were saving. I knew a code since day one. I never opened it as mom always left money for me in cabinet just in case. This time I didn't check there as I knew steaks will be more expensive than a few bucks. Anyways I got ready to go, took the grocery bag and off I went! He comes nothing! I'm excited to see my uncle I hope mom will be the same. I try to focus on what I'll need for dinner and I'll buy a few things for breakfast too. Those eggs were not enough, I'm hungry already. I walked by the street whistling and jumping a little, I really don't know why. I'm not six years old anymore, but for the moment it was fun to do. I went to the store where we usually do errands and started picking ingredients. Meat selection is the hardest part. I never knew what piece would be best and my dad used to correct me all the time. Well! Time to learn. I think I've picked the best I could. I went to pay and walked back home.

I walked in to an empty home. Sigh. I'm worried. I can't deny it. I hope she will come home soon and greet me with full bags of snacks and say how good I am with errands and... and that I'm all grown now and I do things on my own. She always cries at this point feeling the bird is flying out of the nest. I clean the meat placing it in paper towels to put it into the fridge with all the rest of groceries I bought. I'm ready for tomorrow!