Shories

It happened on a Tuesday - Packing up

The only way we are going to survive is for me to look for a job in Italy, maybe Germany! This is a conversation that I will not forget,since it defined my entire young adult life. My mum needs to take a job in a completely new country and I am in my second year of high school.

You’ll not be able to live alone, so Andrea has offered to look after you. Andrea has been one of my mom’s besties since she was in her 20’s, but I don't really care for her. She’s always too absorbed by her own person and loves to brag about her son and his accomplishments, although he is not allowed to call her ”mum”...weird, distant and also does not inspire like she is mother material.

There is nothing much to say on the subject since my mum has made up her mind. She found a job in Germany, as a housemaid. She is leaving for a 6-month contract and I need to pack up and move into Andrea's son's bedroom. He is going to college and won’t visit any time soon..can’t say I blame him. Judging by Andrea’s face, she is more than happy to start training me into a well-behaved young woman and take credit for watching over me while my mum is away. Can’t wait!

I’ve been presented with the house rules, nothing unusual, but I totally fell out of place. I try to be up really early and leave for school. Taking all the extra classes I can fit in so as not to go back too early. I have enlisted for everything that lasts up to 7 or 8 PM almost every school day. On the weekend, I have basketball training and try to spend as much time as possible in my room, doing homework.

There is a pretty well defined schedule. Bedtime is at 9.00 PM. No one uses the bathroom or gets a glass of water after bedtime. There are chores around the house that I must do and laundry is once a week, for which I buy my own detergent. I go to the market place and buy my own food, since Andrea does seem to believe the cooked meals are enough- no yogurt, fruits or any other needs it seems. And, of course, my mum picks up my part of the bill.

How are you, dear? Is everything OK?

I'm good mum,don’t worry. Lying through my teeth, cause I don't want her worrying. She is already under a lot of stress, so that’s that.

I don’t own a cell phone, so everytime we speak is via the landline, and Andrea is always around and rudely listening in. So I can't really tell my mum anything without her hearing about it.

Andrea’s husband is another piece of work. He never agreed with me moving in, but I guess he accepted because he has this good Samaritan complex and always finds a way to list his good deeds and all the people he’s helped.

It’s Christmas time, almost 3 months since my mum left. The entire family gathers to celebrate, and we are just finishing eating, when Andrea’s husband asks me:

Did you find a place to stay?

Was I looking for one? Well, no one told me that. I looked at him surprised and replied:

Did you discuss it with my mum?

He plainly looks at me and says:

There’s nothing to discuss here. You need to pack up and move out. My son is back and he needs his bedroom.

Right! So I packed and walked out the door with nowhere to go.

I called my mum from a pay phone and told her what happened. She was angry and could not believe that Andrea had done this to her. I was way less worried about Andrea’s character being revealed,since I was not at all surprised about her actions.

Where are you going to sleep tonight?

Not to worry, I called Paula and I'd crash at her place for a few days until we figured things out. We got this mum! I’m gonna be fine.

But I was not..it happened on a Tuesday when I felt for the first time I did not have a home.