Clementine

Today was an ok day. I mean, isn't it always? Classes started at 8am and I just go from class to class waiting for time to pass. I hang out with friends during breaks, but most of the time I'm not even listening to the conversation. What do I care that *Jordan the hot sporty guy* scored the winning goal yesterday? It's also not my business whether the *popular queen Abigail* has a new boyfriend from another school or not. I just tune out and mind my own world. "Do you need a ride home Tina? It looks like it'll rain." Emma waved her hand in front of me because I zoned out. Again. "Thanks Em, but I think I'll just walk." I reached for my headphones from my backpack while pecking her cheek with a goodbye kiss. "But you're coming to the lake tomorrow, right?" "As if I could miss a chance to behave like a normal high school kid."  I nodded my head to the rest of the group and Jeff and Trevor shouted a See you tomorrow. I love Emma, Jeff and Trevor, they are my best friends, but every other day I need some time alone. You see, I'm not too nerdy, I'm not antisocial, I hang out and go to parties. I'm so plain. Like, for real, I don't have any talents but I can maintain a regular conversation with anyone and apparently people enjoy and seek out my company. I usually just nod or say a "Hey" and they immediately feel like pouring their whole life story on me. But it seems that I have a limit on what I like to call my "social energy pit" and once in a while I need to replenish that energy. Some people seem to drain my energy more than others. Even if people frequently insist on acknowledging my existence, I'm not popular because I just can't stand being around so many people for so long. It's stupid because people like the *popular queen Abigail* are desperate for attention and me, plain Clementine is running away from that attention. Walking home alone is a blessing sometimes, even today when the drizzle started to fall. As I am walking home, the smell of freshly wet dirt was filling my nostrils. It's not like I have a busy life besides school and a few hangouts. Nothing really happens. Good things happen all the time to everyone around me, but never to me. Actually, not even bad things. Nothing at all. Everyday is the same routine and honestly? I really don't mind. My life is predicable and easy. Just like now: I'm on my way home, feeling the fresh breeze that comes with this light rain on my face and I know the lovely bakery on the corner just finished a fresh batch of croissants and they smell divine. The aroma puts a smile on my face. As I keep strolling, I notice the people rushing themselves not to get wet: the mother picking up the little kid and starting to run. The old man sitting on the bench looking up and still trying to decide if he should leave now. A man pulling a puppy by a leash, but the dog is more interested in trying to bite the rain (hilarious). And the music on my headphones? Good old Freddy Mercury saying I'm the love of his life. Bless you Freddy. Oh, and look who is waiting for me in the little park just before I get to my house? It's Prince Whiskers, a handsome big orange cat that loves scratches under his chin, who follows me the rest of the way home. He shakes his whole body, trying to get rid of the thin wet coat that had built on his fur. I named him myself (not my proudest moment) and apparently he goes for the name now. I don't even know if he has an owner, but looks well fed, so I never thought about keeping him, even though he is the only company that doesn't drain my energy pit. "Mum, I'm home" Prince Whiskers passes me and goes directly to the kitchen, waiting for his usual treat. He invites himself in all the time and only leaves after I feed him some biscuits and sit for a while on the couch petting him. I leave my boots at the door and hang my coat. Meeting Prince at the kitchen, I notice the note on the counter: There's chicken on the fridge and money on my desk. I'll be home tomorrow. Don't forget your homework and please do your laundry. Love, Mum Awesome. I'm 15 years old, on my first year of highschool and you would think finding myself home alone would be great. No parents to be all over you. No parents to enforce curfews and endless rules. But let me tell you that having a barely present parent sucks too. It's just me and my mum, Heather Tellmann. She works a lot to be able to pay our bills, being a single parent, which means she is never home and her schedules are a mess. I remember being a little bit younger and not having a clean piece of clothing to wear, because she forgot to wash our clothes. Or going to school countless times without breakfast because she couldn't go grocery shopping. Or almost going to sleep on an empty stomach because she forgot to leave dinner ready or money to order some food. Bless the ability and audacity of a 10yo me to improvise some scrambled eggs. Today I see how incredulous it is to leave a 10yo to fend for herself home alone and using a stove, but I can't blame her. Nowadays I get home and take care of myself and leave things ready for her. It's like our roles are reversed. I am 15yo and leave dinner ready for her and take care of our home. None of my friends needs to fully take care of their house and themselves like I do. My pseudo-mum-neglect is also part of my routine too. Ain't surprised at all. The chicken she was talking about in the note? It's not cooked. But I didn't even got the chance to take it out of the fridge.