Second Chances

MudBug

 I wake up to the sound of my grandfather's footsteps upstairs. Considering I've been hearing it all summer, I've gotten used to his slow-paced walk. Putting more pressure on his tip toes, he tries to be quiet not to wake anyone, giving the fact it's six o'clock in the morning. I turn over, smothering my head with a pillow trying to block out the ruckus above me. I didn't always have to deal with this. I used to have a room upstairs, and not in the basement. A beautiful window with an amazing view of the sky was once mine. Only, instead of a glorious space, I'm left with the cold mattress in the basement. And instead of a life I once loved, I'm left with crumbs of a memory. I get up and give up on continuing my slumber. I have to get up in thirty minutes anyway to start getting ready for school, might as well get a head start right? Wrong. Would have been perfectly fine if I was still going to my old school. But no, because of what happened, I now go to a new school. My school has changed, just like everything else that has changed.

      I take my dark brown hair out of its disgusting messy bun and brush it so it's tangle free. I then brush my teeth and wash my face, before getting dressed for today. Usually, girls on their first day try to dress nice. Ya know, make a first impression. Only, I don't care about first impressions. First impressions involve caring about what people think and to help people make friends. But since I don't care what people think, nor do I want friends, I put on a pair of black joggers with a mint green tank top. Matching the color of my eyes. The same eyes that he has. Therefore, the eyes I wish I could rip out of my skull. Become blind, so I'd never have to see them in a reflection ever again.

                            I grab my phone and stick it in my pockets before heading upstairs. Not much to my surprise, I see exactly what I expected: my grandfather sitting at the table reading the paper (which surprisingly people still read) in his robe, drinking coffee out of his favorite #1 Grandpa coffee mug. I made it for him when I was five, and it's the only one he uses. Even though he has two cabinets full or others. I remember how happy I was when I made it. How different things were, and how close we used to be. Only now, I can't even look at him without feeling anger. 

"Hey there Mudbug, how are you this morning", he asks as his eyes are still glued to the paper. Yet still with a kindness in his tone. I groan at that name. That name was given to me when me and name that shall not be spoken, came for one summer and we got all muddy in the rain. That name brings back nothing but memories I wish could be erased from my life. Permanently. "I've been better", I walk over to the refrigerator and open the door to be filled with disappointment. And disappointment mixed with irritation doesn't combine very well. "Where's the milk?"

"Oh sorry, I used the last of it for my coffee. There's still some left if you want it". He gestures to the coffee maker on the counter.

I stare at him, irritated. "Grandpa, are you serious? All that there is to eat, or should I say was to eat, was cereal. And you know I don't like black coffee".

"Oh Stop complaining. I'll just give you money to stop on your way to school and get something to eat. You'll be fine."

"Considering how everything is literally thirty minutes away, I don't have time." I begin to raise my voice, hoping my grandfather can catch the aggravation in my voice. and when he lets out his annoyed sigh, it's then that I know he does.

He sighs. A telltale sign he's getting irritated. "Charity, I'm sorry. If you want, you can take my car. Then you have plenty of time to get breakfast and get to school on time."

"Don't think that's a good idea. You know the history with my family and cars. " My grandfather slams his paper on the table and looks at me, with a look of anger and disappointment. A look I'm used to these days. 

"What's going on?"

I keep my eyes glued to my grandfather, even when he turns to speak to her. Only I interrupt him before he can say anything. "I don't know. Why don't you ask your father in law?" I walk out of the kitchen, to then walk out of the house. Grabbing my bag and quickly sliding on my flip flops before exiting out the door. 

To both sides of me are just empty fields. Thirty minutes drive passed both of them to see any signs of civilization. I begin walking, realizing just how long it's going to take to get to school. "Charity! Charity, don't you dare walk away while I'm calling your name!" My mother yells at me from behind. Her voice breaking natures silence. I put in my headphones acting like I don't hear her angered demand, and do exactly what she tells me not to do. Walk away.

I walk for a couple more blocks then stop and pull out my phone that was previously tucked away in my pocket. Seven o'clock; I had exactly thirty minutes to get to school. If I ran I could probably make it? I begin a light jog then feel a water droplet on my head. "Shit," I mumble to myself. Suddenly I hear a low rumble in the sky. "Maybe it will just be a light drizzle."

-----------------------------------------------------

"Hello Mrs.Hannon, my names Ms. Morgans." She then sticks out her and as an offering with a cheesy smile on her face. Hesitantly, I accept her offer and greeting.

"Now, giving you're new, and the circumstances with the weather..." I look down at my drenched clothes. Dripping with water onto the floor, causing a pool around me. I'm aware I'm late, but maybe I wouldn't have been if your school wasn't so damn far away from everything, and I didn't have to run in the rain in flip-flops. And people say heels are the shoe impossible to run in? Guess again. 

"I'll let your lateness pass just this once. But please don't let this be a constant thing, okay?"  Her voice is so chipper, Snow White sounds sad compared to her.

I look back up at her "Ok."

"Come with me, I'm sure the nurse has some dry clothes you can wear. Then after, we can get you ready and send you off to your classes." 

As we walk through the halls on our way to the nurse's office, I can't help but think, when the hell is school over?