The New Girl In Town

Struggles

"Get outta here you drunk!" my mom shouted at my dad from the kitchen. I could tell without even looking at her that she was completely wasted. I buried my head in my hands and sighed. My parents would always yell at each other, and when they weren't, they were either passed out on the living room floor or spending the night at a friends house. 

"Madeline!" my mom called. She stumbled into my room, grabbed me by the arm and dragged me to where my dad was sitting on the couch. I winced in pain and rubbed my arm when she let go.

"Tell your dad that he's a junkie," she commanded. I looked at my father who stared at me with the "if you say anything, I'll hurt you" look. My mom bitterly glared me in my bright green eyes as I remained quiet. She slapped me hard across the face. I fell to the ground holding my cheek. She pulled my arm and I rolled my eyes because I knew what was going to happen next.

"You're such a disgrace to this family, I wish I never gave birth to you!" she screamed in my ear. Everyone I know would cry if their mother ever said that to them, but knowing we haven't been a family ever since Steve left to go live in Oklahoma, it didn't matter to me. I shrugged off the comment and walked out the door. I didn't know what to do so I walked down to Betty's to grab a chocolate shake. I sat at the bar and played with my straw then took a sip. Steve and I love chocolate. We used to bake chocolate cakes, make hot fudge sundaes, and slurp down chocolate shakes at the diner. I must have been daydreaming when some greaser bumped into my elbow and made me jump a bit.

"Watch it!" I growled under my breath. I looked over to see the one and only Robbie Anderson. My eyes widened when he turned around. God, he was fine. When I say fine, I mean dropped straight from heaven. He had a gorgeous smile, huge muscles, and pretty brown eyes.

"Whoops," he said sarcastically. I squinted my eyes at him, slapped a dime on the counter and left.

I kicked a pebble down the sidewalk as I made my way to Amanda's house. Amanda and I became friends right before Steve moved. She's always been there for me when I needed it. Although I went to a big school, Mandy was my only friend in Port Lavaca, Texas. When I approached the house, I noticed a car pulled up to the curb.

"Anyone home!?" I shouted as stepped into the living room of Amanda's house.

"In here!" Mandy yelled. I followed her voice into the kitchen where she was sitting at the table with a woman who I didn't recognize. The woman walked over to greet me. Mandy stood up and squared her shoulders.

"Hello sweetie!" she squealed in a high pitched voice. It had to be the most annoying thing I've ever heard. I put out my hand for a shake but instead she went directly for a hug. I shifted uncomfortably and loosened her grip.

"What's going on?" I questioned.

Mandy responded, "Um, this is Karen from child services." There were so many things swirling in my mind.

"Why is she here?" I asked slowly.  My heart felt like it was going a hundred miles per hour. My face got really red and hot.

"I called her," Mandy stated.