Page 14 - BBR_fallwinter14

Through the Eyes of Spring
Fiction by Kimmy McQuade ‘15
“You can cut all the owers but you cannot keep spring from coming.” ~Pablo Neruda
One house. One family. You may say nothing seems out of place. But since when did spring come without a little pain?
Crash. Another glass hit the oor and shattered. The screams echoed up the stairs. I grabbed Teddy and dove onto my bed putting the covers over my head.
“You seriously think that you can do something about this? What the hell are you thinking? She’s gone okay! It’s done!”
“I’m not gonna stand around and do nothing! For all we know she could be dead! We knew from the beginning Keith was no good.”
“Cathy, I know but. . . well I. . . never mind.” “I refuse to let her go like this.”
“Well maybe she wouldn’t have gone anywhere if you were a better mother to her!”
With that I heard something else go ying. It sounded like
a picture frame shattering. Bobby started barking and my
dad started yelling at him to shut up. I heard my dad start to climb the stairs and I quickly shut o my light and pretended to be asleep. I clung to Teddy. Teddy was the only one that was always there for me. After Maggie left I had no one to talk to.
My dad nished climbing the stairs and I could already smell the alcohol on his breath. I heard their bedroom door slam shut. I crept out of my room with Teddy by my side. I slowly snuck down the stairs being careful so they wouldn’t make too much noise. I found my mom sitting in a corner leaning against the wall. She was holding broken glass in her hand and was sobbing uncontrollably. Her makeup had smeared
all down her face and made her look like a clown. I missed Maggie. She would always tuck me into bed and make sure there were no monsters under the bed. She even made me chocolate chip pancakes in the morning. I could still taste the melted chocolate in my mouth. She would even play barbies with me and always asked me how my day at school was. She picked me up from kindergarten on my rst day and took me to get ice cream to take my mind o the mean girls. The only one left was Bubba. But he was too young for me to talk to. All he did was play trains and drool over himself. Ewww.
~
Daddy was out cutting the grass when I woke up. Hazel was outside acting like an old lady and making her dollies tea. I never understood why she tried to act so old. I much prefered playing with my trains. I didn’t hear Mama so I decided to call out for her.
“Mammaaaaa I wanna eat!”
“Bubba, hush I’m coming.”
Momma walked into my room with her hair all out of place. She was wrapping the same ratty robe around her. Her eyes were red and pu y.
“Why don’t you go outside and have some tea and cookies with Hazel?”
“But Mommy, I want my dino- saur pancakes! You promised!”
“Fine, ne. Just give me a minute.”
Mommy walked out of my room and I followed her down- stairs. While I waited for Mommy to make my pancakes, I went over and looked at the pictures hanging on the wall. My favorite picture was of Mommy and me after my team won our softball game. Mommy had always been my softball coach. I loved those warm spring days when she and I would practice in the back yard.
“Mommy, when is the rst practice?”
“Oh I’m not sure. I’d have to ask Jamie.”
“But why don’t you know? Don’t you pick the rst practice?” “Oh honey, unfortunately I won’t be able to coach this year.” “But. . . Momma. . . why?”
“Oh just some things have come up that’s all.”
“What things Mommy?”
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