Chyrsantamum's Tale

The library, the home of many musty smelling books and squeaky carts full of books waiting to be put back in their rightful places. Even with my “nose stuck in a book” I could hear things pretty good. To the right far side of the room, downstairs, you could hear students being scolded. By none other than Mr Balanger, a grumpy librarian who is in dire need of a change of scenery.  He was known for his scolding, turned lectures. He wasn't always the quietest man, and it seemed like he was complaining about students running in the library. Downstairs, forty-five degrees to my right sat Ms Attby, a middle-aged front desk clerk who seemed to be furiously responding to, what I assume was, a distressing email.

As much as the library was my refuge for silence, I decided now would be a great time to disconnect from the real world, and listen to some music. I chose a classic song and kept reading. Music has always been a part of my life. I grew up listening to the radio; it filled the silence when my parents were mad at each other.  

I gave up on reading and leaned lightly on the bookshelf behind me, shutting my tired eyes. Mum brought someone home last night and I woke up in the middle of the night with music blasting in my ears. It happened occasionally and I’m surprised I still have my hearing intact. I tried to avoid my mum’s “lovers'... they were all a little creepy, but it made her forget dad. He left us when I was younger.

Nobody knows what happened to him, but I’m sure he’s off schmoozing somewhere, either chasing some business venture or at the casino like always. He taught me, even if someone is far away, they can still love you; but, that isn’t always enough to make someone stay, or make you a priority. Even though he kinda sucked as a dad, I can’t deny he didn’t help shape me into who I am today.

I was pulled out of my thoughts by stress from the other side of the bookshelf I was leaning on. I began to open my eyes. In an attempt to find out who was causing the ruckus, I was suddenly attacked by books. “ACK,” I said, apparently loud enough to attract attention. Thankfully Mrs Waters walked by. She was the nice newer librarian who tried her best. She left her cart full of books and came over. 

“What happened here Ms Cartiez?” She said with a raise of her eyebrows and slight concern.

“Uh... A handful of books just fell on my head?” I said eyeing the three books around me. I decided I should probably go home before worse things happen. I grabbed my things and tried to stand. 

“Are you alright?“ she said, helping me up. 

“I think so…” I rub my head a little.

“Alright, you know where to find the office if you need it.” 

We were interrupted by a harsh whisper next door, the sound of a female voice getting upset and the sound of running. Ms Waters looked over and shouted at the culprits to come back. The guy looked miffed and nudged the girl in the ribs.

“MR Michaels! We do not condone that behaviour here! I’m sending you to Mr Cartell’s office! Ms Daniels, I expect better behaviour from you in the future.” Mrs Waters sternly scolds. I decided to not get more involved and head to the checkout desk.

The transaction didn’t take long. Most of the students steered clear of me and I didn’t mind. This school was filled with a bunch of snobs and people who thrived off and breathed gossip. There were a few decent ones but they made their groups but were not very open to newcomers. Plus, if I hung out with them… they’d just poke and pry me for answers to the rumours. Where my dad was, is he still around, how weird my family is. Make fun of my Holey alternative clothes. I sighed and pushed open the doors of the library and walked through the halls. It was pretty empty but a few stragglers stuck around and began to whisper as I walked by. I put my earbuds in and press play on my iPod nano. Everyone gives me a weird look, but I ignore them. If they only knew. I suddenly felt a buzz in my pocket and I pulled it out and flipped it open. Yes, I still use a flip phone. I didn’t need the newest phone, and I liked the idea of snapping it closed with my hand. I looked through my phone’s messages and saw an unread one. 

“Where are you Chryssy?” - Mom

I sigh and walk to the door. I push it open and text her back “I was doing something for school.” I sent it and blew out a breath. I avoided going home long enough and decided I had to “face the music” and go home. I didn’t live too close to the school, but I didn’t live too far from a bus stop that was near my home. I walk to the bus stop nearby and move my head slightly in time to the music. I waited a few minutes and a bus came. I grabbed a seat in the middle of the bus near the middle door. I tried not to think about what had been on the seat prior. I stared out the grimy window while listening to music. This was a normal reoccurrence. I would have asked “mum” to drive me home but she was a little embarrassing and could be a little too much sometimes. There were times where mum would just be straight-up weird. My “dad” didn’t take it very well and wasn’t always good with words. When I got older, I even had to curve him a few times and persuade him to use the “compliment sandwich.” But no one listened to you when you were ten.

Even though my mum isn’t exactly winning mother of the year, she did try her best to raise a kid by herself with little to no help. My dad was gone most of the day working. My mom’s best friends were a little more helpful whenever they chose to come to visit. My mom’s family disapproved of her past partying lifestyle and shenanigans and left her to raise me on her own not caring if my dad stayed around to help. My “grandparents'” didn’t plan on forgiving my mom anytime soon.

Mum and I had a semi-turbulent relationship. There were times she tried to be a mum… and then there were times she preferred to relive her teenage days, and I had to deal with consequences. My mom wasn’t afraid to bring her romances home and I would either blast music or hide in the Erie basement. Although she was a bit of the oddball, I was stuck with her. Weirdly enough, I guess I was a little happy for her; that she could find happiness after dad left even if it was temporarily.

  A few years ago she went crazy and tried to convince me my father was dead so I would stop caring about him. She tried to burn all the photos. I cherished the memories even if they were not the greatest. When she went to an appointment I called her best friends and asked them to help hide them. They thought I was weird but when I begged them to help, and they agreed. Thinking about what other people call my sorry excuse for a father, I held onto my pumpkin locket. It became my sense of security. My Mom always made fun of me for how tacky it looked, but she will never understand the importance of the necklace. I shut my eyes and let the memory resurface. 

I was about three years old then, I was woken up by reasonably loud whispers. 

“STOP!” I woke up in a haze, my eyes taking a second to adjust. 

“Shut UP! You’re going to wake her and she’ll fuss!” A slightly harsh whisper said. It took me a second to realize that my father had finally come home.

He opened the door as mom said “LIKE YOU’RE NOT DOING THAT ALREADY!?!” I frowned, he was mad at mom. 

“GOOD JOB” he sighed while replying to my mom when he saw me.  He lightened his face slightly as he saw me rubbing my face. Mom tried to hold him back but to no avail. 

“Hi, Pumpkin!” He says crouching down to me.

I groan and mutter an “Oh, Hi papa. I mwissd you.” I say giving him a quick nuzzle. He held me lightly. ” You swmell stinky.” I say moving away and wrinkling my nose.

“DERICK!” Mother hissed. My Father laughed and patted my head. “Sorry, I was with the boys. Anyways, Happy birthday Pumpkin! Papa went away and has a present for you!” He says handing me a little bag with coloured tissue paper sticking out. My mother sighed and gave up. I started to get confused. 

“Sweetie, you have to pull the paper out.” She said, as I furrowed my eyebrows and tried to pull out the coloured paper and peered into the bag.

“The lady at the store picked out the stuff. I picked out the gift.” Dad said. Mom rolled her eyes and dad got slightly annoyed. I held the big box in my hand up to dad. 

“Hep?” 

“Uh….” Dad said, mom laughed and motioned for me to give her the box. She helped me open the box. I stared at the locket and tried to pick it up. 

“Do you like it?” Dad asked while putting it in my hand. 

“Yea,” I said smiling slightly, which made dad smile. 

“Alright, alright, she needs to go back to sleep Ricky!” He rolled his eyes and winked at me. He stuck his hand out for the necklace and I put it back in his hand. He put it back in the box and put it on my nightstand. Mum patted the bed to get me to lie down and my parents grabbed either side of my blanket and tucked me in. They kissed me on the cheek and got up and left. Mom left first and dad turned back to look at me, “Sleep tight kiddo, I’d never miss your birthday, you know that right?” He smiled, I was a little confused but I nodded. He chuckled and closed the door. Ironically he’d stopped coming around after my tenth birthday. 

The bus was finally around the station around my house and I pressed the button to notify the driver. The bus stopped as I got up with all my things. I gave a small salute of thanks to the driver and walked home. I got to the door and fished through my bag for the keys. I found them and stuck the right key through the keyhole and turned it. I opened the door slowly. Two familiar faces turn around and wave at me. I let out a deep breath. I turned to close and lock the door. “Thank goodness it’s you guys.” There they were, the closest women I had to a family from back home, in New York. My mom’s closest friend Cara sat to my left. She was a thin average height blonde lady. Back home she was known as the lady killer. She had sharp green eyes, and she could kill you with a blink of an eye if you were on her bad side. I’ve heard stories she could attract anyone she wanted but she preferred to play the field a little. Cara was one of my favourite people out of my mom’s friends. She was brave and had no problem speaking her mind. She was so cool and inspiring growing up, I wish we were related. 

  My mom’s other friend Natalina on the other hand was a light brunette with a blonde ombre. She was known as the cute, small, friendly girlfriend of my mother’s. She was like a doting older sister. Even though Natalina is a sweetheart deep down, she could pack a punch when she needed to. She can appear cold at times, she could talk her way out of anything and get what she wanted with her musical voice and could kill or attract anyone she wanted with her sharp blue eyes. But she was sweet as white chocolate when you got to know her. When I was born, they were a little bitter about the fact that the iconic trio could no longer party like they used to, but they tried to be a support system for my mom and me. They used to sneak in a few stories about how my parents used to be together and how they were bound to flop as a “couple”, but made it work.  

  “Where’s ‘mom’ ?” I said putting my bag to the side of the door. 

“She got a phone call,” Natalia said. 

“Want some pizza?” Cara says jabbing her thumb in the direction of the table. 

“Have a slice of pizza, you must be hungry,” Natalina says handing me a plate. The oven’s time read 5:30 pm. I hadn’t noticed that I’d been gone that long. I wasn’t that hungry, but I grabbed a slice and put it on the plate., I wasn’t passing a chance to have a chat with them. 

“Thanks.” I stood near the kitchen table and realized they were playing cards. “Gambling at this hour?” I tease and nibble at my pizza while they laugh. 

“Why don’t you have a seat, we haven’t seen you in ages.” Cara pulls an extra chair between her and Natalina. 

“Let me get a glass of lemonade and I will.” I smile as I put my pizza down. I went to open a cupboard and found a cup. 

“What grade are you in now Chrys?” Cara asks as I try to search for the lemonade.

“Tenth,” I say as I grabbed and poured the lemonade. I walk to the table and sit between them. “What’s new back home?” 

“Natalina might have found someone.” Cara teased. 

“Ugh, I don’t know if he’s even worth pursuing.” She groans.

“He’s cute, sweet, has a career. What more can you ask for?” Cara says. 

“Is that a hint of what you’re looking for Car?” Natalina raises her eyebrows and sips her drink. Cara rolls her eyes. She turns to me “Have you met anyone you like Chrys?” 

“Nah, the kids are too snobby here,” I say sipping my lemonade.

“Still not a fan of the LA locals? Someday you’ll regret not integrating with the locals.” Natalina replied.

“All they do is spread rumours, plus, who wants to be friends with 'Regina George' anyway," I say. 

 “Ignore em, they don’t know how it is in the east. But, keep in mind, friendship shouldn’t always feel like pulling teeth.” Cara says patting my hair.   

“Cara’s right, you’re such a Yankee,” Natalina says and we all laugh.

“What’s going on in here?” Mom says from around the corner.

“Just girls talking,” Natalina says. 

“You took your sweet time, but Weirdo over here entertained us,” Cara said sipping her drink and then pokes my head while mom sits down.

“What were you doing at the library?” She says collecting all the cards.

“I got caught up reading,” I say drinking another sip of lemonade. 

“Whattaya reading these days?” Cara asks.

“Oh, you know a little bit of this and that. Currently, “The Communist Manifesto.” Everyone spits out their drink. “KIDDING” I laugh a little. I get side eyes from all the women, but I was forgiven. 

“Anything else interesting that happened?” She says dealing out the cards. 

“Someone bumped the bookshelf I was leaning on from the other side, and books fell on me.” Natalina stopped drinking her Gin and Tonic to look at me worriedly with confusion. Cara scrunched her face in confusion while mom stopped shuffling the cards. 

“Huh? Jeeze, did they apologize? “

“Are you ok?” Natalina asked concerned. 

“So far,” I say to Natalina. “No, they didn’t, I ran off not wanting to get more involved. Two people were fooling around. I pity the girl, they got caught and the guy nudged the girl in the ribs.” I said to my mom. 

“Yikes, I hope she’s ok.” Mom said wincing. 

“Kids these days; a bunch of rambunctious scamps,” Cara says shaking her head. 

“Are you finally admitting you’re old?” Mom says sipping her Bellini. She ducks when Cara throws her cards at her. “Caraline you’re picking that up, you dramatic a**.”

“Nah, you can,” Cara says. Natalina shakes her head muttering “Drama Queens”

“Better than being labelled a crybaby.” Mom said. I drank my lemonade and hid a smile as they started to bicker. 

The whole rest of the night consisted of laughter, bickering, reminiscing old memories, and card games. Before we knew it, the oven flashed at 1:00 am. I wish I could stay up longer, but I school. “Thank you guys for coming to visit!” I said and hugged the ladies. 

“You’re welcome,” Cara said. 

“We’ll come bug you tomorrow. Maybe turn your week upside down?” Natalina said and we all laughed. 

“Maybe, god forbid she ends up like us,” Cara says shaking her head.

“Goodnight Chrys,” Mom said.

“Night!” I said walking up the stairs. I pondered why they didn’t play in the basement but I shrugged it off. I got to the bathroom and took a quick shower and brushed my teeth. After I finished, I held my towel and walked into my room. I got changed and pulled back the sheets and got into bed. I shut my eyes craving the peace and tranquillity the black void of sleep brought.

Eventually, everything slowly faded away and I was engulfed in darkness.