Nothing really sunk in until I heard Alexis crying from down the hall. I stood up,
stunned, and walked out of the room without saying a word.
I reached Alexis’s room and opened the door. She had just woken up from her
nap because of the thunder that had recently started to crash very loudly.
“It’s okay Lexie,” I said, holding her against my chest. She was still sobbing
quietly, but it looked as though she would fall asleep again. I carried her out to the
living room and sat on the couch. It was 2:20. I put Alexis down on the couch and
walked back to my mom’s room.
“You need to go to work and get some money for your family, Mom, now.” I
cried. Tears of frustration welled in my eyes.
“Honey, don’t be mad at me.” she said, getting up from the bed.
“Who should I be mad at, Mom? Tell me!” I screamed. Alexis started to cry
again and I left Mom’s room again, and slammed the door. I was surprised to see Kendra and
Matthew standing outside the door.
“What’s wrong with Mommy, Kyla?” Kendra asked. I wiped the tears off my
cheeks and called for Samantha.
“Sam, take Matt and Kendra and play in my room, okay? Everything with
Mommy is going to be okay.” I said. I swallowed hard, but I already knew that
everyone had seen me crying. “Go.” I said, and pushed them towards my room. I have
always told them to retreat to my room when Mom and I agrue, so they know what it
means when I tell them to go there.
I stood with my back against the wall and cried. I slowly slid down the wall,
into a sitting position, and pulled my knees to my chest. I cried for ten minutes, and
then realized that Mom was going to be late once more.
Alexis had gotten off the couch and wandered over to where I was sitting,
huddled up on the ground.
“Why you crying?” Lexie asked, in her sweet, childish voice. I couldn’t help but
smile. I pulled her into my arms and she sat nestled in my crossed legs. I wrapped her
worn-out blanket around her and cuddled her.
“Everything’s going to be okay, Lexie girl, just fine.” I said. I knew it wasn’t
going to be as good as I was making it seem, but she didn’t need to know that now. I
kissed her bright orange hair, and rocked her back to sleep.