I have the best mom ever, and I mean it. My mom works so hard every day just so I get a chance. Sometimes I feel like it's my fault that my mom lives a complicated life but then I remember how dad left us and I get mad all over. Now, 3 years ago I would have been in California walking home from school with my twin sister and hugging my mom and dad when I got home. I would ask for some chips and even though it's bad for me my mom would give me and my sister some. We would go to the park on Saturdays and we'd binge-watch our favorite tv-shows on Sunday. Then, my dad had to leave me and my mom behind, taking my sister with him. Now my mom is alone and she doesn't smile as much as she used to anymore. I wish my dad hadn't been stupid enough to leave us. But he did and now I hate him. I wish my dad never left. I wish he wasn't suspected of murdering my sister whose body was never found. 3 years ago I would've been happy. Not anymore. After finishing my homework I went up into my room.
I looked at the photos that were bundled up in my room. One was when my dad was trying to teach my sister and me how to play baseball. Another was of me and my sister's 6th birthday party. Finally, I took down the last photo and sighed. That photo was from the day that my dad and sister disappeared. It's been 3 years and the police can't find a trace of them. The only lead they had was my sister's phone but OF COURSE, she had to put a lock on it. Not to mention it wasn't even a number lock it was a PATTERN lock which is even harder to crack. The police gave up after 6 months of searching. I looked back at the photos and suddenly I started to get angry. I threw all the photos out the window. I was about to throw the last photo away too but I held back. I wish I could see my sister and dad again. Just once.
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"Michael Trinh come down here this instant!" I sighed. I put down the book I was reading and trudged downstairs. "What's this about threatening to stab someone?" she said. What?! "What are you talking about?" Then, I looked behind her and saw Brandon. He was smirking at me. So that's what she meant. "Honey, thanks for telling me. You can go home. I'll deal with him." she said to Brandon. When she closed the door she looked at me murderously. Then, she slapped me, hard. "Ow!" I screamed.
"I did not take you in because you were a bully Michael!" she screamed. Then, she slapped me again. "Stop, please!" I screamed as I saw blood. "Do you know what I do with boys that are bullies?" she said taking out a belt. "I belt them, hard." She hit me with that belt until I was crying in pain. "Oh oops, I forgot to tell you to count them. Looks like we have to do 20 beltings again."
"No please stop!" I screamed. She hit me once again and I just cried harder. Then, she hissed in my ear, "Now, we'll have to do 21 because you can't count!" So, she hit me, again and again, this time I had the decency to count the numbers. "Now, go up to your room!" she yelled. I trudged into my bedroom and looked at my face. I don't think I've ever seen a more bleeding face than mine.
Luckily the wounds weren't deep enough to leave a scar. I washed my face off and then, I looked out my bedroom window, it was raining. That was when I decided, I had enough with this stupid life. I was leaving. I smashed open my peacock bank my dad got for my 5th birthday. I counted the money and found $19.20. I remembered the cheapest bus fare to the next town was $20.00. I looked in my closet and sure enough, I had one bowl left over from last night. I quickly opened my computer and looked at the bus departure times. The next bus was in 10 minutes! I heard Janice coming up the stairs and I had to make a decision. I quickly grabbed my school backpack and threw out all my school supplies. I opened the closet and took out my "I'm not hungry" peas collection and stuffed the jar in my bag. Then I took out the money grant my parents gave me. I put that in my bag too. I grabbed a jacket slipped it on. With the bowl in my hand I perched on top of the ledge, Janice was about to enter my room. It was now or never. I jumped.
Only one thought was racing through my head. Only 80 cents. I need to sell a bowl for 80 cents. It was FREEZING outside. I was contemplating whether I should get more supplies or something but then I heard Janice shouting for me and so I had to make a break for it. I climbed out of the window down the pipes. I ran to the first house I saw. I knocked on the door and a woman came out. "My dear! What are you doing out here by yourself?" I held up the bowl.
"Well, I was trying to sell this. It's only 80 cents." I managed to muster out.
"You must be cold and are those wounds on your face?!" she exclaimed. "Dear please come in!"
"But the bowl..."
"It's not like you have to go somewhere!" she interjected. "Come I'll make hot cocoa for you!" I walked into the house. I looked at some of the wall pictures. When I looked at one, in particular, my heart nearly stopped. It was the new girl from school.