The next morning I awoke to the realization that I hardly slept last night. My pillow was soaked. I stretched and got off the bed, out of my room and into the kitchen.
Wednesday.
Omelette and mashed potatoes with coffee.
ONLY, for Linda and Joseph. If they ever found out that I ate their food, then they were going to kill me. Technically.
I made breakfast, and knocked on their door.
"Breakfast is served," I said.
The door opened, and Linda came out with a huge laundry basket filled with clothes.
"Have this done before you leave for school. Sometimes I wonder why the social workers spend money to school a waste like you. Did you greet me?"
"Good morning, Mrs Matthew," I said quickly.
"Fool," she spat and walked to the dinning.
Joseph followed. "My car, make sure it's washed and waxed. I'm going out with it in the next 30 minutes."
"Yes. Good morning Mr Matthew."
He grunted in reply.
I hurriedly grabbed a hose and went to wash the car. I waxed and polished it too.
Then I did the laundry, and tidied up their room, changing and washing their previous bedcovers. I did that every morning.
When I was done, I waited till they showered and dressed up.
"Anna!" Linda called.
"Yes Mrs Matthew," I replied.
"We'll eat out today. But be back before we are." There was a warning in her tone.
"Yes ma'am. Sir, good bye and have a nice day."
They wouldn't answer, but if I didn't say it, then they'll kill me.
As soon as the car left the driveway, I hurried to the bathroom and took a quick bath.
My eyes felt puffy, my cheeks too. But I had no mirror to check. Linda prevented me from having anything a normal girl would have; make up, dresses, fancy shoes.
And now, I've lost interest in those.
I threw on a long sleeved turtleneck, and a faded ripped jeans. I ran my fingers through my hair, putting it to one side to cover my cheek. Then I picked up my bag, and walked to school.
***
#At_School
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"Miss Matthew!"
I raised my head up at the sound of the voice snapping me out of my... oh my God! I was sleeping in class again!
"You're sleeping in class again," the teacher, Mrs Lantern said. My thought exactly.
I wiped the back of my hand to clean any trace of saliva from my mouth. Just in case.
"Uh...no ma'am," I said, blinking rapidly to prevent my eyelids from closing.
She peered at me.
"Are you OK?" she asked with concern in her tone.
I nodded. "I'm with the class. I wasn't sleeping."
''OK, what are we learning?''
"Err....we're learning cell theory. And.... um...yes, you're talking about one Mr Hooke I think. You said he's the father of cell, and I was wondering if there's a mother in the picture."
I immediately closed my mouth as soon as that came out. I didn't mean to say it out loud.
The class burst into laughter, and Mrs Lantern shook her head slowly at me.
"Anne father here means---"
"I know, founder. I thought out loud. Sorry."
"Yeah, because you're a dummy," someone whispered from behind me.
I whirled around to see who it was and to tell the person off, but my eyes caught Emilio's, and he was looking at me. Directly. In the eyes.
He gave me that look like, seriously creeping me out.
I quickly faced the board.
When I turned to peek again, he was now facing his books.
Phew.
I'll admit, my heart rate had increased from 72 times in a minute to 340 times in a second.
If that's possible.