HOURS LATER, the sun had already set, and the warm artificial light was the only source of light available in the wide house. Once the dinner table was set, with the help of the women of the house, and the whole family was in their assigned old wooden chairs, as Adda had expected, the topic of the fair came up again.
You know what happened today, darling?
Isabelle, if it's another one of your "kitchen adventures" then I don't want to know! I had enough with your last one!
The cold reply slept through the mother's ears like a duck to water, and proceeded to take the wraps off the issue.
Today I've been talking with Grace, you know? The mother of Adda's friend, Travis. And...
As soon as she started to divagate from the concerning topic, Henry, Adda's father, lost any remaining interest in the subject and focused on the oven-cooked pork with slices of crispy potato that was on one of the few remaining unchipped plates of the house. Meanwhile, Adda could barely look him in the eyes, or the face, so instead she fixated on her fingers, which bordered the edge of the flaked white plate nonstop, not even when her finger touched an oil bubble. She was expectant, still tuned to what her mother was explaining in order to know when the scene was going to start. Then, the moment came.
I think It would be nice to start letting them spend time together; supervised.
She clarified.
Travis is that boy who goes to church every sunday, seated next to a blonde lady, right?
The moment Henry paid attention exclusively to his wife, Adda tensed. Her whole body immobile. She had almost stopped breathing.
Yes, darling. He has good grades and It's really polite and helpful.
Who's his father?
As those words left his mouth, he laid back on the chair, leaving the fork on the table and crossing his arms, thinking.
Oh, he's a businessman who travels often to...
So he's a prick and her wife is a...!
Mama, what's a pick?
Sssh!
Hushed the mom. The little boy frowned his almost hairless brows.
He looked by the ravine of the eye to his son, Ben, before censuring the following words.
...Is well known in town.
Darling!
The boy's prolly a sissy who grew up with no father! Who's he gonna be a man if he's never seen a real one? Adda really needs a good husband to put her in place. You already pamper her with many things!
The alluded teenager wished to disappear, but instead, she was forced to listen to the whole discussion of her as a spectator.
Henry!
He raised an eyebrow and straightened his position with his chest slightly puffed and his arms on the table, fists clenched. Immediately, the wife repositioned, taking a softer approach.
Darling, you know that's not true. He's quite a man already. He runs the house when his father is not home, because successful business take too much work to go home to handle wife and kids every day. A-
ARE YOU TRYING TO SAY SOMETHING???!!!
Wha-, no! I'm j-
You better not be, 'cause I work my ass-
Darling!
She looked at their youngest kid, anxious.
No, I work my ass off five days a week to maintain this family and you're telling me I'm not doing enough?!
Of course not! We appreciate all the work you do for us. You are the head of the family! The man of the house!
She turned her face to the two siblings, her hands instinctively nearly reaching them both.
Right?
But before Adda could stand a chance to answer, her father continued.
Then, you better remember your place, woman!
Listen...darling...
A fake smile drew itself in her face, in means of making the scene more appealing.
...Grace is a stay-at-home wife, and I know that she only goes out to buy groceries and go to church, as well as to look good for her husband.
Instead of meddling in others’ business you should pay some attention to this house. Yeah, the chores may be in order, but your daughter is nearly a full grown woman with no future whatsoever!
I think Travis is the best option for her. No other guy we know is so religious and studious... If not, Adda would be single...
That's what she deserves for being a spoiled brat!
Tell me you'll think about it, please, darling.
He grunted but didn't say more. His attention returned to the plate and the hole table remained silent until the dinner was over, like the desolated silence that the end of the war brings; quiet, but louder than a scream.
Adda ran to her room as soon as all the dishes were washed. That night she had been lucky; her father hadn't directed a word to her, and her mother hadn't let that seethed anger out onto her when they were cleaning everything up. She was sick of having to stand the same scene over and over again like a never ending curse.
Once in her bed, she searched for a song that matched her mood in her newly made playlist. It was written in a small piece of paper under her desk so her mother could not find it when she made the next mobile phone inspection. Adda was well aware it was a risk, but she knew she would not remember the name of all the songs Tania had shown her or recommended her, and they made her feel good- no, not good, understood.
• • •
She was woken up by her second clock alarm. At first, Adda tried opening her aching eyes which were still humid and covered with tears. Then, she took her headphones off and stopped the alarm before sitting up at the edge of the unfolded bed and rubbing her sore eyes. Then, she took a deep breath and opened the closet to dress for school. Once ready, she grabbed her bag and ran down stairs, just in time to have breakfast with her brother.
The time to go to school arrived and they started the walk. In school, the same story repeated again: Seven hours of boring assignments that were either too complicated or too useless to care. Even more, the teenage girl's mind was busy with the past conversations with her friend, Tania.
Hey, Adda. Adda, Add, minus... Are you listening?
The guy, realizing his friend was in the clouds, tapped her arm, stretching to grab the chaotic table next to him. The young student jumped as soon as she felt a cold touch near the wrist, and rapidly covered It with her other hand, reaching away from him.
What do you want, Travis?
She half whispered It, trying to avoid the attention of the professor, who was writing on the large blackboard. His friend bent slightly to reply, in the same tone as hers.
What did he say? I couldn't hear It.
Ugh...er... I wasn't paying attention, sorry.
Oh, okay, it's fine.
He recomposed himself back and looked at his gridded notebook, worried. Then, he stopped fidgeting with his blue gnawed pen and started to fill the page, taking brief looks at the teacher.
She tried to focus after that, just in case he wanted to ask again. She didn't want to make him mad. After all, they were going to start spending more time together...
If HIS FAMILY wants!
This last thought gave her an idea. She could mess up on purpose the arranged meeting at the fair, that way his family would decline and she would brush off all the husband's topics... At least for a decent amount of time.
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