Chapter One

Chapter One

A Chapter by Claudia Giovanni

Sleek silver loops connected, hanging from the baggy black pants, with the bright red seams. Silver spikes shining off the pocket edges, like a threat. ‘One step closer, one more taunting word.’ The spikes animate to the teasers the words on the young girl’s mind. She turns to leave them, their words flying straight past her, as she jingles out the doors, down the walk and up the road.

            “Cutting school again, I see,” Toby smiles, as she enters the old record store.

“Yeah, well if I didn’t who’d be here to keep you company while you go out of business,” she strikes back, joining him in a smile.
            “Maybe you should buy something, and I wouldn’t go out of business,” he shoots at her, his smile growing still.
            This bickering never seems to end between the two. She thrives upon his words, but it’s his smile and light hearted chuckle that keep her coming back everyday. That keeps her there until the old record store closes at nine-thirty. Only then does she sulk out the front door, decline Toby’s offer to drive her home, and begin the forty-five minute trek through the streets that bring her to her house.
            “Mom, I’m here.” She calls in a whisper around the corners of the house she grew up in. “Mom, are you awake?” the girl lowers her voice more, and peers around the corner to her mother’s bedroom. Seeing that her mother isn’t there, she moves on to the next room, which is her own. “Oh Mom,” she sighs at the sight, her drunken mother on the floor, surrounded by glass, water, her own vomit and a single flower.
            “I’m sorry, I wanted to bring you a flower…” her mother gave into sobs, and her words were lost.
            “It’s alright mom, lets get you up, in the shower and then to bed, I’ll clean this up after you’re taken care of.”
            “No, No, hunny, I’ve got it” the older woman says, attempting to stand, but stumbling back to her knees quickly.
            “Come on mom, I’ve got you” the girl coos to her mother, helping her to stand. “C’mon now, to the shower, we’ll get you cleaned up.” She says in her most soothing voice. The girl, only fourteen, helps the older woman undress and get to the seat, which awaits her in the shower. “There you go mom” she says to the woman, whose gray, wiry hair is slowly being soaked through. The girl collects the vomit covered clothes and adds them to wash, that sets wait for a full load, before they get cleaned.
            “Here you go mom, some fresh warm clothes for you” the girl says as she helps her mother dry and dress herself. “Now to bed” she put her arm around the older woman’s waist once more and helps her into the bed, freshly made and waiting. “Good night,” she says, bending to gently kiss her mother cheek.
            “I Love You, Darcy” her mother slurs grabbing the girl’s shirt, so she can’t pull away.
            “I Love you too, Mom.” The girl says without flinching from the stench of alcohol and vomit on her mother’s breath, a practice she has mastered, to spare the old woman’s feelings.
            She slowly walks away, closing the old door behind her, and going to clean up the mess on the floor of her room. Scrubbing hard to try and ease the smell.
“Midnight” she sighs to herself as she climbs into bed and stares and the ceiling, slowly drifting off into a dreamless sleep.


© 2009 Claudia Giovanni


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this. is. a. great. example. of. magnificent. fiction.

I've never read anything like it on this website.

The first thing that came into my mind: Holy crap. How can this talented author write so well.

Great job, and continue going.

I want --- NEED --- to read even more.

Keep up the good work and I look forward to reading more from you...

Brendan

Posted 15 Years Ago



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Added on March 8, 2009
Last Updated on March 8, 2009


Author

Claudia Giovanni
Claudia Giovanni

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"I Should Tell You I'm Disaster I Forget How To Begin It...I'd Forgotten How to Smile Until Your Candle Burned My Skin." I've spent 17 years with a plastered on smile. Over the past four years I've m.. more..

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