Was Broken

Perched on a grayish brown chair in the principal's small office, my hands on the armrest and legs crossed. I pull on some strands of my black long hair and cautiously watch every movement of the principal as he walks to and fro while on the phone. With a small frown on his face, he stops his pace, still silent. I could hear squeaks that came from the phone but I could not grasp the words.

The room contained a brown wooden desk with an office chair on both sides. There was a wooden shelve that had glass transparent cover, inside it were various trophies of different sizes, shapes, and colors. The greyish brown chair stayed in the middle at the back of the small office which was where I was seated. Posters of rules and quotes were scattered all around the brown walls of the office, It made me feel imprisoned, and opposite me at the other end of the wall was a window that was right behind the principal's chair.

The medium height, bald, chubby principal; who looked like he was in his middle forties finally caught my eye. His hands darted up to his waist as I searched his expressionless face for clues that I didn't find, I then looked away and he resumes his pace. Leaning in with my chin on my knuckles I gaze at nothing in particular and sighed.

After what seemed like a whole class session to me, he finally dropped the phone and turned to face me. He examined me for a second and cleared his throat.

"Your mom called."

Of course, I knew my mom had called.

"You and Lucy would be heading home as soon as possible."

I feel my body tense and I slowly stand up. That wasn't normal, mom would never want us to miss school, was she okay? I look up at the principal's round face and blank eyes. It wasn't even encouraging " why?" I croaked. I cleared my throat and swallowed.

The principal shook his head slowly, unsure of what to say, "I guess you will find out when you get back home." He opened his drawer and took out a piece of paper from a pile.

"Um...okay, I better go find Lucy" I took a few steps backward and turned to leave. Walking down the unusually empty and silent hallway even though I wasn't sure of the class Lucy was having presently, I take an abrupt turn and bump into someone.

"ow!" Lucy looks up. "Oh, you also got called to the principal's office?"

" Yeah. Mom took permission so we could come home now."

"Why?"

I shrugged and turned towards the principal that was now approaching us. He had a smile plastered on his face, which kind of made me feel worse.

Fiddling with a piece of paper he was holding he looks up at us. "Your mom wants you two back home now."

Lucy steps forward. "I know. what's wrong?"

"...She will be waiting for you at home."

Lucy scoffs and walks away, probably to the parking lot.

The principal looks at me. "do you need an escort?"

"No. Thanks." He hands me the permission slip and I leave.

I walk to the parking lot and sight Lucy leaning on the car and texting someone. She donned a white jean shorts, topped with a green camisole that sagged a little on the neckline; revealing a little of her cleavage. She wore Nike sneakers and had a white Jean jacket that she placed on her shoulders, it had rips all around it... Wait, my jacket.

I approached Lucy and we enter the car. " what are you doing with my jacket?"

She looks up from her phone as a smile escape her lips." .....I just saw it lying there and took it, you never wear it anyway...it's not your style"

I let out a small laugh and start the car."What is that suppose to mean?"

" I mean- well, just look at yourself..."

Yes. I was dressed in a beautiful A-line flowery gown with short sleeves and a neckline that didn't go past my collarbone. Its length was a little above my knee, then with my lovely black flats that had some wrinkles but at least wasn't in two halves and my little black school bag that rested comfortably on my laps.

I let out an audible sigh. "You know you can just apologize, right?"

" yeah...I apologize." Lucy says without looking up from her phone.

Apology not accepted.

She runs her hand through her blond hair that now had visible black roots. "Soph? My friends are already asking me what's up and I don't have a clue o-"

" I don't have a clue either," I interrupt, louder than intended. "maybe she just wants us to come home for...." I shrugged, I wasn't sure of what to say, "uh...dinner or maybe to talk or even go out..." I knew that was a very stupid statement and the way Lucy looked at me, I would do almost anything to rephrase my sentence.

Lucy rolled her eyes. "Right, like you've forgotten the kind of family we are in." And then she resumes with whatever she was doing on her phone.

I hadn't turned off the car yet and Lucy was out already, heading into the house like a girl that had just been informed that her cheating boyfriend was in there with another girl. I made a face and whined up the glass windows, came down, and locked the car. My phone beeps, I quickly take it out of my bag.

Sophie where the heck are you?? I've been in the library for over fifteen minutes.

I bit my lips and texted back.

I'm sorry lia, I'm at home right now.

Walking towards the porch my phone beeps again. I throw my head back in exasperation and look at my phone.

Girl!? Are you serious? FYI we have a geography project to submit tomorrow and we haven't even started.

I hesitate but then quickly text back.

Yeah I know, let's just research on it separately and see what we can put together tomorrow.

I walk up the porch steps of our bungalow and into the house. Everyone was seated in the living room, even my mom. I quickly scanned her to see if she was okay, she was seated properly on the only armchair in our parlor but her eyes were red and bulging and her black hair looked like she had just gotten out of bed. My phone beeps again but I ignore it.

"Hi, mom"

"Hi," she whispers with a smile.

It was obvious my absence was withholding whatever was suppose to happen. I quickly make my way to the only available space on the long sofa which was beside my eight years old brother. The tension in the room was so thick, I almost felt I could touch it. I glance at Ruth, my youngest sister. She was seated beside Jerry and is two years younger than him, our eyes meet; I smile at her and she returns it. Did mom call us from school just so we could sit in a circle in the living room and talk?

Mum lean in." So.." She pursed, Her voice horse.

"I am sorry you two had to leave school early," she was staring at Lucy and me intently. She studies us for a while and continues. "I have already informed Ruth and Jerry so they won't make a fuss-"

"Mom!" Lucy shouts with a frown on her face. "Can you just tell us what's wrong because I can't wait any longer." And then she mumbles." Cuz I can already see where this is going." She folds her arms. She was seated on the old recliner, the chair we always fight for.

I raise an eyebrow at her. You aren't the only curious person, hold your peace.

" I was just about to do that," mum explained flatly. She licked her lips and took a breath.

Did someone die, I couldn't help wondering.

"so...um...I'm just gonna say it." Mum stutter.

My heart aches and I could feel my lips pucker. I wonder how she feels, I already felt bad for her. I always hate it whenever anyone is going through a hard time.

"I-I lost my job," mum blurt awkwardly." I'm so sorry," she added in a low voice.

I let out a breath of relief. Was that all, she shouldn't be so sad...people lose their jobs. I decide to break the unbearable silence," it's okay mom...so what's gonna happen?" Tears brimmed in mom's reddened eyes." I could work for extra hours at the grocery store...maybe...Lucy could join me until you get another job."

I slowly glance at Lucy, a smug look was on her face and her eyebrows were arched, She was shaking like a leaf with her hands folded.

" I can't afford this house anymore...even the car," mom sobbed. "I have debts Sophie," she sniffed, "I have debts. And the money you get wouldn't be enough to sustain us."

Cupping my mouth with my hand I lean in and stare at mom." Debts?"

"Debts!" Lucy mocks." Tell me, what extra thing have you done for us that you are on debts. We've always been managing and we didn't complain-"

Mum breaks down into tears.

Ruth looks at Lucy." Shut up Lucy," She shouts with a frown on her face.

" I'm not talking to you," Lucy screams.

Ruth slogs of to Mum's side and joins Jerry on the floor to comfort her. They were stroking her arm and rubbing her hair, Ruth then hugs her.

I wipe my face and stand so I could also comfort mom. I needed comfort but from the look of things, mom needed it the more. She had gone through a lot and now she lost her job, how were we even going to survive.

I kneel beside Jerry and rub mom's arm soothingly. Fresh tears run down her cheeks." Mom, it's okay." I sniffed. "You don't need to cry." I could feel my nose tickle so I sniff again. Mom clasped her lips to avoid licking her salty tears. She was nodding vigorously to what I had just said. Ruth and Joseph had calmed down, but they looked unhappy, at least they were cooperating. It was a good thing mum had told them earlier.

Mum sniffs several times and wipes her face with her hands. She forces a smile at the three of us and shifts her gaze to the usual location of the recliner. I turn around to look with her, it was Lucy, she did not come to comfort mom; she wasn't even crying. There was no trace of sadness in her eyes, all I could see was anger. I immediately turn back to look at mum and I rub her knee.

Mom looked away and fix her gaze on the floor. " so...as I was saying... I have decided on what to do." Mom looks up and study our faces, then she continues. "Um... I want all of you to appreciate this decision because... it's a privilege. So... So I'm going to ..." She looks down and rubs her temples. " I'm going to separate you gu-

" what?" Lucy stands with her fist clenched. "Ooh, losing your job wasn't enough for you, so you want to separate us now? She spat.

Mum stands up slowly. "No darling, I don't want to separate you guys. Never. I just have to." Mom's voice was shaky.

"Don't darling me," Lucy says raising her left hand. "I am no darling of yours. I can't believe we moved in here like a year ago, I managed to settle down at school and every aspect of my life," tears trickled down her face. "now you are talking about separating us."

Mum wraps her arm around herself. "Lucy, please don't make this harder than it already is," mom sobbed, "please."

Realizing myself I shot a glance towards Ruth and Jerry. Ruth was already crying, Jerry just watched. His palms were together and in between his legs. I rush towards them and lead them to their rooms.

As I leave the parlor I hear Lucy's penetrating voice," the separation between you and dad wasn't enough, was it? She screeched.

I hug Ruth and Jerry, they were both seated on jerry's bed. Jerry breaks down into sobs and Ruth cries harder.

" I want my daddy!" Ruth bawled.

"Don't cry, okay? I hug both of them again. I could not stay here, I had to stop that demon that was speaking through Lucy.

"You two should comfort each other." I put Ruth's hand in jerry's. " you are here for each other, okay?" They nod and slowly the volume of their cry reduces. "I'll be back." I turn around and dash for the parlor.

" can't take this anymore, I can't take it." Lucy was furious, she was shouting with so much strength, I could see her throbbing veins on her neck. Mum was curled up in a thigh ball on the floor beside the armchair, she was sobbing her life out.

"Lucy, why are you so stupid and selfish." I realized what I had said and remembered it was not the time to say what I thought, but words were words. I couldn't take them back.

"I am stupid?" She questioned turning to me. Her face was smeared with mascara and black tears ran down her cheek.

"No, no, that was a mistake," I stammer.

"So now I'm stupid?" She asks again pointing to herself.

"No, you are not stupid." Even though you are, mom doesn't have anything to do with it. I try to hold her shoulders but she slaps my handoff.

"I wish I was never born into this mistake that's called a family," Lucy screams through tears.

Mom shouts and presses her hands to her ears.

"I hate you." She was staring hard at mom. "I hate all of you," she screams and then storms off to our room and slams the door which bounces back open. She slams it again while holding the door handle so it would close.

Quickly, I scurry to where mom is on the floor and hold her tight. She was shaking passionately, her clothes were drenched in tears and sweat. Her face and eyes were red and puffy. I remained in that position for a while, not letting go. I am here for her, I couldn't help crying myself; so I allowed a few drops of tears to fall.

She was sobbing gently now and I was rubbing her back slowly. I jerked up in fright because of the crashes I heard from the room, but then I relaxed when I remembered Lucy. She was probably trying to calm herself down through other methods.

....

Slumped on the sofa in the empty parlor, everyone had gone to bed. I picked up my phone from the chair, I had two messages from lia.

What?! That doesn't make any sense

Whatever. Honestly, I'd rather do it alone than with you. Go sort yourself out, you have a problem

Staring at the screen, my grip on the phone tightened, my fingers turn pale and for a moment I think the phone would snap. I try my best to hold the tears but I guess they came with full force. Why would she say such a thing, what did I ever do to her?

After a while, I wipe my face quickly and heave my heavy bones off the chair as I shuffle my way to the room. I'm about to enter the room but I decide to check on Ruth and Jerry. I opened their door and look in, my face soften in compassion for what I saw. They were both on jerry's bed lying on their sides and facing each other. Ruth's right hand went across jerry's neck, jerry's hands were folded and there was a little frown on his face. I slowly walk towards them with my head to the side, I lift the duvet at the foot of the bed and cover them.

I open my room door and freeze. The room was a mess, books, papers, and clothes were scattered all around the floor, The window was wide open and- I walk to the bathroom and look in, Lucy was nowhere to be found. My eyes darted towards the left open makeup kit that laid on the dressing table and then the ransacked wardrobe and back to the open window. I shake my head and walk to my bed.

I placed my phone on the reading table that separates my bed from Lucy's and lie on my bed, facing the ceiling.

Awakened by the sound of a car engine and blaring pop music, I open my eyes. I hear one of the car doors open and the loud laughter of teenagers. I could single out Lucy's laugh, she was back. I check the time on my phone 2:47 am.

Lucy climbed in through the window. I could tell from the way she staggered that she was drunk. She flings the heels in her hand across the room and turns on her bedside lamp. She turns around, looks at me, and looks away.

I stare down at her and my eyes widen. "Lucy, whatt are you wearing?" it was a black tube dress, but it was extremely short. I'm afraid if she bent, it might reveal her underwear...that's if she was wearing one. Well if she liked, she could strip naked and walk down the street... Or...No, she better not.

" you know you owe me one cuz I didn't tell mom."

Lucy turned around. "If you stupidly told mom, you'd just be worrying her tired ass out." She said in a dead voice. She turns and starts to remove the chunk of earrings and bracelets she was wearing, which were more like prison chains to me.

I turn and face the wall.

I hear the sound of jewelry's land on the table. "Sophie, I don't really give a shit about you but if you keep on living like this, I think you might drop dead one day. You have no idea the level of fun you missed at that party, I don't know what your plan is but I hope you remember that you aren't getting any younger...you know, this stuff gets your mind off the things that are not so impressive in your life...you should change and try it out...it's not a death sentence."

I don't say a word, this was what I'd call bad advice... Lucy should understand that people were different and anything that'll make me be like her, I will rather not go into it... She doesn't give a shit about me... Seriously? Does she even care about anything other than herself...she did...maybe a little, if not I doubt she would have said anything.

I close my eyes and say in a small voice, "Okay...thanks."

I hear her bed creak as she climbs on it.