Chapter 14
I glance over at my alarm clock and it reads 5:56 a.m. It’s still dark outside and the only sound is that of the rain pounding on our ceramic tile roof. That was the strangest dream I ever remember having. What was his name? Olaf? Thinking about it, I realize it was more than a mere dream, though I don’t quite believe it was a vision, like Olaf said. Considering all the new information I’ve learned in the past few days, I grow increasingly overwhelmed. I’m also confused because although some of the information is congruent, some of it isn’t. I want to believe my mom, but it seems she’s trying to keep as much information from me as possible and not enlighten me, and if what Olaf told me is true, then I have many options moving forward, not just the one she’s trying to sell to me.
Being unable to make sense of it all, I try to fall back asleep, but when I can’t, I hop into the shower and get dressed instead.
Eating my cinnamon sugar oatmeal breakfast, I can’t help but think about the black envelope resting in the drawer. Dare I read it? After I finish my oatmeal, I inch toward the drawer, open it as quietly as possible, and lift the dark envelope out. “Could the dream have been real?” I say out loud. I flip the envelope over, feeling its smoothness in my fingertips.
“My, you’re up early. Good morning,” my mom says, dragging her fuzzy black slippers across the surface of the hardwood floors so they make a swooshing sound.
I turn around and maneuver the envelope to my back. “Yeah, just had a hard time sleeping. Strange dreams, I suppose.”
“Oh? Anything out of the ordinary?” she asks.
“Not really.” My mom’s hair looks even crazier than it did last night. “You all right, Mom?” I ask.
“Yes, why?”
“Your hair…” I gesture to my own hair, waving my hands erratically across it.
She touches her hair and steps into the hallway, probably to go check in the mirror. I hear her laughing.
I slip the black envelope back into the drawer. Perfect timing. When my mom returns, her hair looks more manageable.
“Better?” she says.
“Much.” I smile. Phew! I was almost caught.
“Maybe it’s time for your old mother to get a hairnet.” She giggles at her own statement while filling the coffee pot with water. “Want a cup of warm latte?” She sets the pot to brew.
“No thanks, I think I’ll head to school a little early instead so I can study in the library. I need some extra time to catch up on my homework.”
“Can I pack you some lunch?” she says, pulling out the eggs from the fridge.
“It’s okay, I’ll just get cafeteria food.” I put my empty oatmeal bowl in the sink and go to my room. Grabbing the backpack off my bed, I consider asking my mom if she knows anything about Olaf. No, I decide because if she does know him, and knowing him isn’t a good thing, I’ll probably have to suffer through even stricter rules than the ones she has already laid down.
I race to school and head for the library. All morning I try to think of ways I can sneak out with Anthony tonight. There has to be a good and believable reason why I need to go somewhere tonight for a few hours. Something my mom would believe, something necessary. The answer comes to me during my social studies class. I need new shoes to match my prom dress. Perfect!
At lunchtime, I ask Ashley to cover for me. She isn’t too thrilled about being the shield between my mom and me because she still doesn’t think Anthony treats me the way I deserve, but after plenty of explaining and begging, she finally agrees.
Before I leave for the two last periods, I remind Ashley about our plan. “If my mom calls, remember, we’re shopping at the Outlet Mall. If she demands I come home immediately, she’ll know not to expect me home for at least an hour. Remember to text me if she calls you.”
“Fine,” Ashley says. “But you owe me big time, and I’m just letting you know that I still think Anthony wants to use you, so be careful, and if he treats you like crap again, pulling the ‘I have another girlfriend’ card on you, or something ridiculous like that, I’ll stalk him and slash his tires.”
I laugh, but then I think maybe Ashley is seriously considering it.