1 School's Out

After my boyfriend of the time made the end of the year dance I went home alone. I left the contents of my sophomore locker in the corner of my room to be properly disposed of sometime that week. I flopped down on my bed and shut my eyes. I was so tired. I wanted to sleep off the emotional high and lows of the year.

I slept until my mom got home with Chinese, about 3 hours later. I drew the blinds to help with the migraine that I knew she'd be getting right about now and we ate dinner in our dim apartment. "How was the dance, dear?"

"It was good. More rice?" I'd gotten good at deflecting her questions over the years. We just didn't know how to talk anymore. And that was fine, I'd learned to brush it off, I preferred the silence now.

My mom nodded, "More rice would be good." She kept looking like she wanted to say something else but she didn't. We sat through a rerun of F.R.I.E.N.D.S.. I mouthed the lines along with the characters, I used to be obsessed with it. When the episode ended something else started to play. My mom put the TV on mute. "Listen, Jules, Amanda is closing the cafe. Before you say anything," I closed my open mouth sheepishly. "She lined up another job, at least for the summer. It's decent money, full time and gives me a few months to find another one." I could feel a 'but' coming. I raised my eyebrows and waited. "But, it's in Michigan."

"Michigan?" I was incredulous. I didn't understand why she would even bring it up. We lived here, in Kentucky.

"It's not permanent honey," she looked apologetic, she also looked decided. I knew before she said it that she'd already taken the job. "I know that it's summer, but most of your friends will be on vacation. And that boyfriend of yours can come visit. It's just for the next few months babe, I promise. After the summer we'll come home."

"But what about the apartment?"

"The landlord said he'd hold it for us. I'll just have to pay if someone wants it but it's crappy and there's so many others before ours would get passed to someone else. I've taken care of everything Jules. Besides, maybe you could reinvent yourself. Discover who you are and all that bullshit." She looked excited to get away. Maybe this would be good for her. Not for me, but if it would make her happy, I'd do it. She deserved something good.

"Okay."