The Guarded; Chapter 2.1

by Calla in the Land of Lore and Myths

                                          Carlee's POV

Slipping into the house unnoticed would have been quite a feat. The front door was so rusty you had to pry it open, and the noise it made could rival the alley cats racket. Carlee desperately hoped her dad wasn’t home yet, and that her mom wasn’t asleep. Looking about she verified that her dad was indeed home, but sacked out in front of the T.V. Her mom was laboring away at the card table figuring out how to make ends meet for that month. Wincing at the pinched expression her mother wore, Carlee tried to slip past her parents.

            “Carlee? Honey, you home?”

            “Yeah momma.”

            “Don’t disturb your dad you hear?”

            “Like I would,” she muttered under breath, as she slipped into the broom closet which served as her room. The door had been long since ripped off its hinges and the walls were cracked with age. Flopping onto the worn mattress she cracked open her school books. “Stupid homework.”

            “Carlee?” Called a sleep groggy voice.

            “Lord have mercy,” she whispered to no one. She hoped her dad was too tired to worry about her. Walking into the main room, her dad was sitting on a chair. He looked so frail, compared to what he used to look like. Kneeling beside his chair, she looked at him anxiously, “Yes dad?”

            “How’s your school going?” His voice was raspy and Carlee shivered at the sound of it.

            “Pretty good, but my math grade dropped.”

            Her dad sighed and ran his scrawny fingers through his worn out grey hair. “To what?”

            “A D-.”

            “Carlee…” Suddenly, her father was seized by a coughing fit, unable to control herself, Carlee began to cry.

            “Harris!” Her mom ran over, “Carlee! Get out of the way and do something useful!”

            Sobbing, Carlee watched as her mom gave her dad his medicine, she felt so helpless. Finally, unable to take anymore, she said in a shaky voice, “I’m going out.”

            No one heard. And with that she set off as fast as her legs would carry her.

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