Chapter 7: A rude awakening

I felt so accomplished after that. Walking back down the streets in the gray sunlight, all I could think about is what she said. It felt so tempting to stop and walk right back and sit down in front of her again. But, I guess that's easier said than done. As I started approaching the house, I could hear screaming coming from it. I thought mom and dad finally found a boy in Jenny's room and walked in on them. I always liked to see Jenny get grounded. That way in order to piss her off, I could rub it in her face the entire time. No wonder people say we have the typical 'brother-sister' relationship.

As I crept up to the side of the house, avoiding being seen from the front windows, I made my way up to the tree. I was getting a little nervous as to whether I would be able to jump back up and climb onto the limbs again. Reassuring myself, I stood back a few meters and charged it head on. Adrenaline building and heart racing, I took one giant leap with my arms stretched out into the air. I closed my eyes for a moment, hoping I wouldn't make the mistake of missing and landing face first down into the muddy soil. Suddenly my arms clenched on and grasped it with a firm grip. With momentum following, I swung forward and flew off the branch; landing in the muddy soil on my back. I opened my eyes and looked up at the sky.

The tree was swinging softly in the breeze as the storm began approached. The limbs dancing in its own little ballet recitle, and almost looked as if it were laughing at my misfortune. I pulled forcefully and sat up out of the muck. I felt like I was just in a mud wrestling match. Although, I honestly couldn't see how people could enjoy that. But I guess if it turned them on, what the hell. I made a fist on each hand andslammed them hard on the ground, trying to push myself up. Slimy ooze squirting out between my fingers which I thought was pretty gross. Even if I didn't look at it, the feeling wasn't too great either. I finally got to my feet and looked down at myself.

"I wonder if mom will notice if I walk in through the house and head upstairs like this."

The yelling started again. But this time the bickering wasn't between them and Jenny, it was mom and dad that were screaming. They never really do fight, except once in a "blue moon." But when they did fight, best to keep your distance and not get caught up in the middle of it. Even if it's something small like getting paperwork signed for school. I slowly walked towards the backdoor, the mud squeaking in my sneakers. It was like a soft cushion, and to tell the truth, it felt kind of comfortable. Although, I should probably hurry before it starts to dry.

I slowly creaked the door open andsnuck through the kitchen, heading for the stairs. Mom and dad were in the living room, just outside the main hallway from the entrance in the front. Ignoring their conversation, I took off my sneakers and pranced up the stairs, leaving a tiny mud trail behind. When I got to the top, I saw Jenny peaking down the stairs, eavesdropping on their conversation. The typical nosy sister, but she hates it when people butt into her business.

"Ew gross, what are you covered in?"

"Shut up, I fell."

"Well it looks like you fell in dog crap."

"Do I smell like I fell in dog crap?"

"No, but usually your body odor takes care of that one."

"And you call me a pain in the ass."

"Oh stop complaining and move, I wanna hear what they're saying"

"Yeah, what are they arguing about?"

"Something that you shouldn't know about for like... well the time when you actually decide to get a girlfriend."

"Oh shut up and tell me."

"Mom found a pair of panties in dad's car and they're not hers."

"Ouch."

I walked around Jenny and headed into the room. She didn't even notice I were there. She just kept staring downstairs keeping her focus on the front door as if she were waiting for a parade to come through in any minute. But luckily there was no mud that dripped onto the carpet. Slowly tiptoeing into my room, I closed the door and locked it. I noticed the mud was beginning to harden. I didn't even feel like taking my clothes off this time, it would've felt too uncomfortable. Stepping into the bathroom, I got in the shower and turned the water on. The dirty ooze slowly washing away and down the drain. I thought the drain would've gotten clogged because the water was completely brown, which looked pretty gross. I began to undress and wash the dirt out. As eacharticle of clothinggot cleaned, I threw them ontop of the glass which blocked the shower water from beind sprayed onto the floor.

I didn't like to be messy alot, so I usually kept things a little tidy. Sometimes even a little too neat. Dave says I have OCD (Obsession Compulsive Disorder) where I have to keep things perfect and clean all the time. Even on school work, which is where he got the idea from. If I wrote something in a way I didn't like, I would crumple it up and start over. Slowly taking my time to write perfectly and to not make any mistakes. He then would take his pen and purpously draw lines on my paper just to get me mad.I shutoff the warm water andtook the towelto dried off. It was six already. Maybe mom was right that it was time for me to get up.

I walked over the dresser and pulled out my pajamas. I think I deserved to feel a little comfortable after what I just went through. Hehe, I'm a little surprised I didn't get a rash. Dry mud stuck together in your pants. It was a little nasty even just thinking about it. I opened my door and saw Jenny wasn't there anymore. She probably went back into her room and started calling all her friends and tell them the whole story. She usually did that alot, even to me. When I was younger, I accidentally closed the toilet seat on my pee-pee and Jenny stood there laughing in my face as I rolled around on the floor crying. She went and got the phone and put it on speaker so they could hear me. Mom and dad didn't even yell at her either! They just stood there leaning against the door laughing at me to. Well, when they're older and sitting in a nursing home, I'll just stand against the door laughing at them to when they want something. A phrase which I'm glad to say here means: "What goes around comes around." Although I didn't like that phrase very much when karma was out to get me. I started walking downstairs. The tentions were getting higher, and the yelling louder.

"Where were you last night Tom?!"

"Would you stop! You know I was at work!"

"Then explain these!"

"I don't know how they got there! What if they're Jenny's?"

"Oh yeah, these are really Jenny's. Why would Jenny have her underwear in your car?"

"Don't look at me."

"Oh your so full of yourself. You've been lieing and cheated on me through this entire marriage."

"You got proof? Show me proof."

"Here's your damn proof!"

"That doesn't prove anything!"

"You know what, it doesn't even matter anymore. I'm so sick of the lieing and you not being able to man up enough just to tell me the truth. And I'm so sick and tired of if I want it to be over.I wan't a divorce!'

My eyes widened. I knew then that I shouldn't get involved. The house became silent except for the whistling noise the wind was making as the rain started pouring. I slowly crept back up the stairs, and crawled behind the post where Jenny usually stayed. Footsteps started coming towards the main hallway downstairs. I backed up a little incase it was mom seeing if me and Jenny were there. It was dad. He grabbed his keys off the counter and walked out the front door. Surprisingly, I thought he would've slammed it so hard that the pictures would've fell off. But instead, he slowly closed it shut.

I knew this couldn't be a prank. If this was a joke they were playing on us, that was low. But, I could always act like I was just sleeping and didn't hear a word. That way the joke would've been useless. But who would make a joke out of divorce? Dad wasn't good at handling on the spot, so from the beginning, he didn't really even have a chance. I shrugged and walked back into my room and locked the door. I ran across and jumped on my bed and pulled the covers over. I missed being a kid. Where you could sleep all day and not worry about school or anything. Just play, play, play. The room was cold from the weather, which I kinda liked. My eyes starting closing and I was getting a little drowsy...