A Change Could Do You Good

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A Change Could Do You Good
Chapter 9
By Sarah Donnen

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I walked downstairs the next morning and found Mom sitting at the kitchen table, talking someone's ear off. I sat down and put my head on the table, I was up until around one or two talking to Sarah. Mom would probably kill me when she saw the phone bill, but Sarah promised to call next time. It was a good thing I didn't move out of the time zone, and then we'd really be in trouble.
Mom finally hung up the phone and looked at me. "Hey, sweetheart, why are you up so late? Its very rare you sleep until eleven-thirty!"
I nodded and looked up, rubbing my still-tired eyes. "I was talking to Sarah last night," I said.
"Oh, that makes sense," Mom said, laughing lightly. "Listen, go get dressed, we're going over to the Carter's for lunch," she said, standing up and pouring herself a glass of water.
"Oh, Ma, do we have to? Do I have to? Can't I just stay home and wallow in my self-pity?" I was whining, I hated to hear whining and I hated to whine. But I knew that most of the time when I whined, I got what I wanted.
"No, you cannot. You're coming whether you like it or not and that is final. Do not whine, Alexandra, you know I hate the sound," Mom said sternly, giving me that look. The look that said 'you push it, you die, so don't defy me'. I knew that when she gave me that look, I had to do what she said or I wouldn't see the light of day for the longest time.
I got up from the table slowly, groaning. "Remind me to thank you later if anything good comes out of this move to hell," I said as I walked into the hallway. I rummaged around in my closet upstairs and looked for something somewhat suitable to wear to this lunch thing. I finally found my tan skort and my favorite white tank top. It felt strange putting on those clothes in the middle of December, but I did anyway. I grabbed a light button-up sweater just in case and walked downstairs to wait for Mom.