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My mom and I

Chapter 1-

I was sitting down in my desk doing my project. Being in 8th grade means tuff work. So there I was doing my project about the World War II; working on a rotten desk, a wooden desk that was almost falling apart. It smelled like old and was full of holes. From what I knew this desk belonged to my grandmother. For my unluckiness I had to share my room with my younger sister, Deborah. Deborah acted like an angel when she was near any adult. But every time I was alone with her, she was a little demon. I hated to go to school. I went to a public school in the middle of nowhere. Well, it was somewhere. It was on road 22, lot 59. If you went north, you would enter the city; if you went south you would go to the town. If you went east or west, you would get totally lost. In the public school I went to, it was called Public School ofHarmony, there were only 100 people in total from kindergarten to tenth grade. Harmony is the town’s name. I just hate being poor. Our family has been poor since my great grandfather gave all his money to produce a play, which wasn’t a big thing. Only about 50 people attended it anyway. It is very hard for me to live, with only two friends, my sister my mother, my grandmother and my father. My father works extra hours so that he can earn some extra money, so I only get to see him in the morning and at Sunday afternoon. He works at the wood factory, he is the main worker, but he never got promoted to manager.
My sister Deborah is nine years old. Usually when a kid is that age, that kid turns into a really hard a difficult child. Not Deborah. She only acts difficult with me, and every time she does something and I tell mom, mom says in her side and grounded me, It was unfair, but it had a logical explanation. Deborah was mom’s favourite child. She had always said, ‘Oh Deborah has A’s and you have B’s, Deborah is more active, Deborah is more responsible, Deborah helps more…’ and a bunch of other stuff. It was always Deborah this Deborah that, and never Katrina this or Katrina that…
My mom and I get into really big fights sometimes. I like to be right, but my mom always wants to be right and has a bad time admitting that she is wrong. My dad sometimes solves the problem; sometimes my mom slaps me for no reason. My mom always helped Deborah with her homework, never me. I think mom likes Deborah more, because Deborah is more like her than me.
When I finished my project, I was very proud. I had gotten some pictures from books, and newspapers. I had used the only set of encyclopaedias we had, which were very old. They belonged to my great grandfather.  I had used markers to point out the most important parts. I even drew a diagram to show were the Jews went and were the Germans went.  I wrote my name neatly in and hopped off the chair. I knew that my mom would say something good about my project. I was very proud of it.  It must have been one of the best projects I have ever done in my life! I most likely I would get an A on this. When I saw my mom she was cooking, with Deborah. I got closer and smiled.
“Hi mom! Look at the project I did! Doesn’t it look good? I will get and A for this!” I said.
My mom picked it up and examined it.
“Well, it is very creative, but not good. You will probably get a C. You are missing information about the gas chambers. Deborah would…” Mom started to say.
“I know, I know, Deborah would never forget that. But you know what!? The teacher said we should not add that part, because there would be a different project for that.” I mumbled. My mother understood what I said and replied,
“None sense. Deborah darling, your sister is such a failure isn’t she?”
Deborah giggled and responded,
“Yes, I am ten times better. She is just and idiot born by accident!” Deborah laughed.
My mom laughed too for my surprise.
“Yes, she was… probably. Now, Katrina, go do your… work,” My mom ordered
me.
“Yeah, get lost you jerk!” Deborah added. She giggled and continued to help mom. Mom did not reply.
That had been the last drop. I was furious. I had made a decision, at the end of the quarter; I would leave and wouldn’t come back. There were only five days left until the end, and I was ready for them. Since I am such a failure for my family, then I better leave. The only person that seemed to love me was my grandmother. I would tell her what I would do and how I felt before I left. She would understand, and she would keep it secret.
The day after that was Monday. I had received my English test back. I had gotten and A++. Now, I didn’t want to show my mom. I would show her last. I would first show to grandma. I also showed my history teacher my project. She examined it and a big smile appeared on her face.
“This is the best project any student has given to me. This is defiantly an A+.” She whispered to me. I was so happy. I think this was the best day of my life… Or so I thought.
I got home, helped with the household tasks and went to my room to do my homework. It was pretty easy the homework. All I needed to do was ten math problems, because I have finished all the rest during study hall. After a few minuets I was done. I ran to my grandmother’s room, where she would probably be knitting. I knocked and entered.
“Grandma, look at what grade I had! I had an A++ on the test and an A+ on my project! Should I tell mom? She won’t believe me will she? Please answer me!” I asked.
Grandma looked and smiled.
“This is very good! Better than Deborah. Well, your mom just says that Deborah is better than you so that you get jealous and do well on things.”  My grandma explained.
“But, she said I was born by accident and that… Deborah said I was a jerk, and mom didn’t do anything…” I said.
“Really? She said that? I am going to have a talk with her, and show her how good you can be too. She’ll finally put her head back to order.” Grandma said with confidence. But I wasn’t so sure.
I entered the living room, just to light the fire and get the table ready for dinner. It was cold, dark, and lonely. The living room seemed it had no life, it was dark and depressed. Katrina wanted to change the living room’s appearance, she didn’t even need to buy anything, but this was how Deborah had decorated it, and according to mom, she would probably stand once again on Deborah’s side. Deborah loved to be popular, but she was a sad and dark person. Just by seeing the living room, and knowing Deborah decorated it, you know how dark she was. Katrina took out two logs out of the wood basket and put them in the chimney. She rubbed two sticks together until she made fire, and then she would place them on top or at the sides of the logs, hopping that it was enough to make a fire. Otherwise, she would have to ask for her mom’s lighter. When mom stepped into the living room she had a smile on her face. She sat next to me near the fire. She ordered me, in a nice way, to stand up. I did so; it is not every day my mom is nice to me. She stood up as well, and got closer. The first thing she did was move her hand from one side to the other finishing right next to my cheek. She had slapped me. She slapped me so hard that my face was red.
“How dare you talk to your grandma to say your grades and say that I only like Deborah? It is true, for me, I had never told you this personally, but I hate you. I never liked you. I am your mother, but I hate you with all my heart. The hate is growing every second, and I am not standing this young lady. Your grandma must not know any of this. You hear!?” My mom shouted.
“Yes mom.” I replied.
“Don’t call me mom. Call me ma’am I hate you so much, I don’t even want to remember that you are my daughter. I hope I made myself clear.” She screamed.
“Yes… ma’am. “ I replied scared.
“Now go to your room, now!” She shouted.
Her face was all red, my cheek was all red too, but it hurt even more than my mom’s face. No body has slapped her, I didn’t do anything. For my surprise, when I ran out to my room bursting out in tears, I saw grandma.
“Darling, I heard everything. I just can’t believe what your mother did.” Grandma whispered.
Grandma wet to the living room and got near mom.
“How dare you kill a child like that? I heard everything, her tears, the truth, and your shouts. You are just a disgrace to human kind. I am ashamed to be your mother. I never treated you like that, no one did. Why do you love Deborah so much, and hate Katrina like that?” Grandma asked.
“I just hate her. I just love Deborah, now leave mom,” my mom ordered.
“Now, you just don’t order your mom to leave. One day I will figure out why you act this way. You will regret not have told me.” Grandma affirmed. She left and went to her room. She locked the door and started to write down what had happened. She needed to know what was wrong.
When I had calmed down, I knocked at grandma’s door; she opened it and let me come in. I had finally decided to tell her, I was leaving tomorrow, not in four days.
“Grandma….. I have decided on something, and no one will stop me. Unfortunately, not even you. It is a decision for life, a decision I made.” I told her calmly.
“Yes… you may say what it is, I am ready for everything.” My grandma responded.
“I have decided to run away. Only you shall know why I ran away, when and how.  I am leaving to the city, there I will work, and make my life. I know the consequences, but I decided to do this.” I explained to her.
“I see. Well, it is your decision, I can’t stop you. At least you know the consequences. I am going to miss you girl. I love you, and always remember that. So that you remember me, and maybe some time visit me take this.”
Grandma handed to me her blanket that had her name on it. I also had the houses address.
“How did you know?” I asked
“I didn’t know, I guessed it. Your bag is packed, it is on the corner. I made some extra cloths for you. I will miss you girl, take care. Run off now. Good luck.
I hugged grandma and kissed her. My tears fell slowly down, but I did not wipe them away. I started walking to the door. I made sure no one noticed. When I thought it was safe, I ran out.
The only thing that came to my mind was how I was going to survive. Yes, I would work in the city, I already had a job, and they accepted me and were waiting for me to start working. I was going to work at a store. I had no where to live, but I would figure that out when I got there, I couldn’t be thinking about It while I was escaping. If Deborah saw me, I would be worst than dead. I didn’t recognize how I felt until I started to run like crazy to the middle of the road. It was getting dark and some street lights started to work. I started to breathe a little faster. My nose was cold, and my hand was hurting from so much pain. My bag was a little heavy; I had some personal possessions in there. My diary since fifth grade, my only teddy bear, and two books, the bible and my favourite book, The old man and the sea. I had loved that book since I read it, in fourth grade. People thought I was too young to read it and understand it, but I read it and understood it perfectly. Not even Deborah understands it. My mom lied to her and said I still read first grade books when I was in fourth grade, I shall never forget the moment she said that, for I was showing my whole family the award of best reader from fourth grade. My mom made me very embarrassed. I ran to my room and slammed the door. I even toured apart my sister’s award for most creative story. No one knew, only Deborah that it was I, who had written that story, but it was her that gained the prize.
I stopped in front of school. It started to pour rain, I didn’t care. I mumbled a good-bye and left, marching. All I needed to do now was go north, headed to the city. When my back was to the school, I could only think, and see on my mind, one thing. Or should I say someone? I saw Francisco. I shook my head and opened my eyes. It was getting a little foggy, but the weather wouldn’t stop me.  I continued to march on, until I stopped. The rain stopped instantly, I froze. I sensed that someone was following me, I felt it so hard, but at the same time, I was afraid that someone would be my mom, or Deborah. I started to bite my nails, and slowly turned back. With no other second thought I shouted,
“I am not going back home!”
It was then, that I saw, it wasn’t mom, or dad, or Deborah, or anyone of my family.
“Hey, I understand, I just want you to stay, I’m serious.” John grinned.
“Why eh? What ya ‘gonna do? Hey, I’m fed up with my family, and all the kids at school that never cared ‘bought me. I’m fed up with people like you!” I yelled.
I sprinted as fast as I could, I sprinted north, I sprinted towards the city. Being the fastest girl at school, is good, it is a gift. For me, since I can’t do anything right, like my mom says. While I ran, I remembered my last birthday party. I was turning twelve, and Francisco was there. We danced together during the moonlight, it was the only party, fro my whole life, that my father let me use the radio. The radio was old, like everything in my house. It was a wonderful night, I felt wonderful, but I don’t know why, I still don’t know why.
When I woke up fro my memories, I was in front of a tree house. The tree house wasn’t high up, and it looked abandoned. I wanted to go up, I was very curious, but I had a second thought and said no to my self. I started to slowly walking away. Suddenly I had an impulse and jogged around the tree. When I spotted the ladder I climbed up. I entered the tree house; the door way was small, so probably this belonged to a little kid. The tree house was deserted, there was nothing in there expect for dust. I had no there choice but to go down and go on, I don’t have any idea why my instincts told me to go there, if it was all empty.
I jumped down; it wasn’t a big distance from the tree house to the ground. I jogged back to where I was heading, I wasn’t tired, I wasn’t tired at all. That surprised me, usually I can’t run more than a kilometre because I get tired, I jogged and sprinted more than a kilometre and a half and I was feeling fine! I felt awesome, I felt like I could open my wings and fly free to where ever I wanted to fly.  I felt like I could touch the sky, and the whistling wind, the soft clouds, and the flying birds. I felt like I could fly over the sea’s and oceans, the deserts and country side land, I felt free to do whatever I wanted. I felt, myself, how I was, before; Deborah had appeared for the first time in my life.
The sun rays touched my skin, my hair twinkled to the rhythm of the wind, and my eyes shinned at the sight of the sky. I was getting closer and closer to the blue sea. Today the sea looked wonderful. It looked pure, it looked peaceful. The blue colour was calm, the waves where calm, my life was calm. It was like I had been born at that moment, with no parents, only nature, freedom, and the sky to protect me, and take care of me.
A sudden shot appeared in the middle of the sky. I looked up, and saw smoke only. I heard a loud scream; I looked around and saw nothing. Then a shade, a black shade appeared. It looked like a human. A man.
“Hey, ya good lookin’ girl, ya mind getting’ out? Any way, just follow me, I need to show ya something.” He yelled.
At first I wasn’t sure if I should go, but then in second thought, I was more than prepared if was going to kidnap me or something. So I started to walk towards him.
“Good girl….. I thought you would do that, Katrina!” He laughed. He grabbed me by the arm.
“You’re commin with me.”