Previously published in Bubblews
Chapter 4
As expected Julie Samuels was waiting outside the school door for Cassidy as she came out. Julie was eager to know why Cassidy had called out her name in class and why the teacher made her stay after class.
“Hey what’s the big idea of shouting out my name in class like that?”
“I didn’t know I shouted out your name I must have dozed off.”
“So you been sleeping in class again, your parents have another fight last night?”
“Yeah”
“What time did you finally get to sleep?”
“I don’t know but I think it was like around midnight or after.”
“Why did old fish eyes keep you back?”
“Nothing much she just wanted to ask me if anything was wrong. When I said no she started quizzing me on the battle of Quebec.”
‘Really; that old bag”
“Well at least I saved us from a pop quiz, she says now she will have to prepare a new one for next week.”
“Well we still have to study for the chemistry mid term. Cassidy, can we study for it at your house tonight?”
“What is wrong with your house?”
“We always study at my house. Besides mom’s not coming home until late tonight. She is in meetings all day and her class at the hospital will last until 10 pm. You know when she is gone that rotten brother of mine will deliberately annoy us so we won’t be able to get anything done.”
“Well I guess it will be alright, but don’t mind the mess my mother is not well.”
“I don’t care about your house I am just nervous about the chemistry exam. I’m not good at it like you are.”
Cassidy and Julie walked home to Cassidy’s house giggling and talking up a storm like 15 year old girls do.
Cassidy opened the door to her house with trepidation. She never really knew what to expect when she got home from school.
Helen Hollister heard the door and shouted from the living room.
“Is that you Cassidy?”
“Yes mom it’s me.
Cassidy could tell from the slur of her words that she was still drinking from last night and she was drunk then. Cassidy wanted to make a quick dash to her bedroom upstairs when Julie starting saying something to her about chemistry.
Helen shouted out in a rather shrill voice, “Who have you got with you?”
“Its Julie Samuels mom, you met Julie remember?”
“Get her the hell out of here, I don’t want her in my house.”
Cassidy was dumbfounded her mother never did this before. It was true she never brought her friends over to the house, but her mother was never that rude before.”
“But mom,”
“Get that evil woman out of my house I don’t want Denise in my house do you hear me!”
“Mom it is not Denise it is Julie, Julie Samuels.”
“Denise get out of my house before I do something that I might regret!”
The two girls looked at each other; they did not know what to say. Then Julie suggested they go to her house to study. Cassidy was so relieved. She would have jumped at any suggestion just to get out of the house and away from her mother. Her mother’s behavior really scared her.
She was still shaking when she got to Julie’s house which was three blocks away. She decided to call her dad and tell him how strange her mom was acting. That turned out to be a mistake as well. Her father was angry that she disturbed him at work. He said to Cassidy over the phone. “I told you never to call me unless it was an emergency. You just got me out of an important meeting for this. You know you mother drinks. what the hell can I do about it?
Poor Cassidy was sorry she made that call. Cassidy stayed away from the house as long as she could. She just couldn’t deal with her mother at this time. She decided she would come home just before her dad. Her dad should be home around 7pm so Cassidy planned to be home for 6:45.
Cassidy took her time walking home, she was not very happy at all. She was so upset that she couldn’t concentrate on chemistry. Since the mid-term was not due for another week, the girls decided to just play music until Cassidy was to leave; after that Julie would fry up some pork chops for her and her little brother for supper and then call it a night herself.
When Cassidy put the key in the door of her house, something didn’t feel right. First of all there was no lights on in the house and that was unusual; the living and kitchen light were always on. The TV was off too. She called for her mother but she did not get any answer.
She must be asleep Cassidy reasoned as she went up the stairs to her room. To get to her room she had to pass the upstairs bathroom. The door was open and Cassidy looked in.
She let out one screeching scream for there was her mother in the bathtub with her wrists slit. Cassidy rushed to her mother; but, she could not revive her though she still could feel a pulse.
She called 911 and decided to call her dad in case he decided he was working late that night. She never knew with him; he didn’t really keep a schedule.
When Peter Hollister got to the phone he was seething. He yelled at her saying, “Cassidy what to do you want now I am busy!”
Cassidy was now in hysterics and she screamed at him, come home now! Mom is unconscious in the bathtub she tried to commit suicide! She then hung up before he could say anything else to her.
source: my own creation