Dakota's Diary, entry from chapter 3 (13+ for language)

"Dakota's Diary" is a novel I'm working on that contains diary entries from the main character's childhood. This entry is from chapter three, which is not yet complete. Dakota is thirteen and in the first two chapters her mom abandoned her family and she had her first kiss with Cole. To read the previous chapters follow this link to my novel http://www.youngwriterssociety.com/novel.php?id=217. I've rated this entry 13+ for language. Thank you for taking the time to read and review my story!

“Sometimes we play The Penny Game to pass the time on rainy days. Today is, indeed, a rainy day. We hear the steady pitter-patter of fat rain drops as they land on the roof, and occasionally the rolling rumble of thunder shakes the house. I’m sitting with my brother, Dominic, and two neighborhood boys, Cole and Shea. We’re arranged in a circle around a shoe box in the hallway outside my bedroom door. Each of us has fifteen pennies.

It’s my turn, and I’m taking advantage of having boys as components. “I’ve never worn boxer shorts.”

Everyone that’s experienced the joys of boxer shorts tosses a penny into the shoe box. The other boys notice that my brother, Dominic, keeps all his pennies this round.

“Dude, you still wear whitey-tighties?” Shea gives my brother a playful shove.

“Shut up!” He shoves back, less playfully.

“Give it a rest, it’s my turn,” Cole interrupts them and contemplates his ‘I’ve never’ statement, “I’ve never kissed a boy.”

“Does dads and grampses count?” Dominic asks as he looks around the circle to gage our reactions.

“I’ve never kissed a boy who wasn’t related to me.” Cole corrects himself.

My face feels hot. Why is he putting me on the spot like this? He promised to keep it a secret, and I’d made Cadence and Danny promise too. Did he hear that Shea asked me to the Snow Ball dance? Is he trying to showing off?

My lonely penny falls to the box. Why can’t I just lie? My brother’s mouth is hanging open and his eyes are filled with shock as he gapes at me.

“Dakota, dads and grampses are related, they don’t count.”

“I know, Bub. It’s your turn.” I encourage Dominic to move on without making it into a big deal.

“You kissed a boy? Who?”

“If you were supposed to know you’da been invited, ‘kay?” My attitude is mostly show for my friends, but there’s definitely some fear and embarrassment mixed in, too.

“Tell me, or tell I’ll Dad. Dad!” he yells, and I can hear Dad close his recliner to get up. My stomach twists and I feel like I might throw up.

“It was Cole, now shut up.” I groan at him. I notice the numb look on Shea’s face, the grin on Cole’s, and the confusion on Dominic’s. “Don’t tell dad, he’ll kill me.” I whisper.

The phone rings. “What is it Dom?” Dad yells as he crosses the foyer to answer the phone.

“Nothing!” He replies, and my nausea begins to fade. Dom pauses as he carefully contemplates his next ‘I’ve never’ statement, “I’ve never lied while playing this game. Now go ahead and throw your pennies in.” We all look at him with cocked heads and keep our coins. “Aw, man. I thought I had everyone there for sure!”

“Dakota!” Dad rips open the door at the bottom of the stairs, “It’s for you.” He sticks his arm through the door and sets the cordless phone on the bottom step before returning to his seat on the recliner in the living room.

“Hang on guys, I’ll be back.” I clunk down the stairs and pick up the phone on my way through the door at the bottom. I close the door behind me and sit down on the landing at the top of the four stairs that leads into the foyer. “Hello?” There’s a fair amount of static on the other end.

“Dakota?” I hear despair in the tone, and I instantly begin to tremble. I think I recognize the voice, but I must be out of my mind. “Dakota?” The voice repeats. It can’t be her, why would she call me?

“Who is this?”

“Oh, baby, it’s so good to hear your voice.” She coos from the other end of the line, “it’s me, Mom, I miss you so bad.”

I can feel my heart beat in my stomach. Six months on Monday. The last time I’d spoken to her was six months and four days ago. I’m quivering with emotions. All the times I’ve screamed that I hate her into my pillow, all the times I’ve scribbled that I miss her in my journal and now she’s right her on the phone. Like it never happened.

“Are you there, Pumpkin?”

“Whadda ya want.” I murmur. There are so many things I want to say, I don’t know where to start. Questions race through my mind “Where are you?”, “Why did you leave me here?”, “When will you be back?”, “Are you okay?”, but none of them make it to my lips.

“I’m coming home real soon, baby. I promise. I love you, can I tell you a secret?” Her voice is soothing, but I don’t believe anything she says. I hear a man’s voice in the background, and cars passing by.

“Where are you?” I manage to ask.

“I’m with a good friend, don’t worry about me. You’re going to be a big sister again, Dakota. Isn’t that exciting? Please, don’t tell your dad.” I don’t understand what she’s saying this to me. Why wouldn’t Dad already know if she was having another baby? Why would she be telling me and then keeping it from him? “Listen to me, Dakota, your dad won’t let me come home. If he would I’d be there with you right now, I promise.” She’s lying. I know she’s lying. I hear him crying alone at night, and I hear him calling her friends and family frantically, looking for her, begging for her, and wanting her to come home. “Do you promise, Dakota?” She’s lost her mind.

“Are you crazy? Why are you telling me this? I don’t guess you wanna talk ta Dom, too, do you?” A tear hits my blue jeans as I begin to lose control. I hear my dad’s recliner closes again, and his feet hit the floor. “Why would I keep a secret for you? What have you done for me?” I’m growing louder

“I love you, Dakota, I’m sorry. Please, don’t blame this on me, please…”

“You don’t love me! What the…” Dad snatches the phone from my grip.

“Who is it, Dakota?” He asks me. I didn’t realize that he didn’t already know. “Who is the boy on the phone?”

“It’s Mom.” I croak. My face is hot, and the collar of my shirt is soaked with tears.

“What the fuck, Beth!”He screeches into the receiver.

“…..If you would like to make a call please hang up and try again. If you need help please dial the operator.” And with that, she was gone again.”