911-chapter 1

The lights were dim. I looked at the walls. They were colored to a dull blue, dotted with family pictures and certificates. I looked back at the women staring at me, observing me.

            “Where am I?” I asked the women. I think I know her.

“In my office Kate.”  She spoke with a calm demeanor.

Kate. That’s what my name is. Kate. My sister called me that. “Mom” never called me that though. It was always “you” or “bastards daughter”.

“Who are you?”

“I’m Doctor Haertland, remember?” She sat facing me, hold a notepad and pen.

“Yes, I remember. You said I could see Mary. Where is she?”

“Mary is currently resting. When she wakes up, you can go see her. But I need you to tell me what happened yesterday. Everything.”

Mary. I need to see Mary.

“Fine.”

I woke up today. The air was filled with the smell of alcohol. “Mother” was drunk. Again.  I went to take a shower. “Mother” was already there, asleep.

“Elly, you’re in the bathroom again.” I shook her awake.

“What?” She rubbed her eyes groggily, “What do you want?”

“I need to take a shower. It’s not good for you to sleep here, you could catch a cold.” I lifted her dead weight out of the bathtub and dragged her into her room.

She mumbled something about meeting another guy, “And he’s willing to pay good money! We’ll be rich! And it’s only for one night! One!” Elly started laughing.

I dropped her onto her bed, laughing to herself. I closed the door to the bathroom, stripped, and turned the water on. It was hot.

“Is that all? I don’t see how all this has got to do with her sister.” A man was standing next to the doctor.

Doctor Haertland mumbled to the man, “Mental patients slowly go through their memory and slowly remember the painful ones. It just takes time. Please be patient with her inspector.”

“I don’t have time for this!” He was impatient.

“Be quiet! Loud noises may startle her, and then it could take longer to get the information you want!” She stared daggers into the man. He closed his mouth.

“Please go on Kate.” The doctor looked at me, smiling. It was fake.

“Okay.”

I got out of the shower. Dried off and changed. I could smell breakfast. I Heard Mary shuffling around the kitchen. I walked downstairs and was greeted by the sight of pancakes.

“Hey, morn’n Kate!” Mary turned around, smiling.

“Morning sis. What time did Elly get in?” I sat down and started eating.

“Hmm, I think Mom came home around one-ish? That’s pretty early for her, don’t you think?” She sat down and slathered her pancakes in syrup.

“Yeah, it is. So, what client was she talking about? She was mumbling something when I dragged her out of the bathtub.” The pancakes were just right. Fluffy on the inside, lightly crispy on the outside.

“Oh, I think she was picked up by a rich CEO of some company. If you’re wondering, she said he’s single. So no crazy wives this time.”

“That’s good. We won’t have to move again then.”

We ate, and left for school. Elly was asleep, snoring.

Mary turned to me, “Did Mom say when she would go to work tonight?”

I looked at her, “No. Elly will be home when we get home from school, so ask her then.”

Mary signed, “I wish you would stop calling Mom “Elly”. She’s your mother you know.”

“She hates me. I have no reason to call her “mother” if she doesn’t love me.” I adjusted the strap of my backpack.

We came to the bus stop just as the school bus pulled up. We got on.

“Your mother is Mrs. Brown?” Doctor Haertland was jotting down notes.

“Yes, she’s my “mother”. Why do you ask?”

The doctor folded her hands together, “Well, you sound as if she is a stranger.”

“She is in a way. She never loved me.”

“Why is that?” She had false concern written on her face.

I sighed, “Because, I’m an illegitimate spawn.”