Good Morning
“Good morning,” I say to my dad. “Good morning, my sweetie!” he says exuberantly, going back to his coffee and newspaper. I grimace so that he can’t see. My brother passes me with a nod of acknowledgement. “Hey,” I say. My mom is gone, not to be seen until I return from school. I retreat to my room for a few minutes of rest. I never eat breakfast. My dad leaves first - no one says goodbye. My brother leaves second - I am still in my room. I leave last, quickly because all the lights are out, and I’m afraid of the dark. I walk a ten minute walk to school. The morning is cold, weary, gray; the middle of the year. A Monday. I arrive to school silently, alone, and I leave silently, alone. I come home and my brother’s already there, eating a peanut butter sandwich. “Hey,” I say. “Hey.”
I go to my room.
My mom’s home, and we both rush to see her. “How was work?” “Was fine. How was school?” “Was okay.”
It’s dinnertime, and my dad’s home. He eats with my mom in front of the TV. We eat at the table. I am reading. My brother is eating. It is silent. He tries to talk - I pretend to listen. He notices. It is silent again.
Dinner is over; “Do you have homework?” my mom says. “I have homework.” “What kind of homework?” “Homework.”
Bedtime. “Goodnight, my sweetie!” says my dad, patting my head. I make a face, but he doesn’t see. “Goodnight, dad.” My mom comes to me. “Don’t stay up too late,” she warns, and I smile. “I won’t. Goodnight mom.” I hug her. She goes to her room, leaving the door open to make sure everyone goes to sleep. I go to bed and do my homework.
I am at school, my mind racing for a topic of conversation to fill the awkward silence with my best friend. Too late - we are inside the classroom. She goes to her other friend. I go to my desk.
I am in another class, bored. I stare in the direction of a boy I like to love. I try to catch the attention of my friend, but she is talking to my best friend. I am jealous.
I am in science, and my friend is trying to talk to me, but I ignore him because he’s annoying. I wonder if he loves me.
I come home and my dad’s there. I am annoyed. “Hi, dad,” I say. “Hi, my sweetie!” he replies, not looking at me. I go to my room.
Past midnight, I leave to get water. My dad is passed out drunk on the floor. I get a blanket and put it on him so he won’t freeze. I make sure nothing touches me because I’ve already taken a shower.
It is four in the afternoon. I get a message from my sister. “I miss u guys!” I smile and type, “I miss you too! I love you so much.” I grimace. Looking at it, I change the “I” to “We”. Send. I hope it doesn’t sound hollow.
It is Thursday. “Hey,” says my brother. “Hey.”
“My sweetie!” says my dad. “Hey.”
My mom is home. “How was work?” “Was fine. How was school?” “Was okay.”
Dinner.
“Goodnight, my sweetie!” “Goodnight, dad.” “Goodnight, my daughter.” “Goodnight mom, I love you.” “G’night, dude.” “Yeah.”
I’m in bed and my brother comes into my room. We talk about religion and the nature of humankind. He stands the whole time because he knows I don’t let anyone on my clean bed. We talk for an hour, then he leaves. “G’night, dude.” “’Night.”
I go to my room.
My mom’s home, and we both rush to see her. “How was work?” “Was fine. How was school?” “Was okay.”
It’s dinnertime, and my dad’s home. He eats with my mom in front of the TV. We eat at the table. I am reading. My brother is eating. It is silent. He tries to talk - I pretend to listen. He notices. It is silent again.
Dinner is over; “Do you have homework?” my mom says. “I have homework.” “What kind of homework?” “Homework.”
Bedtime. “Goodnight, my sweetie!” says my dad, patting my head. I make a face, but he doesn’t see. “Goodnight, dad.” My mom comes to me. “Don’t stay up too late,” she warns, and I smile. “I won’t. Goodnight mom.” I hug her. She goes to her room, leaving the door open to make sure everyone goes to sleep. I go to bed and do my homework.
I am at school, my mind racing for a topic of conversation to fill the awkward silence with my best friend. Too late - we are inside the classroom. She goes to her other friend. I go to my desk.
I am in another class, bored. I stare in the direction of a boy I like to love. I try to catch the attention of my friend, but she is talking to my best friend. I am jealous.
I am in science, and my friend is trying to talk to me, but I ignore him because he’s annoying. I wonder if he loves me.
I come home and my dad’s there. I am annoyed. “Hi, dad,” I say. “Hi, my sweetie!” he replies, not looking at me. I go to my room.
Past midnight, I leave to get water. My dad is passed out drunk on the floor. I get a blanket and put it on him so he won’t freeze. I make sure nothing touches me because I’ve already taken a shower.
It is four in the afternoon. I get a message from my sister. “I miss u guys!” I smile and type, “I miss you too! I love you so much.” I grimace. Looking at it, I change the “I” to “We”. Send. I hope it doesn’t sound hollow.
It is Thursday. “Hey,” says my brother. “Hey.”
“My sweetie!” says my dad. “Hey.”
My mom is home. “How was work?” “Was fine. How was school?” “Was okay.”
Dinner.
“Goodnight, my sweetie!” “Goodnight, dad.” “Goodnight, my daughter.” “Goodnight mom, I love you.” “G’night, dude.” “Yeah.”
I’m in bed and my brother comes into my room. We talk about religion and the nature of humankind. He stands the whole time because he knows I don’t let anyone on my clean bed. We talk for an hour, then he leaves. “G’night, dude.” “’Night.”