EZEA

Chapter four: Resentment

I entered into the house and noticed no one was home. I kicked off my shoes and checked the messages on the phone and it was my mother asking me why she was getting a phone call from the school asking about my in-house. I went into the kitchen, popped some popcorn and lay on the coach to watch some BMX. Five hours later, Jim, my mom and Taylor came home. Taylor ran up to me holding up his medal, “Jayden…Jayden check out my medal”. He then he placed it close to my face and I pushed him to the side and told him, “move it I’m watching the extreme games”. My mom walked over to me and snatched the remote from me. “You’re not watching anything for a while, kitchen now!” I walked over to the kitchen and sat there waiting for my mom to speak. So she began, “ you know I was at a meeting with my boss until my cell kept ringing and it was your vice principal telling me you got in house suspension?! For destroying school property? You better start explaining to me what goes on in your head because this is not going to happen any longer”. I spoke out and said what came to my mind. “You disappointed me…I wanted you to be there for me and you just let me down, I was going to perform and have my chance in being a dancer and you had no time to support me.” She responded, “You’re a drama queen you know that! I went to your brother game because he needs support, he’s seven years old and is not old enough to understand our life situation; and that was my only free time your sixteen years old and acting immature.” I just got heated, “I’m acting immature?! Because I want my parents to be involved in my life?” she turned around and told me, “I’m calling you immature because you don’t know how to handle situations in a diligent manner. Your way of handling something is by throwing a temper tantrum. With that being said I’m grounding you which means, I don’t want you hanging out with your friends, no television, no computer, no skateboarding, and no cell phone; now go to your room!” I stormed up to my room and slammed the door behind me. I took my pillow and pressed it against my face and began screaming.

                The next morning my mom and I attended the school where my principal was sitting the both of us down to discuss my behavior. My mom was telling him that I was going through some personal things at home and as much as my principal had empathy towards me it wasn’t enough to auditon for the dance team. After our conversation was over, my mom and I both went our sepreate was without saying anything to each other. I entered into English class and saw Amilee in the class. I pretended that I didn’t see her and sat in the far back in the class. I watched Amilee as she was laughing with a couple girls in the class. I felt a whole level of isolation not from my love ones but from my dreams.

                After school I decided to walk home by myself. With Amilee mad at me I had no choice. Just as I was walking five blocks through the neighborhood, a green Honda pulls up to the curbs. I was nervous and thought that I was going to get kidnapped, but after I saw who was in the car I almost wish I was kidnapped. It turned out to be Jim. He rolled down the glass and told me to come inside the car, but I was in no obligation to. “Jayden…” he said, “Come in the car hon, I’m taking you home.” I rolled my eyes and kept walking and he drove slowly catching up with me. “Jayden I am talking to you I’m trying to help”. I stopped walking and faced him saying, “My family was fine before you came in our lives I don’t need help from you and if I did I will ask, but don’t expect it to be anytime soon.” I ran trying to make sure he wasn’t catching up to me. After running seven tiring blocks, he was nowhere to be found.

I walked into downtown Chicago until I saw Jim’s Honda again. He drives towards me and I felt my legs becoming numb from running. I decided to get a ride from him only because I was exhausted. I got into the car and accepted the ride. He kept trying to make small talk with me about school and friends and I was just not interested in conversing with him. The ride became awkward and quiet.

                When we got home he was asking me if I were hungry because Mom put him in charge of dinner. I ignored him and went upstairs to call my dad who was now in China. I needed to hear his voice because he was the only one that brought light to this darkness I was facing. I grabbed the phone from the living room, went into my room, scratched the pin number on the calling card and entered it on the phone, along with the number my dad currently uses. The call was going through, and I felt myself excited. My dad answered the phone, “Hey”. I replied and said hi to him to. He was happy to hear my voice; he called me blue Jay the nickname he’s been giving me since I was a little girl. “How are you sweetie” He asked. I was not doing well at all so I told him about the Emerald’s, the family, my best friend and my hand which was still heeling from the glass. He told me, “be strong and kept thinking that things will pan out. Things may seem bad in the beginning but they turn out good in the end, especially when it is something we don’t expect, it may not be what we want but it is what we need”. I agreed with him, but I didn’t believe it was true. I glanced out the window and saw my mom pulling up in the drive way. I told my dad, “I’m sorry to cut the conversation short but I have to go. I hung up, I ran down to the living room, placed it back on the adapter before anyone saw me.