WOUNDED

CHAPTER 10

KACELY

Song: Out of my head- Tatiana Manaois.

"Mom, we agreed 2pm, it's three thirty!" I yell through the speaker of my phone.

"I know, I just had something urgent to do."

"That's why I told you to let me go on my own."

"I don't want that." she grumbles "I just... I want to start playing the mom role in your life."

"What a great start." I say sarcastically.

"Please don't talk like that. You're being mean." She begs and exhales through the line. "I'll be there in thirty minutes."

"Mom, no!"

"Well then what do you want me to do?"

"Let's meet at the school." I propose.

"Are you sure? Do you even know the way?"

"I'll hire a cab mom." I say, a little louder than I should have.

"Alright then." She replies and exhales again. "What about Afi? Has she eaten already?"

"Of course she has, she ate as soon as I picked her up from school."

"OK Kace. Look I'm sorry I don't know how to do this whole mom thing, I've never been good at it. That's why I'm trying to. Just please... bear with me."

I stare at Afi for a moment as she looks at me thoughtfully, while I process what mom just said.

"OK mom, I'm sorry I raised my voice at you." I apologise.

"It's ok baby. I understand you."

"Just please... be there in thirty minutes like you said you would."

"I will, I promise." She says and I hang up.

"You're leaving?" Afi asks.

"Yes, you'll be fine right?"

"Of course."

"We really need to get you a nanny."

"No, you really don't. I'm a big girl. I can handle myself."

"Of course you can." I laugh.

"I'm serious"

"I know you are." The last thing I need to do is get in an argument with Afi, it'll take the whole day and time is something I do not have right now. "Do you need anything?"

"No, just buy me something nice on your way home."

"Apples?"

"No, chocolates" she counters.

"No sweets Afi, I told you I don't want you to have complications with your teeth the way I do"

"But I'm not you" She frowns and swings her arms.

"Yes... but I can stop you, because I'm your big brother."

"The worst big brother in the world!" She says and runs to the couch.

"I love you too!"

"I do not love you!" She yells as I walk out the door smiling.

I take a cab and within minutes I arrive at the school. It's so big, a far cry from the school I attended back in Ghana.

Can mom even afford this?

I guess classes just ended because everyone's leaving. Towards the left, there's a sign board that reads Administration.