Family Tree (Work-In-Progress)

"Why are we leaving?"

        The words that escaped my mother's mouth were the last things I wanted to hear. We were leaving Eagle Springs? But why? I loved it here! The cool air of this summer's end ruffled my long brown hair as I stare into my mom's greenish hazel eyes. "Why are we leaving?" I ask her, my voice shaking as much as the leaves on the willow tree out front. We were sitting on the front porch as the sunset lay out in front of us, shining golden light towards both of our faces and making the garage and minivan a darkened silhouette of what they used to be. Her face I couldn't read, but I could tell she was just as nervous as I was becoming. "Honey, I know you love it here, but this place holds many memories of my marriage and Terry isn't here anymore."

        Terry had been my father and he had taken his last breath shortly after summer had started in a tragic car accident that wasn't his fault to begin with. The drunk driver behind the wheel had run a red light and had ran into the driver's side of my father's pick-up, crushing him against the oncoming bank. I still remember the shock on my mother's face at the hospital when they told her my father was dead on arrival and that there was nothing they could do. I have missed him ever since, and I was so devastated at his funeral that the tearful face of myself in the bathroom mirror still haunts my mind and soul. Not even the windows of the funeral house could contain the pain of my sobs. My friends started behaving weirdly after that, like they were walking on eggshells, as if trying not to upset me - even though it was outside of their control whether I cried or not at night.

        "But I have friends here at school, and that's a little selfish of you - you didn't even tell me we were moving." I gasp at my mother and watch as the corners of her lips turn downwards into a frown. "Sweetie, I'm not being selfish. This move might help you move on besides moping over pa like I have been. A breath of fresh air might do us some good. You'll make new friends, have a bigger backyard, and we could easily get the pool you've always wanted." She was trying to bribe me now. I stand up without warning, her hazel eyes widen as she realizes she had done something wrong. "Pa would want us to stay in Eagle Springs, like his parents did! And his grandparents did!" I shout and then head inside, slamming the screen door on the way in. "Alyssa! Wait!" I could hear my mother shout, but I choose to ignore the painful lump in my throat as I go upstairs into my room.

        The floorboards creak a bit as I make my way to the last room on the left and go inside of it. I plop myself on the bed and hug my heart-shaped pillow. My mom was making decisions without me again - like how she put my father's pick-up truck to the scrapyard and sold the soccer net out the backyard which me and dad were always fond of. I was always the goalkeeper, and he was always the one to try and kick the ball in. Ever since I was little, our favorite times had been at that net, and now it was gone - only the memories remained. Memories my mother wanted me to forget, it seemed. I could hear the front door opening and my mother coming up the stairs, but I didn't want to talk to her right now. Footsteps reached the door and a gentle knock came to the hard wood. "Dinner will be ready soon, okay?" came my mom's pained voice before she simply walked away. How can she act like she did nothing wrong? This was the happiest place I've ever known, the place I was born, and raised for many, many years - and she's taking that away just because the memories of my dad are too much for her?

        My door creaking open would catch my attention as my 2 loyal dogs walked in. First there was Bodie, a large St. Bernard and Australian shepherd mix - he was the big lover-boy who would cuddle with you for hours and constantly ask for belly rubs. Next there was Squeak - she is an interesting dog, being a very vocal Burmese Mountain dog and that's the real reason of her name. Bodie was still a puppy when I was 4 years old and he's grown up with me. Squeak came much later as a birthday gift when I turned 10 years old. I grew up with them and so did our family. Terry used to play catch with them every weekend when he was off-work and we'd take them both to the dog park together where they could meet all the neighborhood dogs. But now, they're rarely taken out and played with - only when I'm out of school and when my mom has time and energy for them. Bodie gave a whine and came over and licked my face, his white-tipped tail wagging back and forth. He knew I was upset, he always did. He was one of my protectors, always standing guard over me as I sleep. I pet his head and he smiles at me with his tongue lolling out. "You'd never make decisions without my approval, would you Bodie?" I say to him. He gave me a gentle whine and then he curled up at the edge of my bed, laying on my patterned area rug.

        I roll over so my head faces the ceiling and my bluish hazel eyes flicker a bit. "I don't like changes." I mutter to myself as I hear my mom moving pots and pans downstairs and the smell of garlic bread climbs the stairwell and reaches my nostrils. The rumbling of my belly would most likely make me come downstairs, but I don't want to face my mom - not yet. "Alyssa! Dinner's ready!" I heard my mom call up the stairs. After about 10 minutes of listening to my stomach growl, I finally put up the white flag of surrender and came downstairs. She was already sitting at the table with her plate of garlic bread and a good pile of spaghetti on the side. She was twisting her fork in her spaghetti and I watched as the end of the fork pierced a meatball and she took that bite before facing me. She didn't say anything, because my mom had very good table manners and refused to talk with a full mouth. I reach into the fridge and pull out a half-empty gallon of milk and pour myself a glass. I then gather 2 garlic bread from the pan and a smaller pile of spaghetti and meet her at the table with my food and drink.

        "Would you like to see pictures of our new place?" my mom suddenly asked as I sat down across from her. I twirl a finger through a strand of hair. "I don't know - you mentioned it having a bigger backyard." I muttered to her as I take a bite of my garlic bread, surprising to find it crunch between my jaws and taste so delicious. I chew and swallow it and blink towards my mom. "How'd you make these so well? Pa usually did the better cooking." I croak through crumb-covered lips. "I've been looking up recipes on the internet, since pa's gone I'll be the main cook and I want to improve." my mom answered slowly while taking a sip of iced tea. "Now, about this house," she paused and wiped her mouth with a nearby napkin, "it's literally in the middle of no-where and it's surrounded by trees and wildlife. The surrounding trees we own as well, we own about 120 acres, so we could easily build a horse farm if we really wanted to." she explained to me. I roll my eyes and then take another bite of my garlic bread, some small crumbs tumbling down my pants and onto the floor below near my shoes.

        "Why would we own 120 acres? How much did that property cost?! It didn't bankrupt us, did it?!" I shouted with worry after swallowing the bite I had in my mouth. "It almost did, but I'm sure we'll manage. I've already landed myself a job close to there and I have to work the day after we move in. You're already enrolled in their local high school and I hope you make new, better friends." my mother answered me rudely. "My friends are perfectly fine!" I snapped at her angrily, setting my fork on the plate with a loud ping. She gasped and stared at me with widened eyes before a frown emerged and she glared at me. "Settle down this instant." my mother ordered me. "You shouldn't insult my friends then. I don't insult yours!" I reminded her.