UNTITLED

by Khristine Vega

Warm tears ran down my ruddy red cheeks. My mother's sweating hands were gripping mine while she cried with an uneasy look on her face, "Sweetie, everything will be ok, just wait and see." 

But from her shaking, uncertain voice, her tearful eyes told me what she couldn't say. She was lying to me the only way a mother knows how, protecting her child. Why did my mother lose her occupation, all she did was brag about how this job was the best one she ever had, she  loved her employment, she had great hours that allowed her to spend most of her time with me and my sister; she had wonderful benefits, and got paid well.

Life was a battle - everything was a competition or a struggle. We were either always winning or losing. My mother was a single, but very strong, parent having to raise two very needy, difficult, and spoiled teenagers all by herself; having to work double shifts just to make ends meet. My older sister, Susan, kept pacing the room, her hand on her head thinking about what she could do to help the situation.

Her heavy breathing slowly went back to normal as Susan said, “Kristy, don't worry, tomorrow first thing in the morning, I’m going to look for a job. A good one at that, just like Mom's with good pay, great benefits, and of course weekends off. Don't worry little sister."

I didn't want to worry about it anymore; I wanted to believe my sister. Minutes later my sister’s pale white face began to change to red and her eyes began to fill up with tears.  My mother and I were on the sofa holding each other tight while my sister just stood back as she tried to hide her tears. All three of us cried hopelessly wondering what tomorrow would bring for us. My mother losing her wonderful job was going to changes our lives forever.