The+Life+Flash,+by+Nicole+K

 ** Nicole Kitchen ** nkglobetrotter@hotmail.com Bangkok, Thailand BO 21 U.S. Embassy Bangkok 96546 Telephone- 703 574 2843 Kate looked around the mall, the mid afternoon light shone through window. She set down the brown sack she had slung over her shoulders. Kate stepped over the railing usually used to restrain people from falling down 5 stories. She felt her hands seize up as she looked down at the sheer drop down from where she was. Then she remembered what she was there to do, she would lose the past fifteen years of her life. She released her hands from the railing and her feet lost footing, the ground rushed up at her face. Mom lifted Kate up and put her on her lap, “I love you sweetie, you’re the best thing that ever happened to me,” Mom whispered. “I love you too,” two year old Kate whispered back. Mom knelt down and gave Kate a big hug. “Have a nice first day at Kindergarten sweetheart.” “I will thank you Mom,” Kate smiled, “I love you.” Kate walked out the door carrying her backpack filled with the school supplies that her mom had bought with her earlier that week. Kate stepped onto the first step of the bus. She looked around her eyes bubbling with excitement. “Bye Mom!” She exclaimed a huge smile crossing her face. She turned and skipped into the bus. Mom lay crippled on the bed her face twisting with pain. The beeping of the heart monitor was increasing rapidly. The doctor held her down as he inserted the needle into Mom’s back, her face froze and the pain disappeared from her eyes. Her eyes became sightless. Her body collapsed and the monitor couldn’t find her heart beat anymore. “NO!!” Kate cried. Trying to reach her Mom, she bolted forward. Two sturdy hands wrapped around her chest and pulled her back. Out of nowhere a gruff voice said “The doctor did your mother a favor, she would have wanted to die. Her life was filled with many tragedies.” “What about me,” Kate murmured, no one heard her. She stopped struggling and looked at the man behind her as tear fell down her cheek, “Where will I go now?” Kate got out of the car and walked up to her new home. The clouds sat overhead, crows crowded around the porch squawking their mournful tune. A heavy set woman stepped out of the house. A shocked look crossed her face, she walked quickly up to social service woman. “I requested a three year old boy, not a….oh how old is she, an eight year old girl.” The woman urged in a hushed tone. The social service woman glanced at Kate quickly. Kate looked away pretending not to be hearing their conversation. <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“She was all that was left and she needed a home immediately, we are sorry for this inconvenience, once there is an alternative option we will transfer her. We thank you for your //willingness// to help,” the Social service woman said sourly. <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The woman shrugged and turned to Kate and glared at her so hard Kate thought the woman’s eyes would burn a hole in her head. “My name is Celia, you will stay with me and my husband for a short while,” Celia said shortly. “Get your bags and load them into the house.” <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The Social Service woman faked a smile at Kate and shot a warning look at Celia. Kate retrieved her bags from the car and stepped into the house, she watched through the door as the Social Service woman backed out of the driveway and drove away. <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Celia’s face contorted with rage, “I have told you time and time again not to call me Mom, if you do I will throw you out of the house.” <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“I’m sorry Celia, it was just a slip up,” Kate pleaded. <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“A slip up! It has been 3 years since that…that //woman// dropped you at my house. You are eleven years old, you should know my name!” Celia raged. She ran to the kitchen and got a frying pan. Celia held the pan tightly and slowly walked towards Kate. A panicked expression crossed Kate’s face, she glanced down at her already bruised and broken arm from Celia pushing her down the stairs. The thunder cracked outside. There were numerous cuts on her arms and shoulders from Celia getting out of control with other sharp objects in the house. Celia’s shadow reflected on every wall in the living room. Celia cornered Kate, Kate closed her eyes. <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“Celia, it’s my first day of high school today.” Kate said quietly as she ate her cereal quietly. She crunched on the Corn Flakes grinding the flakes in between her teeth. Celia never ate with her, the only exception was the time the social service woman came to check up on Celia. That was a glorious day, Kate was treated with many privileges and treats she wouldn’t have dreamed Celia would ever give her. Kate brushed her brown hair off her face. She looked at Celia splayed across the couch. <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“So, I’ve gone to high school before, it’s nothing to be excited about. You won’t make any friends, you never have,” Celia replied shortly. <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Kate put her cereal bowl in the sink. Kate stood at the doorway of the house watching Celia on the couch watching Law and Order. <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“I’ll be going now Celia, good bye.” <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“Humph,” Celia nodded in farewell. <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Kate walked out the door onto the front walkway. The clouds were brimming with rain and Kate walked with a brown sack bag flung around her shoulder. <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Kate opened the door and walked into the classroom. Her arm was hanging loosely at her side. Because of her recent run in with Celia, her arm had new cuts and bruises. As she walked in the class, the chatting stopped and everyone looked at her. They all eyed her new cuts on her arm. <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“EMO!” one of the boys shouted out. <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Kate looked at her feet her face turning red with embarrassment. <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“I’m not Emo,” Kate said quietly <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“Then why do you have cut on your arms?” The boy jeered. <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Kate didn’t reply. She walked to the back of the room and sat down. <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">After school Kate walked to Hillside mall with a brown sack on her back. She walked through the sliding doors. She reached the 5th floor. Kate looked around the mall, the mid afternoon light shone through window. She set down the brown sack she had slung over her shoulders. Kate stepped over the railing usually used to restrain people from falling down 5 stories. She felt her hands seize up as she looked down at the sheer drop down from where she was. Then she remembered what she was there to do, she would lose the past fifteen years of her life. She released her hands from the railing and her feet lost footing, the ground rushed up at her face.