Jason didn't know why he ever bothered: of couse the light wouldn't turn on.
He flopped down onto the couch, where he slept, and closed his eyes, thinking about what a bad day he was having. Right as he was about to fall asleep, a knock came to the apartment door.
Slowly, he straggered over to the door and opened it.
An old woman stood at the door dressed in an old yellow raincoat. She looked like she hadn't showed in quite a while.
"Listen, lady, I don't have any money to give you. you should try going a few miles west..." Jason said, starting to close the door, but the woman caught his arm and handed him an envelope.
"Take this," she whispered.
Jason took the letter cautiously and stared at it, wondering what he was supposed to do.
"Make sure you read it."
Jason blinked and suddenly the woman was gone. He rubbed his eyes and looked down the hallway: nothing.
"Too endlessly weird..." Jason muttered, closing the door and tossing the letter on the floor, never to be seen by his eyes again.
Later that night, Jason watited for his mother to come home, doing his homework by flashlight. His fourteen-year-old sister, Rachel, was in bed already. She'd gotten into a fight at school with a couple guys and had been in ISS- In School Suspension - for the while day. Jason felt bad for Rachel. Kids made fun of her more than Jason because Rachel actually tried to fit in.
The Stones moved into Mid Lark, a suburb of Los Angeles, about four years earlier. They were immediately terroized at school for being in the "lower class" of society. Their father had left two months after Rachel was born. Jason hardly remembered his father, but what Jason did remember, he hated. His father had abused his mom until he'd left, which caused Jason's mother after of dating men since.
It was hard on his mother to take care of them, but Jason worked part time at the local McDonalds to take off some of the pressure of the two jobs his mother worked. Jason knew theer was no way of going to college with the financial situation his mother was in, but with the money he did earn, he planned to buy a car for the family.
Finally, the awaited arrival of his mother came. Mrs. Stone hobbled into the apartment with her arms full of grocery bags. Her brown hair loked gayer every day.
Jason quickly rushed over to her and helped her sit down in a rickety kitchen chair.
"Rough day?" Jason asked softly.
His mom nodded slowly.
"I'll put eerything away; you go to bed, alright?"
"No, no, no. I'll do it. You shouldn't be up this late on a Tuesday night! Go to bed, Jason, and stop worrying about me!"
"But, mom - "
"I have it under control, Jason. Go to bed!" she scourned.
Defeated, Jason sighed and slammed his Biology textbook shut.
"Here's the flashlight..."
"Oh, heavens! I forgot to pay the bill!" exclaimed his mom. I can't forget that anymore. I'm sorry, Jason."
"I don't care. I manage. 'Night, mom. Love you." Jason undressed and flopped down onto the couch in his boxers, laying in the darkness, watching hismother est her head in her hands.
Moments later, he heard the stready brething of her sleeping state.
Jason quietly stood and crept over to his mother, picking her up in his arms and carrying her to bed. Jason covered her with a blanket and crept out of her room, trying not to bump into any of the trash on the floor. He clicked off the flashlight and climbed onto the couch, eventually falling into a calm sleep.
Crystal walked into her beautiful spacious kitchen, flipping on the light switch. Her father was undoubtly at the office, not to arrive home until 1 or 2 o'clock in the morning.
Sighing, she dropped into a kitchen chair, suddenly tired. Charlotte, their housekeeper, must've left early, thank goodness.
When her father had been looking for a housekeeper, Crystal had high hopes, hoping to have a second mother. Hers had passed on a couple years back after a long battle with cancer. When he hired Charlotte, Crystal hated her right away. Charlotte was like an evil step mother, except her father had no romantic feelings toward her. Charlotte kept a watchful eye on Crystal, never letting Crystal have any freedom. She had been caught many times reading through Crystal's diary. She was just a bitch, never leaving her alone.
Only a month left until graduation, Crystal reminded herself often. She would finally have a place to herself, away from Charlotte.
The ding of the doorbell echoed throughout the house.
Reluctantly, Crystal stood and walked to the front door.
An old woman was standing at the door. Wrinkles covered her face, and her teeth were stained an ugly yellow. She was wearing a filthy plastic raincoat and boots, even though rain wasn't in the forecast for the whole day. There was also a smudge of mud across her cheek.
"Umm, hello?" Crystal slowly asked, unsure of what the woman wanted.
"Here," the lady whispered, holding out a wrinkled envelope.
At the sound of the woman's voice a shiver ran down Cystal's spine. Slowly, Cystal took the envelope.
"What's this?" she questioned.
"Make sure you read it," she croaked, starting toward the street.
Crystal watched her hobbling away.
"Okay then..." she murmured, shutting the door and preceeding to the kitchen again. Setting the letter down on the counter and writing a note for her dad's people to check the letter, Crystal grabbed a box of cookies and went upstairs to do her homework.
Crystal always had to be careful with things since her dad was an important congressman. People always tried sending harmfl things, so Crystal always had to have her dad's bodyguards check items from unknown senders. As well as being an important member of congress, Crystal's dad ran his own law firm, one of the most presitious firms in California. Crysta'ls dad was always very busy. When he was at home, he rarely left his office, due to many phne calls and other business work. Weekdays, as well as most weekends, were guiet in the Larson household, except for the sounds of Crystal and her dad on the phone. Dinners in her household usually consisted of Mr. Larson talking about his cases or the government's problems, depending, of course, on if Mr. Larson could get away from work. Crystal was pretty lonely at home.
The next morning, Crystal walked down the master staircase. She'd had a headache earlier, but it'd gone away, thankfully. Now, she felt refreshed and ready for a great day at school. Hopefully, it'd be better than the previous day.
Crystal slumped down at the kitchen counter after getting cereal, a bowl, and spoon.
Charlotte walked into the kitchen carrying a clean pile of towels.
"Good morning, Crystal," she said, walking through the kitchen.
"Mmmhmm," she replied, jumping and grabbing her school things. She wanted to get out as fast as she could so Charlotte wouldn't be able to hound on her.
MORE TO COME! Gotta type it up!