Sidelined

“Hey, Mom.”

“Honey, they’re here. They’re watching me, and I just need a place to go. Can I come stay with you?”

“Wait. Slow down, Mom. Who is after you?” She tucked the rest of her sandwich in her wrapper and waited for the story.

“You know who. I told you they were watching me. All the time. Watching.”

Skye took a breath. “We’ve talked about this before. There is no one watching you. You are perfectly safe at the house.”

“I can stay with you though, and they won’t know where I am. California’s so far away and so big.”

“No, no, Mom. You can’t stay with me.” Skye thought about the last time her mother visited. They only left the apartment a few times. Her mother accused her neighbor of stealing coupons from her, and tried to claim that she had lost a dog. Skye’s mother never had a dog.

“Why won’t you let me visit? What kind of daughter are you?”

“I’m the kind of daughter who is working and can’t take time off right now. I’m planning a trip to North Carolina in the summer. Remember? We’re going to go to the beach and Aunt Rose is going with us.”

“Summer’s so far away, honey. I’d really like to drive out to California. I’ve never seen the country that way.”

“Drive?” Skye panicked. “You can’t drive here. It’s three thousand miles away. Just wait and I’ll be there before you know it.” Skye’s aunt hadn’t called in a long time, so she was under the impression her mother’s paranoia was under control. Clearly, she was wrong.

“I can drive, Skye. And if it’s the only way I can get out from under them, I will.”

“Who is ‘them’? Just tell me, and I’ll get them to leave you alone.”

Her mother laughed on the other end. “If I knew that, it wouldn’t be a secret.”

Skye watched as the little boy proudly marched in front of her, his zebra cone dripping on the pavement. She wondered why life had to be so complicated. Why did her mother have to have a mental illness that robbed her of her sanity? Why cou

ldn’t she be the mother she was when Skye was growing up? Why couldn’t she just take her medication?

“Right, that makes sense, Mom.” She didn’t know what else to say. She had hundreds of conversations like this one with her mother. With no siblings, it was on her to make sure her mother was ok. Aunt Rose was her biggest ally, but even she had her own children and husband to worry about. “Why don’t I call Aunt Rose and see what we can work out? How does that sound?”

“I guess that sounds alright.” Her mother hesitated. “You’ll call her?”

“Of course I will, as soon as we hang up.”

“Ok. All right, honey. I’ll see you soon.”

“Bye, Mom. Love you.” Skye tapped the red bar to end the call and rolled her head back. She saw a gondola rider skim over the trees above her.

This was why she needed the serenity of the zoo she thought. It brought a sense of peace to her otherwise spiraling family life. Her mother was on the other side of the country and every month seemed to be losing more of her grip on reality. Skye knew the inevitable was closer than she had planned. She was going to have to move home before the end of the year.

She picked up her phone and dialed. “Aunt Rose? Hey, yeah just got a call from mom and I need your help.”

Thirteen

“How does this look?” Bolt steadied himself on the ladder, keeping one finger on the painting. He tried to figure out what the shapes and colors made.

Faith giggled. “Good. There’s no way I could hang that thing by myself. Thanks, Ben.”

He let go of the corner, careful not to let the frame scratch the wall. He descended the ladder until both feet were on the floor.

It was some kind of abstract piece Faith had fallen in love with at an auction. Not only was she an art teacher at a middle school, but she was also an art connoisseur on the side. The house was full of sculptures and paintings.

“How about a beer? I bought a case of that stuff you like.” She nodded toward the kitchen.

“Actually, I have to get going.” He checked his watch again. “I’m meeting the guys. We’re testing out a new pilot.”