LOVE CHILD

LC Chapter two …2

“Angelica!”

No answer came from behind the closed bedroom door and Bette increased the pace of her steps down the hallway towards the room.

“Angelica!”

Bette opened the door to her daughter’s room. “Oh my god. Angelica!”

“Hmmm.” Angelica rolled over only half way from burying her face in the pillow and she struggled to open her eyes.

“For heaven sake, Angelica! Wake up! It’s seven-thirty!”

“Hmhm.”

“The bus will be here in less than fifteen minutes and you have to be at school soon, so get up.”

“I’m up.”

“No you’re not! Get up!”

“I’m up Momma Bee.” Angelica lazily pushed the covers away from her face, attempting to prove that she was up.

“I said get up. Get up now!” Bette raised her voice. This was the third day in a row that Angelica has slept late and her patience was thin this morning. Bette walked over to the dresser, opened the top drawer and started grabbing at whatever was first inside the drawer – the first pair of underwear and the first pair of socks. “I really don’t have time for this this morning. Get up now Angelica!”

“Okay. I’m up.”

“I mean up out of bed and into the bathroom!”

“Fuck it.”

Bette’s head snapped around. Her hand gripped the socks as she stopped in her tracks suddenly forced to watch as Angelica struggle to unwrap her blanket from her body. “What…what did you just say?”

“Nothing.”

Bette momentarily stared at her daughter in great disbelieve, only to afterwards dismiss the moment with a shake of her head. It was easier to just let go what she just heard, at least for now. “You know what, just get up and get your butt off to school.”

“Momma Bee…I’m not feeling well.”

Angelica made a frail attempt at an excuse and Bette’s hands instinctively rose to her hips as she turned and looked down at her twelve year old. The nerve Angelica has for even attempting at making up an excuse has just pushed her to her limit and her patience was no longer thin, it was completely gone.

Bette’s teeth clenched.  “Angelica Porter.”

“Okay, Okay. I said I’m up.” Angelica scooted to the edge of the bed and wobbly stood up. “See. I’m up.”