First Day

I can't believe summer vacation had been over, it was gone within a flash. I had so many things that I had planned out during my school days, but things were not going the way I wanted. Anyway, now that school had started again, I would try to reap the most out of it and try out everything that I have never tried before.

Just as I was heading to the bathroom, I could hear the muffled words of my mother calling, "Baby, you should hurry. You didn't want to be late for your first day of school"

"I am not your baby anymore", I called back to her tersely, I often told her that I am not a baby anymore and that she should give me another nickname or else she should call me by my name. But as they said that old habit never gone away. She still called me by the term 'baby' to this day. I'm not going to lie that I was quite attached to the name, but my friend Faye could not stop teasing me about it and I hated that.

Looking in a mirror one last time, I headed downstairs. Faye was already in the kitchen trying some soups that my mother was making with a new recipe. We are close friends since we were a child and Mom was accustomed to Faye's child-like behaviour.

"I see Miss Faye is already here", I said as I take a chair before the table. As if on cue, Faye turned her back and stuck her tongue out at me.

"I hope you will be punished today", I shot back at her while sticking my tongue out. I was not fast enough because Mom caught my repulsive behaviour and chided me, "Enough, Clarissa. Manners." Now that I am not on my best behaviour she dropped the nickname so easily. Maybe I should act silly like Faye all the time.

Just as I was about to take a sip of juice, the main heading of the newspaper caught my eye. It read: A dead body found near the 'Magnolia' river. I wonder what could that be, our town was a small one and as far as I could remember, peace prevails here and many people knew each other.

Before I reached the newspaper to take a better look at it, Mom distracted me by saying, "Faye, I heard that your father is finally home. Your mother used to tell me how much you've missed him. You must be delighted to hear that"

I know Faye had a hard time because of her father, she often took refuge in me, but I did not know how to comfort her, I was bad at those things. Maybe that is why she looked particularly bright and cheery this morning. I wish she could always be this happy.

"Ladies now that you are done with the food, shall we head to the school", my mother said as she pat her mouth delicately with the tissue.

"I barely eat anything, only a sip of the juice", I complained.

"That is exactly why you shouldn't drift off this early thinking about something.", my mother said lightly, it was as though my health doesn't matter to her.

"And that is exactly why you shouldn't wake me up too early this morning. My brain could not function", I said to her sheepishly. Faye was unusually quiet right now. It was about time she was taking my side.

I looked at her sharply and as if in 'I got you' mode, she turned to my mother and said, "How about we go now, Mrs Ray?" cheerfully.

"9 years of telling you to call me Erica", my mother said, sighing.

"Okay, Erica let's go", I said, urging her.

"Not you, naughty child. You should call me Mom", said my mother, glaring at me.

Just as we are about to leave, I swear I caught Faye staring at the newspaper on the table.

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