Chapter 1. Challenge One
*HONK HONK*
*Noises of old men yelling, and water splashing*
βhey hey.. wake up mallory..weβre homeβ whispered a familiar voice.
I woke up, my back is sore from the long trip. My mother was calling me. It seems like I have arrived at.. a dock?
βalrighttt, chop chop, get out my boat. I got places to be, hurry your bags and belongings onto the dock, before I take off with them.β urged the old sailor man
I saw my mother grab my arm and grab all our bags and boxes. I was half asleep, I could barely walk. you know that feeling when you black out, when you stand up? yeah, it was that feeling. I finally got to my senses, and started waking like a normal human being. I look around.. old fishermans . Beards to a feet long, and shabby clothes..like a dog chewed them up. The smell reekedβ¦ but luckily there was my mother pushing me into an automobile meteor. I didnβt even realize I had gotten away from the boat..I could still smell the fishes being pulled from the salty waters.
βFor a girl who slept for a full 18 hours.. Iβm surprised you still look tired..like a koalaβ chuckled my mother.
ββ¦β
I didnβt say anything. Silence echoed the car ride. What could I say? Thanks? Or should I have laughed at her corny joke? I donβt overthink something stupid, that came out of my motherβs obnoxious mouth, but my head was so fogged with emotion. no, she didnβt do anything wrong. This isnβt a story where the mother probably pulled me away from my father figure, and weβre constantly moving because weβre poor. Or a story where the daughter is just ungrateful and always argues with her mother. Now that would just be..odd. me personally, I respect my mother. we moved to Victorian, Canada for my moms studys..I think as an botanist? I support my mother. Her studies were never popular, no. But it was indeed something she found passionate about. And Iβm just a daughter that will help her..boring..unstimulating.. colorless βjobβ. Plus, the house weβre moving into was quite nice actually. Actually..really big for a house just for me and my mom. but you know, who am I to complain. I can already see my new life here starting to be exciting.
βmom..so this is our house..like officially right?β I asked questionably
βwell, yes. that was the plan. no worries, Iβm sure youβll have friends off the bat.β Smiled my mom.
βitβs not that Iβm worried about. β I stated.
*silence again, echoed the car*
we both knew what I was worried about..
*HONK HONK*
βAYE! WATCH OUT! WHO GAVE YOU YA LICENSES FOR DRIVING LIKE THAT YA SCALLY WAGβ yelled the driver.
I look up to see weβre in our new neighborhood. Street lights werenβt turned on yet, but it was getting quite dark. The beach waves that were just a few yards away from my house, but large trees covered most of the view. The houses were actually..appearing much largerβ¦
βso are you just gonna sit there..? or help me carry the boxes and bags out? itβs not much..remember..the landlord unpacked all of our furniture.β my mother said with a calm tone.
βoh, sorry! I didnβt even know we arrived.β I quickly realized.
I got out the car and hurried to bring the bags near the front door, as my mother tried to unlock the house. The house looked like every other house on the block. no difference, just maybe lights being turned on and two lunatics trying to get into a house. yeah..totally not suspicious. And before my mother even got the keys in, a women ran to our house. well..not running, maybe a quick jog with her orange heels stomping before her. My mother quickly realized the women, and stopped twisting the keys into the door.
βmy my, isnβt it the new neighbors. Once I saw this house go on sale, I always prepared to greet new people into the neighborhood! Now, must I ask..how did you even get the money to live here?β chuckled the white women.
She was talking actually really quick. I could see she wanted something, but she wasnβt the type to ask. Oh..and did I mention she was a blonde. Classic stereotypic neighbor.
βHeh, well yes. Me and my daughter, Mallory, are very happy-β my mother said, stuttering along her sentence.
But it wasnβt too long until she got cut off.
βMALLORY? oh isnβt that just the prettiest name. My sonβs name is actually William! oh, and mommm, what would be your name?β Bawled the neighbor.
βheh..well I was just getting to that. You can call me Miss. Saelim β explained my mother.
βHow.. exotic..βSaelimβ and βMissβ. Divorce heh?β The white women laughed.
I couldnβt help but ignore every damn sentence that women was saying. She didnβt know a thing about me. Didnβt she know the last name βSaelimβ is Thai. Itβs just common sense dumbass. Her obnoxious smile had me imagining Iβll be punching the air in any second.
βWell, I should get going. You can call me Mrs. Kay, I live in the house I just ran from. β Mrs.Kay said while pointing at the house to our left.
I love meeting new people. But sometimes, It can be a pain when they know nothing. And when I say βnothingβ, I mean βNOTHINGβ. What could I possibly do..smiling is the only way Iβll get out of this situation safe.
βOh and Mallory! My son and his friends are at asterinβs shore! The beach near the lighthouse, you know..on the dock! Go meet them!β Mrs.Kay exclaimed while jogging back in her house.
Me and my mother just awkwardly smiled until Mrs.Kay got back into her house. But my mother didnβt continue to unlock the house, she looked at the bags and then turned to me, with a grin. but not a normal grin, I knew she wanted something from me. I sighed.
βWhat mom. I was on a boat for about 2 weeks and now you have that grin, that I remember you having when you begged me to buy you a goldfish at a state fair back at home. What could you possibly want now.β I sighed
βahaha, letβs make a deal Malory. I do all the unpacking-β she stated
βDEAL DEAL!β I exclaimed.
β-But you have to meet those new kids at that asterinβs shore!βmy mother said with a big grin.
Wait, what did I just agree to again?
