I lay in my bed, pretending to sleep, but really keeping my eyes open in slits and watching
the door. I couldn't hear anything downstairs, but I knew they were there. I don't know
how long I lay in my bed- my legs and arms were stiff, but I daren't move. They told me
to sleep, and obeying them seemed like the only option for now.
I heard the door creak open, and Mother peeked in. There was a harsh grinding as the
chair got shifted but I pretended not to hear it. I watched her from my barely open
eyes, making sure the fall and rise of my chest was steady and slow. Her red eyes flicked
across the room like a dragonfly, inspecting it. They finally landed on my face, tracing
each feature slowly. Mother's expression seemed softened...almost motherly.
I hardly breathed. How long would she watch me for?
Finally after about two minutes, her head retreated and she closed my door silently.
I waited a bit longer then peeked at my phone. The signal still worked- I breathed
a sigh of relief. For some reason, I had thought they would've jacked up my phone signal
too so I wouldn't be able to contact anyone else.
There was a knocking on my door, and I slid the phone under my pillow. "Come in,"
I called.
Mother stepped in and tilted her head, smiling warmly. "Church is in twenty minutes,
you better get changed soon." She walked over to my closet and started lightly
looking through my clothes, pulling out a lacy white dress and a pair of uncomfortable
white gloves that I had gotten from my grandmother. "Why don't you wear these to
church?"
I stared. "No one wears those to church. No way am I touching those."
Mother's smile tightened. "I know we had a little fight earlier, but I thought that got
sorted out. Let's not have another one, dear. Now- put those on." Her steady gaze met
mine, and I held it for a brief moment before looking down.
When I looked up, she had left my room. I reluctantly changed into the lace dress,
tugging on the white gloves. They were a little snug.
"Interesting choice of clothes."
I looked up and saw Mr. Maple hanging on my ceiling fan. I dropped my second glove,
stunned and a little comforted that someone who seemed at least friendly had dropped in,
instead of another demon or other worldly creature. "Mr. Maple!" I cried.
"I just came to see how you were doing." He tipped his hat politely. "I would have visited
earlier, but I wasn't sure how you'd receive me after your displeased reaction the other
day."
"Oh, no, no! Stay," I begged. I picked up my other glove and pulled it on, hastily peering
out my bedroom door- Mother and Father hadn't seemed to have heard us, as they weren't
coming upstairs. "Please- stay." Don't leave me alone here!
"I'm sorry, my dear. I can't stay for long." He held up his paws apologetically. "I have
other business to attend to. But do tell me why you're wearing those horrendous clothes-
it doesn't seem like your choice of style."
"She's making me wear them." I felt my eyes start to water. "They're pretending to be
my parents, and they're not! Please take me with you, don't leave me here."
"Cho? Are you done changing yet?" I heard Mother call from the kitchen. Her voice
grew louder as she ascended the stairs.
Mr. Maple shook his head sadly. "You can't run away from everything, Cho. Some things
you'll have to learn from. Now- I'll have to leave. She mustn't see me." He winked at
me. "Good bye!"
He tweaked his bow tie, smiling at me not unkindly before he disappeared into thin
air. I wiped the tears from my face. There I go, crying again.
Mother opened my door again. "You're changed? Good, let's go. We'll be late."
I looked at the spot where Mr. Maple had been standing longingly, then hurried
after mother.