Walking Among the Shadows: Awakening: Revised Edition Read Free Page A

of
school every year was a big deal for Mom because she never had the opportunity
to go to school when she was our age. So she would prepare a special breakfast
for us. The house was filled with the delicious smells of waffles, eggs, and
breakfast sausages. I didn’t wake up hungry but now my mouth was watering. The
closer I got to the kitchen the stronger my hunger became and by the time I
walked into the kitchen my stomach felt like it was pushing towards my back.
    My mom was busy with a skillet
of scrambled eggs and didn’t seem to notice I’d just walked into the kitchen;
so I quickly tried to reach for a sausage from the plate on the island. Before
I could get a good grip on the sausage, my mom quickly spun around from the
stove and smacked my hand with her spoon.
    “Ouch!”
    “Good morning, Aiden!”
    “Morning, Mom.”
    How is she that fast?
    “Wash your dirty hands and
have a seat. Where is Sarah?” Mom asked in her heavy Brazilian accent.
    The sound of her name and the
idea of her going to my school made me slam my hand on the granite countertop.
The silverware on the island slightly jumped off the surface sending the sharp
sound of metal clashing together straight to my mother’s ears. She quickly
turned to face me while giving me a look that spelled warning; “eruption is
imminent”. I could imagine her tropical blood boiling as her anger built up at
my reaction to her question about her “baby”. Sarah was fifteen for Pete’s
sake…but she was still mom’s baby and her fiery stare let me know that it
wasn’t going to change anytime soon. Her look should’ve given me the hint I
needed but I was hard headed and determined to try and insult Sarah.
    “Mom, I don’t know I can’t
keep up w-”
    She quickly gave me another
look that clearly said if I didn’t want to play “dodge the cook’s spoon,” I
wouldn’t finish that statement. After seeing her look while holding the spoon
in a way that appeared she was weighing it to see how far and hard she could throw
it, I instantly grew a brain and changed my approach immediately.
    “I don’t know Mom. She’s
probably still getting ready.”
    Smiling with a glow in her
eyes she turned back towards the stove, satisfied that she’d gotten her point
across. But I knew she wanted much more from me. I knew the talk was coming. I
could feel it…
    “Aiden?”
    “Yes, Mom?”
    Here it comes…wait for it…wait
for it…wait for it…
    “Son, I really need you to
keep a close eye on your sister…”
    BOOM! The watch-your-sister
speech.
    “I don’t want her getting into
trouble with those fast girls at that school and I definitely don’t want her
getting involved with those hormone-driven boys either.”
    “Mom, Sarah is a handful and
she doesn’t listen to anything I say.”
    “That’s because when you talk
all I see is your mouth moving and garbage pouring out of it,” Sarah cut in
while she pranced into the kitchen. I gritted my teeth while shaking my head as
she gleefully sat down on the stool next to me.
    “You see what I’m talking
about, Mom!?” I protested.
    “Aiden, not even Mom knows
what you’re talking about and she gave birth to you.”
    “Don’t hate on me Sarah
because I wasn’t born in a test tube.”
    “What?! Mom!”
    “Hey, both of you stop it now!
Sarah you need to start respecting your brother and paying closer attention to
your actions. Aiden can’t clean up your mess at that school.”
    “Thanks Mom! That’s what I’ve
been saying.”
    “I’m still talking Aiden.”
    “Sorry Mom.”
    “Aiden, you need to start
being more involved with your sister. I know you’ve always been a loner but she’s
fifteen going on sixteen and she’s going to need you now more than she cares to
admit.”
    “Mom, I don’t need Aiden
babysitting me, it’s embarrassing.”
    “Speaking of babysitting, I
want you home at the same time during the school week, no exceptions!”
    “What?!” we both protested.
    “Mom, I