16 and Never Understood

16 and Never Understood

Walking in the house, Selenity threw her backpack on the floor by the front door.  She didn’t bother to see or notice if anything had spilled from it as she made her way into the kitchen.  It had been a rough day at school today… excruciating at best. Why did teachers insist on making Algebra the bane of her very existence?  Did they not understand her brain had much more vital items it was in need of processing?  Such as Mark… God he was hot… And those ABS!!!!  She loved watching him at Basketball Practice.  Her mother didn’t know she was making up excuses just so she could sit on the bleachers and simply admire his god like body.

Sighing with overly dramatic 16 year old, end of the world, life as we know it, impatience she plopped herself down upon a stool at the kitchen island.  The kitchen was designed with tones of soft yellow oak cabinets and counters done in shades of grey, along with stainless steel appliances to offset the rest of the log house. There were dainty white curtains upon the windows and always the smell of fresh cinnamon, thanks to the cinnamon sticks nestled up on the window ledge. 

The kitchen was her favorite place in the whole house, besides her bedroom of course.  It was here she felt warm and safe, enclosed as she was by her family’s auras.  Pictures drawn by her younger siblings rested upon the side by side fridge, along with her last history exam.  She was still proud of that 98, though she did not make mention of this.  Her head leaning over to rest upon her left hand, as her feet kicked back and forth upon the stool in her hot pink Nikes. The glow given off of her sneakers was bright enough to light up Yankee Stadium should the lights ever go out.  Reaching, she moves to grab a banana with the same reckless, devil may care attitude.

“Hey… Yo… Moms!” Sel greeted her mother as she came from down the hall carrying a fresh load of laundry.  The kitchen was soon swamped with the smell of Downy dryer sheets as her mother set the basket down on the floor next to Sel’s stool.

“And a hello to you also… So nice to see all the lovely grammar you have been encouraged to learn in school.” Her mother’s voice both mocking and amused, though the irony apparently was lost on Sel.  Sel was more interested in making obscene gestures with her banana and her mouth. “Oh bloody hell!  Would you grow up and show a miniscule of maturity!”

“I am mature!  I am 16.” She replied around a mouth full of mushed banana.  To her this seemed to say it all, but she was looking to get a reaction from her mother, even as she watched her go towards the refrigerator.  Jumping down from her stool she grabbed her breasts, cupping them in both her palms and striking a pose… “So do you think my boobs look any bigger today?”

Her mother turned slightly to look over her shoulder “Oh most definitely… In fact, Selenity, soon your boobs will be so massive, you will not be able to get through the front door!” Her mother’s exaggerated voice mocked her daughter as she bent back over to retrieve the steak she had defrosted the night before.

“So… like what’s for dinner?  Can we get Chinese?  I am sooooo in the mood for some lo mein and egg rolls!”

“No Selenity we are not getting Chinese.  You will have to make due with good old fashion home cooking.” Her mother moved over to the cabinet and pulled down a box of Rice A Roni and set it on the counter along with a few packages of vegetable steamers…

“Ugh!  You all are so boring!  You never give me what I want!” Sel threw her arms down upon the island in exasperation.  Her body language stiff and yet still fluid as she flopped against the edge of the counter.  “When will you ever think of my wants or my needs?”  Her facial expression stretched to show an overly dramatic pout. 

Walking over to her, Sel’s mother lifted her arm and wrapped her daughter in a slight hug before leaning down to explain in a soothing voice “Why dear… we will consider what you want when you begin to pay the mortgage and taxes on the house, not to mention the electric and heating bill, buy the food and wash your clothes.” With a laugh her mother turned and walked back over to the stainless steel stove tucked in the corner of their ample kitchen.

“I HATE YOU!”  Sel declared fiercely as she made to storm off in a righteous huff. 

“That’s nice love, don’t forget dinner’s at seven and make sure to put your laundry away!” could be heard down the hall behind Selenity’s retreating back.  Oh it was so hard being 16… But there was always Mark… mmmm Mark.