“Is there any money for milk?”

She walked over and picked up Dad’s jeans off the floor and dug in the pockets. “Here’s a five. Bring back the change.”

“Darn and I was planning on using the change to buy a car.” I took the money from her hand and headed to the bathroom.

The bathroom light had a yellow tint that made everyone’s mirror reflection look as if they had liver disease. But the yellow glow wasn’t just in the bathroom. Tobacco stained walls and urine stained carpets gave a pee-like ambience to the entire apartment. I’d begged my parents not to take it, but it was all they could afford at the time. My dad had been in his usual state of being between jobs. He’d spent much more of his life between them than in them. The dribble of water coming from the moldy shower head made washing hair a chore, so I threw my long hair in a loose knot and skipped the shampoo.

Sophie and Janie had crawled into my bed and were playing hide and seek under the covers as I pulled on my jeans and t-shirt. “Sophie, you need to get ready for school while I’m getting milk.”

“I’m not going today. Parker Smith shoved me really hard yesterday, and I was crying so Mommy said I could skip school today.”

Mom had never been a big proponent of school and even though she’d had more than her share of nasty notes about poor attendance from the schools and even the district attorney’s office, she’d still kept me home through a lot of my school years. And I’d always been more than willing to skip school days and hang out with Mom making noodle collages and hunting leaves in the park. Even though she had my sisters after she’d reached adulthood, she was still just as silly at parenting, or at least parenting the way society thought proper. Growing up I’d attended more than ten different schools and probably missed thirty percent of my school days. Amazingly, I’d still managed to pull off a college-bound grade point average and once the scholarships were handed out and summer ended, I would be leaving the yellow apartment and the sucky sofa bed for a college dorm.

Sophie hopped down from the bed. “Can I go with you to buy milk?”

“No way. I’m already late.” I kissed the top of her head. “And you walk like a turtle.” Janie laughed wildly at the turtle simile.

“Then bring me some Skittles,” Sophie called as I headed out.

***

A familiar scene met me as I stepped into the parking lot. Our permanently shirtless apartment manager, with the ripped abs of a snowman, was leaning into the engine of his classic car. Fortunately, I was spared the butt crack on this fine morning. “Hey, Eden, I noticed your dad didn’t leave this morning.”

“Yeah? Nothing gets past you, Mr. Deeter.” I trudged down to the sidewalk and walked a wide berth around the putrid smelling garbage cans. The empty lot next to our shabby apartment building was a bustling construction site, and a long string of trucks waited to get in. I waved my hand in front of my face to swipe the dust away. In true construction worker fashion, as if it was part of their job description, the workers all stopped to leer and whistle. I stared down at the sidewalk as I hurried past.

“Sorry about those guys,” a voice called from the front stoop of the construction office trailer. I glanced back.

A tall guy with broad shoulders, a hard hat, and dark sunglasses stood beneath a plastic banner that read Kingston Construction. “They ran out of room at the zoo.” Even from the distance, his smile had impact.

I continued on my milk quest. Fortunately, the mini mart breakfast crowd had not arrived yet. I grabbed up a carton of milk and a small bag of candy for Sophie then paid the guy. Mom’s precious change of a dollar and some quarters and pennies went into my pocket. I turned my face down and scurried past the construction site again. A flurry of whistles pinged off the chain link fencing. This time I wasn’t the center of their attention. A wolf call ripped through the cool morning air. I lifted my face and looked toward our apartment building. Mom was leaning over the balcony buttoning up her shirt.

“Hurry, Eden, or you’ll be late for school.” She waved at the men and then slinked back inside. I moved soundlessly by Mr. Deeter and managed to pass him without notice.

Mom opened the door for me.

“Why do you encourage those guys like that, Mom. They’re annoying.”

“They’re just having fun. I’m going in to brush my hair and let your dad know we’re leaving.”

Sophie and Janie sat at the wobbly table with empty bowls and spoons waiting for breakfast. “Here, Sophie, serve Janie and pour me some too. I’ve got to get my backpack.” As I walked away I heard the distinct sound of hard, round candies falling into the empty bowls. I turned back.

“Not the candy, Sophie, the cereal.”

“I can’t,” she said.

“Why not?”

“We don’t have any cereal.”

“You’ve got to be kidding.”  I stomped into the kitchen and swung open the cupboards. Aside from an open box of crackers, a half-eaten jar of peanut butter, and two overripe bananas, they were empty. I plucked the two bananas down and grabbed the milk and empty bowls.

“What are you making, Edie?” Janie squeaked.

“Banana shakes.” I smashed the bananas in the bowls and poured some milk over them.

“But those bananas were icky and black,” Sophie protested.

“That black stuff makes them sweeter.” I placed the bowls on the table. “Now drink your shakes.”

“Shouldn’t there be ice cream in them if they’re shakes?” Sophie called.

“Just eat, Sophie.” I dashed to the closet to grab my backpack.

Mom stepped out of her room with her sandals in one hand and the remainder of a joint in the other.

I looked pointedly at the joint.

“I need it this morning for my nerves. I’m worried about your dad. He is really down about losing this job.”

“Whatever. Let’s just go. I’m going to be late, and I want to stop by the counselor’s office to see if Mrs. Vickers has any news about my scholarships.”

“My little baby is going off to college. I’m so proud.” Mom walked over and kissed Sophie and Janie on the heads. “Keep an eye on Janie for a few minutes, Sophie. And play quietly. Your dad is still sleeping.”

“She should be going to school, Mom. You’re going to get in trouble again.”

She waved the hand with the joint stuck between the fingers. “The school district can kiss my ass. I’m not sending my little girl to school to be pushed around by some bully.”

We headed to the lone family car, an ancient rusted van with tires that were worn as smooth as glass and an engine with a permanent rattling sound. We climbed inside and immediately Mom started searching around on the floor for something.

“Did you drop the keys?”

“No.” She continued her search.

“You dropped the joint, didn’t you?”

“Yes, dammit.” She sighed and started the car. “And that was the last of it.”

“I’ll try not to stress out about it today. By the way, we need cereal and Janie was sticking a fork in the toaster this morning.”

Mom faced me. Eye puffiness diminished, she looked beautiful as always. “Why would she do that? I’ve told her it was dangerous.”

“Yes, but you can’t tell her something is dangerous and then do the exact thing you warned her about. She thought a bagel would appear if she stuck in a fork.”

A dimple creased her cheek. “That is so cute.” When we’d managed to stick in one place long enough that I could make friends, they were always jealous that I had the prettiest, youngest, and coolest Mom. And even though it was true, there had been many times when I’d wished she’d been more like a mom and less like an older sister. Things weren’t much different with Dad. He still wore earrings and long hair from his days as a drummer in a band that was always on the “edge of making it big”.  For twelve years, I was their only child, unplanned of course. Not many sixteen year olds plan for a baby. But even though they were well into their twenties when they had Sophie six years ago, they had never matured. It was like they were stuck in the glory of their teen years forever.