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The Suicide Oligarchy Part 3
The day went by smoothly. We stopped at the pet store and cooed at the puppies, we bought pretzels from a corner shop, and we wandered every store we thought looked interesting enough to browse.
By the end of the day my feet were sore and Chris, Tanya, and Keston had already been picked up by their parents. The four of us left were getting candy. All the quarters we got back in change were spent getting gumballs from the machines. It was a pretty fun way to end the day, pockets full of gum. But their parents came by and picked them up too. I was alone.
Slumped up against a vending machine near the seating area I texted my father. When he didn't respond I called him. Straight to voicemail. A sick feeling swelled up in my stomach and my lip started to bleed. Of course, his phone could have died and he was still coming. But for some reason I didn't believe that.
I did what I never thought I would have to do and I downloaded Uber. I connected my debit card to the app and waited for the car to show up. A few minutes of gum chewing later, I see the car pull up. I match the license plate and open the backseat door. The man didn't say anything to me as the car pulled out and onto the freeway towards home.
I watched as the familiar scenery sped by, green trees and grey skies. As the car slowed into the neighborhood I gathered my things and thanked the man. He nodded and I transferred a tip, watching as he drove away. The two cars were still in the driveway. Where was dad? Had he forgotten about me? I pulled the front doorknob but it was locked, so I had to punch in the four number code to the garage. Everything was still in place.
"Hello?" I called into the dim house. No answer. The bag was heavy on my shoulder and I set it on my bed. My bedroom is the only one downstairs so I have the luxury of never having to use the stairs. Well, except for a few occasions. I looked cautiously around the kitchen, but nothing seemed to have been moved. As I moved up the carpeted stairs to my father's bedroom there was still no noise. That'd when I thought how stupid I had been. He could have easily been asleep! Relief washed over me and I went to push his door open, preparing to see him asleep.
What I saw made me step back.
© Salem Ferrel, All Rights Reserved
By the end of the day my feet were sore and Chris, Tanya, and Keston had already been picked up by their parents. The four of us left were getting candy. All the quarters we got back in change were spent getting gumballs from the machines. It was a pretty fun way to end the day, pockets full of gum. But their parents came by and picked them up too. I was alone.
Slumped up against a vending machine near the seating area I texted my father. When he didn't respond I called him. Straight to voicemail. A sick feeling swelled up in my stomach and my lip started to bleed. Of course, his phone could have died and he was still coming. But for some reason I didn't believe that.
I did what I never thought I would have to do and I downloaded Uber. I connected my debit card to the app and waited for the car to show up. A few minutes of gum chewing later, I see the car pull up. I match the license plate and open the backseat door. The man didn't say anything to me as the car pulled out and onto the freeway towards home.
I watched as the familiar scenery sped by, green trees and grey skies. As the car slowed into the neighborhood I gathered my things and thanked the man. He nodded and I transferred a tip, watching as he drove away. The two cars were still in the driveway. Where was dad? Had he forgotten about me? I pulled the front doorknob but it was locked, so I had to punch in the four number code to the garage. Everything was still in place.
"Hello?" I called into the dim house. No answer. The bag was heavy on my shoulder and I set it on my bed. My bedroom is the only one downstairs so I have the luxury of never having to use the stairs. Well, except for a few occasions. I looked cautiously around the kitchen, but nothing seemed to have been moved. As I moved up the carpeted stairs to my father's bedroom there was still no noise. That'd when I thought how stupid I had been. He could have easily been asleep! Relief washed over me and I went to push his door open, preparing to see him asleep.
What I saw made me step back.
© Salem Ferrel, All Rights Reserved
