The Alignment by Kristin Andrecheck (little red riding hood read aloud TXT) 📕

downstairs, I can hear her footsteps fading into the distance. I lay on my bed for about two seconds and get up and walk downstairs. I smell the aroma of dinner. My mouth is watering just smelling it. I can smell meatloaf and gravy with cheesy mashed-potatoes. I can smell mom’s homemade apple cider. Its delicious. My dad already made my plate, I take it and start walking up to my room.
My father stops me, “No, you’re going to stay here, we’ve got plenty to discuss.”
I nod my head and bring my plate back to the table. The table is round with four chairs. We used to fill the whole table, but my brother, Steve, died. He had this brain disease. I forgot what the doctors called it, but everyday I don’t stop thinking about him. Anyways, mom sat at the chair closest to me. I guess she felt bad about me leaving my friends, so she sat by me.
“Your mother told me that you don’t want to move, you’ll miss all your friends, correct?” Dad asks, firmly.
“Yeah, you sound angry,” I say.
“Well your mother and I had an argument. The point is is that you have no choice, were leaving tomorrow,”Dad sounds strict.
I look at mom, and slowly look back at dad, “Mom told me that we had about three days so I could get my final goodbyes. Dad, this is so unfair!”
“No if, ands, or buts about it, young lady. Were leaving and thats final!”
“But Dad!”
“No, not another word!”
“OK, how about three? I hate you!” I throw my fork down, smashing the plate.
I trudge to my bedroom and hear my mom get up. She says something, I can barely hear it. I’m already in my bedroom crying.
I hear mom say, “Bob, this is so like you. God, we’ll talk in the morning.”
And, I hear the door slam and Dad say, “Why can’t she just understand?”
I don’t know who he is talking about. But I know I’m tired and still crying. I jump on the bed and cry myself to sleep. I wish dad could just….just….leave.
Be Careful What You Wish For….

Chapter 6

RING…..RING….. Ugh, its 7:03 and I forgot to unset my alarm clock. SLAM!!! That can’t be good.
I hear mom screaming, “Bob, you know she wants to stay here. You were a big jerk last night, you know that? She wants to stay! Let her!”
“This is just like you Iris! You put things off all the time. I’m sick of it. You can have your dreams of an artist but I can’t have mine. Just because your a famous artist, doesn’t mean you can be a prima dona,” Dad yells.
“Oh so now you think I’m a witch, is what your saying? So you can poison Katy and you think I’m a witch? This is my house.” Mom replies.
I’m confused, and who’s Katy?
“Yeah?” Dad asks, like something terrible is about to happen.
Mom says it again, quieter, “This is my house.”
“Okay, you established that. Sweetie, your not,”
 “Yes, leave. I want you out before Teal wakes up, she won’t stand for this!”
 “Sweet,”
“Don’t! Call me tonight so I can move your things,” I hear a clank on the floor.
I open the door, quietly, and walk down the stairs. I see dad standing and mom sitting at the kitchen table. Oh God no! It’s mom’s wedding ring! I make a noise, so they know I’m coming, and walk downstairs.
Dad quickly picks up the ring, comes over to me, and says, “Honey, I’ve got some things to do before we leave, if we leave, and I won’t be back for awhile. Your mother will decide wether you, we, go to Cali or not.”
He comes over to hug me and kisses me on the cheek. I have a tear in my eye. I didn’t mean what I said last night. The one time one of my wishes come true and its a bad thing! Dad looks at mom and heads for the door, grabs his coat, and is gone.
“Mom, last night,” I didn’t finish.
“I know you heard, everything. Didn’t you,” She asks.
“Yeah, and I wanted to say something last night, but I was to angry. You know how I always wanted to be a star,” Mom nods, “Well, I looked up a few weeks ago the opportunities that could make me famous. I have a good voice and I won three contests last year because of it. I made up my mind and I want to go!” I wanted to ask who Katy was, but I didn’t.
“Honey, its not that. Well, its half of what the fight was about, but thats not it entirely,” Mom says.
“Well,” I wait for an answer.
“We had a baby a few months ago, when I went on my business trip. You probably saw that I gained a few pounds,” I nod. I’m still thinking who Katy is, “ Well, she was born, and I told your father about it. Remember that night you were alone? When I was sleeping, he... killed her. I…..,” She doesn’t finish. She runs to the bathroom.
I was guessing that Katy was the baby. I could’ve had a baby sister! That murderer. I can’t believe it. I have a tear in my eye.
Mom returns and says, “Dear I am so sorry. Its just he took her to the hospital and told them to inject her with this medicine that kills you quicker than you can say super-calla-frege-a-listic-ex-be-a-la-docious! I woke up and I noticed he wasn’t next to me. I looked for the baby and I panicked. I called the cops and before I could even dial the last 1 your father came in. I hung up and asked your father, at least he’s honest. I can still hear that fragile voice, ‘I killed her’. I grabbed him and he almost killed me. Honey, your father has been acting really strange, and we should get away from him for awhile. We will go to Cali, but only if you want too. I’m not rushing an answer, but your father wants to come back, probably, as soon as he can.”
“Mom, I…I want to go. I’ll make new friends, and I’ve always wanted to see my favorite singers. It’ll be an opportunity of a lifetime,”I finish.
I feel kind of heart-broken because I’m leaving everybody, and I have a choice. I nod to my mom and I get a cup of coffee. When I finish it I go up to my room. I go to my phone and dial Rose’s phone number. I look at the clock, Way to early!! I decide to call her in two hours or so. I lay on my bed, thinking what a little sister would be like in my life. I then go back downstairs and watch t.v. for an hour. I get breakfast, waffles with my mom’s homemade fruit sauce. I then look at the clock and go back upstairs. I call Rose, voicemail…..
I say “Hey Rose, its Teal. I was wondering if you wanted to maybe come over today. I need to pack but maybe, if you can help me, we can hang out afterwards. Call me later.”
I then dial Justin’s number, he answers!
“Hello,” He says.
“Hi its Teal. Look I’m having a get together today, do you wanna come,”I ask.
“Uh, I can’t hanging with, uh….,” There was a long pause.
“Hello,” I ask.
Then I heard the hang up noise. What a jerk! He has to lie, and then he hangs up!
RING, RING!!! It’s Rose.
“Hey.”
“Hey, yeah I’m on my way over.”
“OK, see you then,” Then the hang up sound again.
Is it hang up on Teal day today? I hear the doorbell ring and I rush downstairs. I open the door and it’s Rose. We both run upstairs. We both sit on the bed.
Rose looks around the room, sighs, and says, “When we going to start?”
She has a sad look in her eyes.
“I guess now ‘cause we don’t really have time.” I say.
“OMG I wish you were never moving! Oh, and where’s your dad?” Rose asks.
“Oh, uh, my Mom and Dad had a fight last night about my feelings about moving,” I reply.
I wanted to tell Rose about Katy, but I didn’t want her to worry.
“I’ll get the boxes. You start unpacking clothes and folding them. I’ll be right back.” I say.
Rose nods and I get the boxes. I go downstairs, get them, then go back up. I hear long sobs. It’s Rose! I listen and it sounds like she’s writing something. I then hear her get up. I run in the bathroom. She runs downstairs. I drop the boxes and go into my bedroom. My vase is on the floor, smashed. The bed’s sheets are torn off the bed. There is a note posted on my wall. It says:
 “Teal, I know you have a choice to go. Your mom told me. I called her this morning. Why do you choose to go. I want you to stay! Why, Teal? WHY!?”
I am flabbergasted. Why did she have to tear up my room? I want to call her, but I’m afraid that she won’t answer. If she wants to be that way I won’t call her, anymore or even see her, anymore! I am furious. I want to tell my mom, but that would pee her off. I start cleaning the glass. I got that from dad. NO! I shouldn’t think of that now. After that’s done I start packing my clothes. I want to leave as soon as possible. I wish I could leave today, or tomorrow! Whatever. I’m indignant. I’m finished with the clothes. I leave a few clothes out for about a week. I start packing my valuables. Glass, ceramics, that stuff. I’m almost finished with my room. Can’t wait to leave!

Chapter 7

It’s been a week and we are done packing! I miss Rose. I wish she never left. It would’ve been fine if she didn’t leave. She has serious anger issues. I laugh in my head. I get a bagel and I look at my mom. She knows I’m tired. It’s 4 A.M and we’re ready