Kelly+Min

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__**Gabrielle**__

Don't call me Gabrielle. That's what my stupid, run-away-and-leave-his-wife father called me. My name is Gabby. The only person who ever calls me Gabrielle is my mom, and only when she's really mad. Mom says dad wanted to help us, to fight for us. Yeah right. How can he help us when he's a trillion miles away. Don't get me wrong, mom and Tessy and I get by, but only just. Who leaves their wife with a 10 year old and a 1 year old daughter? Tessy doesn't even remember him it was so long ago, but I think she understands as much as her 4 year old brain can, that daddy left us and that's why we left New York City for this little hole-in-the-wall called Cleveland. He's the reason mom has to go to Pittsburg to work every single stupid day. This basically means I have no life, 'cause I have to walk Tessy to school every morning and pick her up every afternoon. Then I have to babysit the brat until either mom comes home (rarely), or until her bed time. In NYC I had loads of friends. Mom says we moved from the city 'cause it's to dangerous for Tessy, but I know she's lying. I was born and raised in the city. It's all dads fault.

I have some friends here, but we don't hang out. Mom says I'm not responsible enough. Sometimes I just want to scream and scream and scream. My parents have ruined my life. Tessy has, too. She always runs away when I'm babysitting her, which equals 1 week grounded. Whatever. I don't have time to hang out with friends anyway. It's so annoying though. Like yesterday, Sunday, she was looking at ants. I looked down at my phone for less than a minute and she was gone. Gawd, she's so annoying. I'm 13, I shouldn't be playing hide and seek with a 4 year old. "Tessy, this isn't funny. Come here!" I shout. She's not coming. "Tessy! Tessy!"

I'm screaming her name over and over and my feet are flying. I don't know where I'm going but I'm pretty sure I'm breaking Olympic records. Suddenly I'm at this little garden Tessy loves and I'm panting. She's there, talking happily to some old man who looks spanish of something. I grab her arm and drag her home. I stood outside our apartment and yelled at her, but I could tell she wasn't listening. We walked into our room and I froze. Mom's briefcase was on our coffee table.

Oh my gosh. The one day my mom has had off in about 4 months is the day I wasn't watching the little monster. Really, my life stinks.There was no time to clean off Tessy's face and hands. Mom walked into the room smiling, but it dropped after about 2 seconds as she spotted the dirt on Tessy's body. After I was yelled at for about half an hour I was grounded for 2 weeks. Later that night mom walked into my room while I was listening to music. "Hey mom, you know what I want for my birthday?" I asked her sweetly, pulling out 1 of the ear pieces of my headphones. She started to reply "No, hone-" "I want a lock!" I snarled, cutting her off. She sighed and sat wearily down on my bed. She looked so... old and tired. sitting there. "Darling, ever since we moved here, you have been shutting me and Tessy out. What's wrong?" "I'm not seeing a shrink, mom." I sneered. "Nothings up. Look, I'll take Tessy to that stup- that garden tomorrow. Happy?" I snapped at her. "That's a great idea, sweetie. Instead of being grounded you can take Tessy to that lovely garden for a week!" Mom sounded almost //happy//. "I'll try and get a day off next Sunday, too." "Yeah, right. They only let you have a week off every year, including holidays." Mom started to reply, but I drowned her out with Bohemian Rhapsody and turned away, hiding a tear trickling down my cheek. She'd make a big deal of it, even though I cry myself to sleep every night. How could I not, with dad's picture on my dresser? Day 1 of the Garden: Tessy talks to everyone. She is so dumb. I literally had to drag her away from that spanish creep. Day 3 of the Garden: I helped Tessy plant some flowers today. I mean I still hate it. I just...I just wanted to see how dumb it was. Day 4 of the Garden: The spanish guy's name is Tio Juan or something. This kid Gonzalo babysits him. Hes kind of annoying. He keeps singing the Brady Bunch theme song. Day 5 of the Garden: Tessy looks so cute! She toddles around and falls over so that her cheeks are smeared with dirt. Also Gonzalo isn't that annoying. Day 7 of the Garden: Mom actually got a day off! We are all here and mom is laughing and talking with everyone and Tessy is waddling around. Seeing mom happy for the 1st time in years, like really happy, started me thinking. Her job isn't really her fault. You know, the whole Pittsburg thing and the no vacations policy. Mom even told me yesterday tht she's applying for a new job here where she would have every Sunday off! Tessy was so happy she started jumping up and down and fell over. Then she lost her 1st tooth! My mom said I could be the tooth fairy for her. She really is sweet. Dad... well, I dunno about him. I know he was hoping to be all noble and fight for our country and stuff, but I still think he shouldn't have left us. 'Cause I keep wondering, what if he doesn't come back? Day 10 of the Garden: I officially have 2 homes.