Me and My Bacon

By Ceanmohrlass

Struggling to deal with her mother’s indifference, and the emotional turbulence of being a teen, Mera’s world is hard enough already. Her world is turned upside down by her mother’s abrupt decision to rip her from her fast-paced city life in L.A., to the backwoods of Vermont. Can she find a way to fit in and acclimate to her new world without losing who she really is?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ceanmohrlass
• Release date: Apr 9, 2016
• ISBN: 9781310681950

Ceanmohrlass

Ceanmohrlass is a retired grandmother who has been writing novels for her family and friends for over 20 years.She is the family genealogist, and writing the family history has only increased the passion for writing.Ceanmohrlass resides in Texas and is currently working on three new novels.

Book preview

Me and My Bacon

Copyright 2015 Ceanmohrlass Jana Robison

Published by Ceanmohrlass Jana Robison

Smashwords Edition License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold

or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person,

please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you are reading this book and did not

purchase it, or it was not purchased for your enjoyment only, then please return to

Smashwords.com or your favorite retailer and purchase your own copy.

Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

.

***

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Table of Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

About the Author

Other books by Ceanmohrlass

Chapter One

I’m not going, and you can’t make me! I yell as I dash to my room.

This is so stupid; my once solid, predictable mother has lost her mind!

You need to lay off the crack! I yell from my doorway.

Emerald Crystal Bell! You come here this minute! my mom says in ‘that’ tone.

Rolling my eyes, I stomp back into the kitchen as loudly as possible.

I’m not moving, I can stay here and take care of myself, I say, plopping down across from her at the kitchen bar.

You may not stay here, and you need to adjust your attitude. You have two days to get everything you want to take with you into a box. You have boxes, tape and markers, and you better get started tonight. The movers will be here at 6 Monday morning.

I grab a handful of bacon right off her plate, and stomp back to my room. Free falling onto my mattress that sits right on the floor, I sigh. My hand full of bacon now crumbled next to my pillow, I open my little, pink, no-brand laptop and sign in. ‘Rockingham Vermont, Bellows Falls’ typed into the search box, I wait until the lousy internet loads the site. Snacking on my smashed bits of bacon, tears start to form. I still can’t believe we’re moving again.

My purple, sheer curtain is fluttering in the breeze of the open window. I hate the stupid bars on the window, but I guess it’s better than dealing with one of the winos crawling in again. That really freaked me out. I came home from school one afternoon, and my mom was on one of her business calls in the dining room as usual, so I grabbed an apple and walked into my room. I threw my backpack on my blanket and it yelled back at me!

Long story short, the police arrived, dragged the wino out from under my bed covers, and escorted him out of my room in handcuffs. My mom threw my sheets and blanket in the washer three times back to back. The next day I came home late, and there were bars on my window.

"Hm, I have 18 friends on my Friend’s list online now, and only three replies...

Ugh, Jim and Trudy... They won’t leave me alone..." I mumble.

Unfriend... Unfriend. Well, I have 16 friends still, so that’s not bad, I guess. Well, Trina isn’t even online anymore, so I guess that’s 15 then. Sighing, I tap on my mom’s name. Two hundred and fifty eight friends... How can she have that many people on her friends list?

Emerald! Someone is here to see you, my mom calls out.

Shutting my laptop, I peek out my door to the entry.

Hey Rene! What are you doing here? I yell out as I run toward her.

Hey Mera, I just wanted to give you something... Rene says, handing me a wrapped box.

C’mon lets go out, I say, rushing to get out of my mom’s sight.

I’m gonna miss this little one-car garage. My mom parks outside under the carport so the garage has been our makeshift clubhouse. This is where Rene, Tracy, Peter, and I have spent many Saturday mornings. This is the last time any of my friends will see me here.

Rene plops down on the blue beanbag, and I fall across the big orange one. Tearing the purple paper off, I can see two little disposable cameras, and a couple of coupons to develop them.

Wow, Rene, this is cool! Thanks, I say, trying not to sniffle.

Rene always knows the right things to give people, something I have yet to learn.

You can take pics of your trip across country and put them in this, Rene says, reaching in her purse and handing me a little purple vinyl photo book.

Cool, thanks.

I’m gonna miss you. You really think your mom is gonna stay in Vermont?

Yeah, she says it’s what’s best for us both, what a crock...

I turn the pages of the empty photo book. We sit in silence for a few long moments.

Well, I gotta get home. I just wanted to see you again before you left, Rene says, struggling to get up.

Her cousin’s big hiking shirt with a million pockets must weigh a ton. She’s gotten really, really, fat lately. She’s gonna have to give up that pile of candy and french fries she eats every night before bed. Rene rubs her back then dashes thru the house and down the front steps.

Rene, wait!

I run after her. I make her stand still in the driveway, and tear open one of the little camera packages. I take three shots of us together, hoping we will have heads when the pictures develop, and send Rene on her way.

The door opens just as I reach for it, and I drop a cuss word as I jump back.

Watch your language. We can’t get away from this place fast enough to suit me, my mom fusses.

Her phone rings and I listen from the doorway.

Mom tries to be quiet as she says, Yeah, she isn’t happy but this is the best for both of us, I’m certain now. Are you sure it’s okay if we come straight there? You don’t think it would be better if I rent a place for a while, just to be sure this isn’t going to be too much for you?

I sneak to my room, wondering whom she’s talking to, but I know better than to ask right now. I open my flip phone, and blow my bangs out of my eyes. I dial and let the phone ring a few extra times, but no one is answering. The voice mail kicks on.

I say, Hey Tracy, well I guess I’ll be on the road before you get this. I just wanted to say bye. It’s been fun, and if you ever get to Vermont, look me up.

I leave the same message for Peter and Rene too.

I already posted my goodbye message at four this morning before the truck was loaded up with all my stuff. Rene was the only one who even bothered to act like she was sad that I was leaving. She kinda acted like I was dying or something.

My phone rings, its Rene!

Hey, well, the truck left with our stuff, so I guess we’re really going.

Rene is sniffling, I feel bad for her.

It’s okay Rene, we can still talk on the phone, and I’ll get my computer running when the truck gets there.

Rene is crying now.

You don’t get it... Rene screams out between snorts.

What’s up with her? I’ve only lived here a year, she’s so weird. I mean, I’m gonna miss her and all, but what a drama queen.

Hey, chill, maybe you can talk your mom into coming to Vermont next summer. Or, hey, you can ride the bus maybe and come see me?

More sniffles.

Rene? What’s up?

The line goes dead. Hm, well, guess she’s fighting with her mom again. I know how that feels. I get up from the dirty, blue, shag carpet floor, and head to the living room. I can hear my mom on the phone, she’s giggling again, so freaking weird.

My sneakers squeak on the clean tile floor in the dining room as I head for the garage. Sometimes I get tired of moving. Seems like I just start making friends and it’s time to move on. My mom has so much drama all the time, and then we have to move to get away from it.

Time to roll...

Can’t we listen to some music?

My mom just shakes her head and hands me a map.

What’s this for?

In case we need it.

You have maps on your phone you know.

Mom gives me ‘that’ look again. Sighing, I open the map, and refold it to a better size. Nothing to do now but stare out the window as the sun comes up. Yeah, 4 days on the road ought to be a blast... yeah.

The room in tonight’s hotel is the same as the one last night, and the one the night before. Ugly bed covers, stiff mattresses, three whole channels on the television, and no ice in the ice machine. Such fun... I open my soda over the sink and of course, it fuzzes all over my hand and on the edge of the counter, surprise, surprise.

My mom is on the phone as usual, with her laptop open on the table in front of her. She works like this for several hours after we stop each night, and I sorta feel bad for her, I know she’s tired.

I run a bubble bath, but can’t manage to sit naked on a surface other people’s butt’s have used. I have to hover on public toilets, it’s just too gross not to. I pull a hand towel down to sit on, but the ick factor still ruins it. I bathe with my panties on, sitting on the towel...

I put on my last pair of clean pajamas, and climb into the bed farthest away from the door. I get back up, check the latch and the bar my mom places under the handle, and climb back into bed, listening to her complaining about some order.

I’ve had this stupid dream about a moose welcoming me to Vermont and it happens again, waking me up laughing way too early in the morning.

Pulling into town, my stomach is rumbling again.

I’m hungry, can we eat?

Okay, my mom says with a weird smile.

Sitting at the stop sign, she stares at me.

What?

She just sighs and shakes her head at me. She turns down a street and we’re looking at a clock tower straight ahead. I see a little diner car tucked under a long row of tall trees. We turn into a space and park.

Mom slowly tucks her head down. She puts her arms up on the steering wheel and starts to sniffle. Wonder what’s gotten into her? She’s getting weirder by the minute.

Mom finally wipes her face and grabs her purse.

Well, we’re here. Welcome to Bellows Falls...

Hm, well, it looks okay, I guess... I say as I open my door.

I follow her into the little diner car. A nice lady tells us to sit anywhere we want. Breakfast is served really fast, and we chow down in silence. I’m already bored to tears here, there aren’t any big screen TV’s or anything.

Two old men are sitting at the little bar, and one of the barstools between them is missing its seat. They sip their coffee, barely utter a word or two, and then nod. An older couple sits at the booth behind ours and they don’t say a word to each other, sitting as quietly as my mom and I are. The waitress drops off the check, smiles, and quickly moves away.

I wrap up the extra slices of bacon in my napkin for later, and tuck it in my purse.

That is so gross, why do you do that? We can afford food... you don’t need to take that!

My mom tries to grab the pouch from my purse. I yank it out of her reach, and dash away from the table. Mom pays the check, and we get back in the car, still silent. Mom pulls her phone out of her purse and dials. She puts her elbow on the window edge of her door and her palm against her forehead.

Mom says, Well, we’re here. We just had breakfast. You’re right, it’s really good food. So... I guess... do you want to meet in town, or... There is a long silence on her part while she nods from time to time. Okay, we will head your way then. Yeah, me too... she says.

Is this the town we’re gonna live in?

Mom ignores me, looks behind her and pulls out, straightens up, and crawls through town on the two-lane street.

Mom stops the car in a space in front of a brick building that runs the length of the block. Putting on a fresh coat of lipstick and spraying her breath with some weird smelling stuff, my mom smiles weakly at me.

I check my reflection in the visor mirror. Thick eyebrows, two new pimples from the hotel soaps, and my hair in double bun-pigs; yep I still look like me. I quickly pick the pepper from between my teeth while my mom shakes her head. Mom takes a deep breath and reaches for the door handle and I follow suit.

I open my door and stand up, looking at the few cars that pass by. My mom is taking her time putting her phone in her purse, and looking in the mirror again. She adjusts her shirt, and I see her practice a few weird looking smiles in the rear view mirror. Finally, she gets out of the freaking car.

What’s going on Mom?

I just want to look good, is that a crime?

Flipping her newly frosted hair over her shoulder for the third time, she reaches for my hand.

Are you kidding me? I am NOT going to hold hands Mom!

I side step away from her, bumping my elbow into the bricks. Mom glares at me, and her freshly plucked eyebrows drop sharply as she shoves her hand into mine.

Geez this sucks, I mutter as we walk to the corner.

We walk another whole block before we stop in front of a large shop, and she waves at a man in the window. I yank my hand away, and move a few steps forward as the man makes his way toward the door.

Hope! I’m so glad you made it!

The man gently hugs my mom and kisses her cheek.

You must be Emerald, nice to finally meet you.

He reaches toward me, but I back away fast. His hand goes from my direction up to his hair, and he quickly covers, brushing his hair from his eyes.

He’s tall, kinda nice looking, and wrinkles frame his bright blue eyes when he smiles. He has a dirty work shirt, weird pants with a million pockets, and really dirty boots on. His blond hair hangs over his eyes, and it’s gathered into a short ponytail in back, but it doesn’t look too bad. Mom is blushing and acting stupid, winking at him and touching his shoulder a lot, and it’s embarrassing me.

Emerald, this is Owen Cotton.

My mom quickly winks and nods at me in secret. I shrug my shoulders, quickly getting ‘that’ look again.

I finally say, Hi.

I don’t stick my hand out toward him. He smiles, brushes his hair away again, and motions for us to come inside. I walk in first, carefully stepping up onto his raised floor to the left.

His office is a mess; there are stacks of papers on his desk, some crumpled balls of paper that obviously missed the trash can by miles all over the place, and the windows are really dirty. His desk is super nice, and he has one of those laptops that are indestructible, like construction men use. There isn’t a phone or anything and no sign on the door, so I don’t know what his company name is.

Owen puts a handful of printer paper on a 5-gallon bucket he turns upside-down, and offers it up as a seat for me. My mom gets his desk chair, and he sits on the edge of his massive desk, smiling at her.

I’m so glad you decided to come here Hope, I was worried you changed your mind.

I almost did, it felt weird taking her out of school but after the break in I, well... Well, we’re here now!

Mom has that weird tight-lipped smile she practiced earlier plastered across her face. She looks so stupid but Owen doesn’t seem to notice, he just keeps smiling at her.

I think it would be better for her to be here, that school was really getting bad. They had a girl raped in the bathroom last week, and I’m just tired of hearing all the problems. She wouldn’t tell me what was going on but her friends did.

I agree, she will do better here in the fresh air with more opportunity, and definitely less crime, Owen says, not even looking my way.

Um, hello! I’m still here, my butt making imprints on your paper over the bottom of a bucket, but don’t mind me... I whisper.

After an eternity of ‘blah, blah, blah’ my mom finally stands up.

Well Owen, I’m glad I came here. I guess we will head to the hotel. Call me when you finish up and we can meet for dinner. We can talk about everything then, I don’t want to keep you from your work.

Owen kisses her on the cheek again. What a weirdo! Why doesn’t he just plant