was short for Caelyn. My sister was a freshman and all of eleven months younger than me. If a wombat and an alligator ever mated, I imagine their offspring’s personality would be much like hers. She made mean people seem nice.
I heard her feet stomping up the stairs and I flipped on the Playstation and my television. Without waiting for her I flopped stomach down on my bed and grabbed the controller off my nightstand. I got the game started just as she entered my room. I could feel her standing behind me and heard her tapping her foot impatiently. I just started wondering how long she would let me ignore her when she walked around my bed and stood in front of my television with one hand on her hip. I raised my eyebrows at her. People had been executed in third world countries for less.
“Get out of the way, brat! Aren’t you supposed to be at cheerleading?” I stared at her with confusion. She had on her blue and gold cheerleading outfit.
“Um, we’re having our meeting downstairs to discuss fundraising. You told Mom you wouldn’t be home. I don’t want you here perving on my friends! Get out!”
“Just shut my door, I’ll stay up here.”
“No! You promised Mom you’d go to Jeremy’s house or something. If you don’t get out of this house right now, I’ll tell her about your little “habit” so help me, God!”
I gulped and hit pause on my game. I started smoking about three months ago, and if Mom found out, grounded wouldn’t describe what she would do to me.
“Fine,” I spat and grabbed my jacket. Jeremy wouldn’t be home, he’d gotten a part-time job at his uncle’s garage after school last week. Maybe I could head down to the mall. Not much else to do on a Monday night.
I brushed past the mutated freak that inhabited my kid sister’s body and made my way downstairs. I could see the gaggle of cheerleaders outside on the back patio smoking cigarettes and lounging like they owned the place. I rolled my eyes and walked out the front door.
We lived about a mile from the Cedar Hills Mall. If I hurried, I could get there before it closed. I could go for a pretzel or two. I didn’t mind walking either. Especially in the fall when you didn’t sweat to death doing it. I looked down at the cracked and pitted sidewalk as I walked. I hadn't been there for a while. I hated shopping, but my sister loved it. Pretzels forced me to go to the mall even more than her.
I walked briskly, not wanting to miss my chance for some warm pretzels. Only food could possibly make me stop worrying about everything. Food and video games were my therapy.
Unlike my sister, I had a high metabolism. I could eat cake for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and not gain an ounce. It was probably why she continually tried to make my life a living hell. I couldn’t remember the last time I had seen her munching on something other than lettuce. Bunny food sucked. No wonder she was always grumpy.
The sidewalk started to make its gradual shift north and as I continued walking, the sound of a motorcycle in the distance caught my attention. The deep rumble sounded like a Harley or maybe a modified Victory. Most kids my age drooled over shiny crotch rockets. Japanese motorcycles just didn’t do it for me. Everyone I’ve ever seen on one looked way too uncomfortable. My dad had a Harley before I was born. Seeing pictures of him sitting on it like he didn’t have a care in the world made me fall in love with the massive motorcycles.
Nobody in our neighborhood owned one as far as I knew. Somebody must have just bought one or else they were incredibly lost. The whole neighborhood we lived in had one way in and one way out. I sincerely doubted anybody would be joyriding through Cedar Hills, Pennsylvania. The winding streets, steep hills, and blind curves had been one of the reasons Mom had made Dad sell his bike. If I had one I would have moved or gotten rid of the mom. You don’t give up something like that.
I heard the motorcycle turn onto the street I was walking on, and the rumbling grew to an almost painful level. I turned and saw it coming up fast. I expected it to blow past me at an ungodly speed,