Alone in the House

    "Bye mom. Bye dad. We are going to miss you a lot!" Rama, my youngest sister said before she started crying.

    My mom and dad were going to Milan, Italy to a conference on education, so Rama and I were going to stay alone in the house for a whole week.

     "Don't worry; we will have fun. Lots of fun!" I said trying to make her happy.

     I'm not that happy because mom and dad are leaving, but I'm saying this so I cheer Rama up.

    "But I never stayed alone in the house before!" Rama said.

     I know. She's never stayed alone in the house. Me too, but she's lucky because I'm with her!

     "W-w-what? Alone? You are with me! And I promise that we will have lots fun during this one week." I said.

    "What kind of fun do you mean?" she said

     I actually didn't know what to say, so I just pretended not to hear her question.

     I thought a lot. I thought of what we would do during the one week so Rama is happy.

     That evening, in my room I thought about a lot of things to do for Rama. My results were: go to the mall, stay up late, prepare a surprise for mom and dad before they come, roller-blade, and play soccer, Frisbee, basketball…

     I jumped to tell Rama everything.

     "Rama!"I shouted.

     "Yes."    

     I told her about the things we could do during the week we’re alone.

     "Wow! Are we really going to do these things?" she asked happily.

     "Sure!"

     In the evening, we made popcorn and we munched them while watching a movie.

     After the movie was over, I said pressing the 'off' button of the TV, "Ok. Let's go and sleep."

     "Oh! No! There is a nice movie on now…Please," Rama begged.

     I know she always says 'please' because I always say 'yes'!

     "Ok…we're going to watch it, but it's the last one," I said.

     "And the one after it, oh and…" she said.

     "I can change my mind!" I said sounding very serious.

     "I think I should zip it," she said.

     "I prefer that because I would change my mind," I said.

     "Ok…shhh. It started," Rama said.

     The movie was really nice, just as Rama said!

     "Ok. Let's go to bed," I said.

     I told Rama to sleep beside me in my room because she seemed scared to sleep alone.

     In the morning, the alarm went off; we couldn't wake up for school because of Rama's movie!

     "Rama, wake up! We're late," I said waking up Rama.

     "Leave me alone!" She said.

    I kept tickling her until she jumped out of bed like crazy.

    "Hurry! We have school!" I said.

    "What time is it?" Rama said. She looked at the clock and yelled, "7:30! Why didn't you wake me? The bus will be here in 5 minutes!"

    "Because you didn't wake up! I could have changed my clothes!" I said angrily.

    Rama went to her room to change her clothes; I opened my closet and got my pants, shirt, and my school uniform.

     When we were almost done, a car beeped outside. When I opened the door, it was Uncle Aman.

      "Hey! Umm… Why are you here? We thought you were the bus," I said.

      "Your parents told me to take you to school while they're gone," he said

      "But we go by bus," said Rama.

      "Yeah, I know, but they told me to, and they told me that they told the bus driver that you're not going with him. Anyways, I go to work at this time," he said.

      "Oh, ok, but…can you wait a second. We woke up late and so…we're not ready yet!" I said

      "Ok, I'll wait for you in the car…and hurry up," Uncle Aman said.

      We tried to hurry up as much as possible. After about seven minutes we were in the car.

      After fifteen minutes, we were at the school. The students were lining up.

      Rama is in Grade Five, I'm in Grade Seven.

   

       School was boring as usual, but today is Thursday, and on Thursdays we have gym. That was the only fun period!

      At recess time, Rama came to me saying, "Aleen, I don't have any money to buy lunch!"

       Mom usually makes us sandwiches in the house, but now, there’s no mom to make us sandwiches. We can do them, but we were late today.  

      "Here you go," I said, and I pulled a dollar out of my pocket.

      "I think I want more…please!" she said.

      It's the zillionth time she says 'please', but this time, and for the first time, I will say 'No'!

      "No," I said

      "But why?" she asked.

      "I could take the dollar back," I said

      "I'll go before you do!" she said and ran away.

      Finally school was done. We waited for Uncle Aman for about ten minutes, and then when he came, we got into the car. He surprised us saying, "I have good news and bad news."

       "Ok…," Rama and I said at once.

     "The good news is that Rama won the second prize in the poetry contest. Congratulations Rama!" he said.

     "Wow! Up high… down low… too slow!" I said while Rama and I did the Up-high, Down-low hand shake.

      "Wait! This is the good news, but the bad news is…" he started saying.

      "Yeah…" Rama said.

      "Your father called…"

      What would have happened to them if it's in “the bad news”? I thought.

      "And he said that your mother is a-a-a little sick!" He continued.

      "Oh…what happened to her?" I asked

      "Well, I don't know a lot, but your dad said that she's in the hospital," he said.

      I don't know what would happen to her, but…she'll be fine soon, I hope so. I started thinking. What would happen to her? I don't know.

   

     We didn't go home; Uncle Aman took us to his house. I guess after the bad news, he felt that we shouldn’t be left alone. We had lunch and sat for an hour. Then, when we wanted to go back home, Aunt Sena told us that she would come with us.

      "No, no problem. We can go alone," I said.

      "I'll come with you. It is okay," Aunt Sena said.

      "We can stay alone," Rama said.

     “Yes. We are fine. Don’t worry,” I added.

      Finally, Aunt Sena was convinced that we could stay alone in the house.

      "I will go sleep over at your house," Aunt Sena said.

      "Ok…We’re waiting for you," I said. I felt safer having her with us.

      In the house, we cleaned the mess we made in the morning while we were in a hurry.

      I was worried about mom. I kept thinking of her. I was wondering what would happen to her? Maybe she has a cold. It's not dangerous, but why did she go to the hospital? Maybe she has cancer or…no. I wanted the bad thoughts to leave my mind.

      I really don't know what Rama did next because I was sleeping.

      "Good morning. I wonder why you slept for two hours," Rama said laughing when I woke up.

      "Stop kidding," I said. I couldn't believe that I slept two hours, but I did believe when I looked at the clock!

      I went to the bathroom to wash my face, but I screamed when I saw my face with all the makeup colors on it! Rama did this while I was sleeping.

      "Rama!" I called in a really high voice.

      She showed up laughing and then she said, "Oops, someone needs help!"

      "Why did you do this?" I asked.

      "For fun," she said turning around in a circle.

      "Oh thanks," I was mad.

      I hid my anger so Rama doesn't know that I'm worried about mom. But I'll do something like this to her later. Umm… Maybe while she's sleeping at night.

      I washed my face. It was full of makeup on my lips and on my cheeks and there was a red circle around my nose…

      "I really thank you. Thanks Rama," I said hiding my smile.

       After that I went to my room and  started thinking more about mom until I heard the doorbell.

       Rama opened the door before me. It was Aunt Sena.

       "Hi girls," She said.

      "Hello," I said.

      "Your dad called. I told him I was coming to sleep here."

      "Ok, but what about mom?" I asked.

      "Well, he said that they were in a taxi and a car hit them, and your dad had some small cuts on his body, and your mother is still at the hospital, but they are fine, so don't worry," Aunt Sena said.

      "But are they going to the conference?" Rama asked.

      "I don't know. Your father said that he'll call you,” she said.

      My aunt put her bag in Rama's room. Then she said,”Let's watch a movie!"

      I knew she's doing that so we don't think a lot about mom and dad.

      We turned the TV on and we started looking for something to watch.

      After searching a lot, we finally found a good family movie.

      We started watching it. It had some scary parts, so when any of these parts came, we just changed to another channel.

       After a few minutes, the telephone rang, and I jumped to answer.

       "Hello," I said holding the receiver.

       Someone I don't think I know that had a weak voice answered saying,"Hi".

       "Hi. Who's talking?" I asked when I really did not know who was talking on the telephone.

       "Hi sweetie. How are you? I really miss you! How's everyone there?" The voice said.

       Who could it be except mom? She's the only one who says 'sweetie', but I think she's really badly hurt; her voice is strange. I hope she's fine soon.

"Mom?" I said

       "Yes, how are you?" Mom said.

       "Are you feeling better? What happened to you?" I asked when I was sure that she was really mom.

       "I'm feeling better now. I'm still in the hospital. How's Rama and Aunt Sena and Uncle Aman…Oh and how are you?" mom asked.

       I told her everything. Mom said that she's going to do a small operation. I was worried again.

       Mom tried to make me think that the operation is a small one, but I was worried. When I hear the word 'operation' I think it's something dangerous!

       I did not tell Rama. I decided to tell her in the morning because sometimes she thinks a lot about things like this before sleeping. I whispered this to Aunt Sena before she talked with mom and I told her to not tell Rama.

       When the movie was over, it was 9:30 pm. Aunt Sena told us to go sleep, but when we told her that we had no school tomorrow, she said, “Ok then, you can watch whatever you want, but first, you have to wear your pajamas.”

       We hurried to our rooms. We were in a hurry! We wanted to change our clothes before the next movie started.

       Rama finished before me. I heard her shut the door of her room.

       When I was done, I ran to the family room, but I did not find Rama and Aunt Sena.

       First, I thought they would be hiding from me, but then, I started thinking, what if a thief was shutting that door? What if something happened like a fire in the house and they went out and forgot me? I thought a lot, and then I went checking the house.

        I looked in every single room and I looked outside nearby the house, but I did not find them, and I did not find a thief or a fire!

I wanted to call the police. I walked toward the phone.

       Suddenly, and before I could call, I think I saw someone wearing dark clothes staring at me through the window. I froze.

       I was worried. What do I do? Do I go outside to see that person in black? But he's the thief! He would take me with Aunt Sena and Rama. Or I just call the police? But the thief is seeing me, so he could just open the outside door and come in and grab me!

      I was confused. I did not move, and the person outside did not move too, and he kept staring at me.

      I could not see his face, or see him well. I just saw a shape of a person staring at me. It was 9:56 pm.

      Suddenly, the person in black moved. I was scared. I thought that he would come in and grab me.

      I started crying when the door opened. I dialed 1,5, but I forgot the rest. I was so scared.

      When the person in black entered the house, I closed my eyes; I didn't want to see the last of my life.

      While I was closing my eyes, the thief said, “Why are you scared? And from what?”

      I recognized that it was Aunt Sena! I opened my eyes and hugged her. "What are you scared from?" She asked.

      "I thought you were a thief…" I said and I told her the whole story.

      Then, Rama entered the house holding a black plastic basket full of wood for the fireplace.

      "We did not mean to scare you. I just told Rama to help me get wood for the fireplace," Aunt Sena said.

      "Yes, we meant to scare her!" Rama said jokingly.

      "I was not scared…Umm, maybe a bit," I said.

      "Ha. Ha," Rama said in a kind of a fake laugh.

       Aunt Sena and Rama went to continue watching the film, while I was in my room writing in my diary.

     When I was done writing, I went and watched the film with Rama and Aunt Sena.

      At 10:48 pm I said, "I'm going to sleep."

      "I think we all should go sleep," Aunt Sena said.

      "But I don't want to!" Rama said.

      "No. No. No. We are all going to sleep now," Aunt Sena said.

       We brushed our teeth, and we all sat on my bed deciding where everyone was going to sleep.

       Our final results were: me on my bed in my room, and Rama and Aunt Sena on Rama's bed in Rama's room.

       It took me a long time to sleep although I was so tired.

       I woke up at 5:13 am. I had a mission to do.

       I went to the bathroom and got the toothpaste. Then, I went to Rama's room. I stood beside Rama who was sleeping and made sure I don't make noise because Aunt Sena is a light sleeper.

       I put the yucky toothpaste on her eyebrow and under her noise like a mustache. Then, I put some on her lips. Yuck!

          I went out of the room and I put the toothpaste back in the bathroom and went back to sleep as if nothing had happened.

          I couldn't sleep; I was not tired at all. I got the DVD player and watched a movie.

          In the middle of it, I was bored because I've watched it a zillion times! I turned it off and put it away.

          I thought of things to do like read a book. I don't feel like reading. Watch TV? I've watched a lot during these two days. Get the laptop and play? I'm too tired to get it. Go and put some more toothpaste on Rama. Perfect and I'll get the laptop on my way back.

          I jumped out of bed, and while I was walking toward the bathroom, a great idea bubbled in my mind, so I went and got my skipping rope.

          I walked toward the pink and white room, to the room where the trouble maker was sleeping.

          I took the blanket calmly so aunt Sena doesn't wake up. I tied Rama's legs. I recognized that the toothpaste was on the pillow because Rama moves a lot during sleeping!

         Then, I went back to my room and sat on my bed and covered myself. It was freezing!

         Oh, I forgot the laptop. I remembered. But I'm not going to get it! I really want to play on it, but I don't want to get it!

          I fell asleep while sitting on the bed, but I then woke at 6:37am.

          I sat in my bed and started thinking, “What would Rama do when she sees all that toothpaste on her face”, and I reminded myself to tell Rama that mom and dad had a car accident. Oh, and I remembered that we should buy a new toothpaste!

          "Oh, who did this?" I heard Rama crying.

          I knew that she saw the toothpaste, but I went to see what happened as if I did not do anything.

          I went to Rama's room and said, "Oh, what happened to you Rama? Who put the toothpaste on your face? I think it's the thief that came in the night!"

           Rama looked like a toothpaste monster. She had some on her hair and a lot on her pillow, and she looked terrible!

           "Why did you do that? I hate you!" Rama said.

           "I really don't know why, but I think I did that because you put makeup on my face," I answered her question calmly.

           "Aleen, why did you do that with her face?” Aunt Sena asked after Rama woke her up.

           "Umm, hi Aunt Sena," I said trying to make myself sound comfortable. I really didn’t know what to say to her.

           I untied the skipping rope off Rama’s feet. I grabbed her hand and took her to my room. Then I made her swear ten times that she was not going to tell anyone what happened.

           Rama took a shower and I did so, too.

          

We went with Aunt Sena to the mall after we had breakfast and took our showers.

           I got new toothpaste, and I got a hairbrush; mine broke a few days ago, and now Rama's embarrassing me by telling her friends that I did not brush my hair during these few days! We got flour because we wanted to make cake, and I got a beautiful purple shirt. We also got green and pink cardboards. Rama got two blue pens because their English teacher told them to.

            Aunt Sena got things for her house.

            When we were done shopping, we stood in a long line to pay. Then, we left the mall holding many colorful bags.

            On our way back home, we stopped nearby a small store and got ice cream. They were delicious! I really wanted another cone, but it is good manners not to eat a lot in front of people.

            Aunt Sena drove us to the house. She told us to call her if we wanted anything, and she also told us that she would come after an hour.

            “Come eat lunch here around two o'clock," I said.

            “Oh, I forgot to tell you. I will come and take you for lunch at my house," Aunt Sena said.

            “Today it's our turn to invite you," I said.

            “Ok, we'll come at two o'clock," she said.

            I opened the door with the key that mom gave me before she left. We went inside.

            I put the bags on my bed and put my jogging pants on. I was so tired, so I slept on my bed. 

            Before I fell asleep, I thought that maybe Rama would put something on me like makeup, toothpaste, pencil sharpening…and so, when this crazy idea bubbled in my mind, I couldn't sleep.

           

I went to the kitchen and called Rama. We sat on the couch and started flipping the pages of the cooking book to find a good recipe.

            After a few minutes, we put the cooking book on the counter opened on page 132.

            I got potatoes and Rama got cheese from the freezer. Rama peeled the potatoes, and then she cut them and put them in a huge oven pan.

            I put the cheese over them. Then we put them in the oven.

           The yummy gravy was prepared on the side.

           While the potatoes were cooking, we got tomatoes, cucumbers, lemon, lettuce, and radish. We cut them to make salad. I started with the lettuce, Rama stated with the cucumbers. Then I squeezed the lemon over them.

          I took the potatoes from the oven and poured the gravy over them.

          Suddenly, the door bell and the phone rang. I went to open the door, and Rama went to get the phone.

           It was Aunt Sena and Uncle Aman on the door, and it was dad on the phone.

          Aunt Sena and uncle Aman went into the kitchen.

          "What operation?" I heard Rama saying while holding the phone on her ear.

          Oh, I forgot to tell her.

          “Aleen, dad wants to talk to you," Rama told me after a few minutes.

          "Before I talked to dad, I told Rama to get juice from the fridge and put the food on the table.

          "Hi dad," I said on the phone.

          "Oh! Hi darling. Your mom is going to do her operation now, so wish her the best," dad said. He sounded worried and sad. I was going to cry.

          "Now?"

          "Yup. Now."

          "Ok, I'm going to pray for her."

          "Ok, how is everything going at home?"

          "It's good, but it's better with you. We went to the mall with Aunt Sena, she slept here yesterday."

          "Is everything fine?"

          "Yes everything is good. Don’t worry about us."

          "Ok, talk to you later."

          "Dad, when are you coming?"

          "We’re coming on Tuesday."

          "But I'm worried about mom; tell me more about her."

          "You're worried? No it's just a small operation, pray for her and wish her the best," Dad said.

          "I love you dad," I said

          "I love you too…Bye now,” he said.

          I felt that he was crying the word 'love'.

          I went to the kitchen. Everything was ready on the table. There were four glass cups of pineapple juice and four plates, and there was the bowl of salad and the pan that contained my favorite food 'Poutine'. Oh, and I was surprised, the counter was clean. I don't know who cleaned it, but I don't care.

         We had lunch. Then we cleaned up the counter and wiped the table.

         We sat with Aunt Sena and uncle Aman, and then they left.

         In the evening dad called. He said that mom’s operation was done and that she was so worried before she went to the operation room.

         I was worried; I kept on thinking of mom, would she be better now? That kind of thinking made me tired.

        Days passed, and on Monday, I was even more worried. I thought a lot of mom. I wrote everything in my diary. They went to a conference. I think it was the worst week ever even though I tried to make the best of it.

         I kept thinking of them in the house, at school, and everywhere. Mom and dad were always on my mind. When I think of them, I say “I'll see them soon, nothing to worry about.”

        On Tuesday, Rama and I did a big card for mom and dad after we came from school. We used the cardboards we got from the mall. After that, we made a cake for them. But I was not happy making it. I was still thinking of mom and dad. They did not call yesterday and today.

        

We went with Aunt Sena and Uncle Aman to get them from the airport. It was 6:00 pm.

         We stood in the airport waiting for them. After fifteen minutes of waiting, they finally came.

         "Mom," I said very happily and I ran toward her and hugged her.

         "Ouch," she said.

         It seemed that her stomach was hurting her because of the car accident. Her face was not normal. And dad's too.

         We hugged and kissed them. I really missed them a lot. I hope mom feels better soon.

         We carried their bags. Mom and dad couldn't hold them.

         Aunt Sena and Uncle Aman came with us to our house. We sat in the family room. Rama and I went out of the room and got the cake and the card.

         We went back to the family room. "Surprise!" Rama said.

         "Oh, you did not tell me you're going to do this!" Aunt Sena said.

         "Thanks anyway!" mom said.

         "It looks good!" Dad said when I put it on the coffee table.

         I thought mom and dad had a really big accident. It wasn't that bad anymore, but I wished none of that happened. It was like mom and dad went to the trouble country 'Italy'! Anyways, I wasn’t that sad; I knew everything would be alright.

I was happy because I think we are a great family!