The Tale of Madelyn- Chapter 2

Instructions

I turned the lights on and told Amara to sit on our boring grey couch and to leave her bag next to the door. I surveyed the living room, making sure everything was perfect to avoid being forced to clean everything by my Aunt Sadie. The table is clean, the shelf is dusted, I vacuumed yesterday, the table is set, perfect. I thought to myself, before going to the couch to join Amara. “Amara, get your books out of your bag, I’ll get mine too. We can pretend that we’re studying, if she thinks you’re a good student who studies, it’ll leave a good first impression. Also, have perfect posture at all times, she’s really picky about that.” I told Amara. Amara sighed, “I asked you if there was anything else on the stairs.” “I couldn’t think of more at the time, okay!” I said defensively. “Hey, no hard feelings,” Amara said, comfortingly, “I’ll go grab my books.” Me and Amara both got up and walked over to our bags to get our books and notes, then plopped back down on the couch. We spread out our notes messily all over the table as if we’ve been studying for hours. We opened our books up to random pages to fool my aunt that we were reading, and so on. “Do you really think this’ll work?” Amara asked as she shuffled around papers. “Honestly? I don’t know, I hope so.” I laughed uneasily. Suddenly, I heard steady footsteps coming from close in the hall, and the clicking of the door unlocking. “My Aunt Sadie and my Uncle Pat are home.” I said fearfully. I watched as my Aunt Sadie walked through the door. Aunt Sadie looked so much like me you could think she was my mom. She had the same long red hair, the same blue eyes, and the same pale skin. We weren’t that far off in personality either. Both me and Aunt Sadie are smart, perfectionist, and ambitious. But we’re still very different. Aunt Sadie never had fun, she was never happy, she worked a boring office job as a secretary, she hated anything unprofessional. Meanwhile I had fun, was happy, and didn’t care if things weren’t serious. Yet, she still acts like I want what she wants even though there are clear differences between us. In fact, I could barely believe that two people could grow up in the same place, and turn out so different. Because, Aunt Sadie grew up on the farm too, so I don’t really know why she was the way she was. Then, I looked at my Uncle Pat, who was a completely different story. He was tan with dark hair, and tall. He was happy all the time, but a total pushover, and let Aunt Sadie boss him around. He wasn’t strict, per se, but if Aunt Sadie wanted something, he would do it. Sometimes I wished he would just stand up to her though. “Happy birthday Madelyn!” Aunt Sadie said as she put her bag down on the nearest table. Uncle Pat added in, “Happy 13th!” “Thanks” I said, smiling. Aunt Sadie looked up, “Is this Amara, sitting next to you?” “Yes, I’m Amara,” Amara said meekishly. “I wasn’t talking to you dear, you’d know that if you’d been paying attention, but thanks anyways,” Aunt Sadie started, “I was asking because I wanted to say that if that is Amara, I’m very disappointed. I thought I had raised my niece Madelyn to have friends who had good enough manners to know not to throw their books all over people’s tables like they own the place.” Amara looked down at the ground, ashamed. She then started gathering her things and putting them in her bag. I started to explain, “Amara needed to study Aunt Sadie! I told her she could put her things on the ta-” “Don’t talk back, Madelyn.” Aunt Sadie snapped. “Anyway, we have some sandwiches from Walker’s Deli and we set the table before we left, so we’re ready to eat.” I led Amara to the table and sat her in a seat next to me as I helped Aunt Sadie and Uncle Pat pass out pieces of the sandwiches on our plates. We all sat down. “So, Amara, are you in the studying club with Madelyn? She’s always talking about how great it is.” Uncle Pat asked, in an attempt to make conversation. “Ummm,” Amara got nervous, “Uh, I’m not, actually.” Aunt Sadie raised her eyebrows, “You’re not? What do you do after school then?” “I- uh,” Amara glanced at me as if looking for help, “I’m on the debate team. I’m trying to build my skill. I.. want to be a lawyer when I grow up.” Amara lied. “So you want to grow up to be someone whose job is arguing with people?” Aunt Sadie asked accusingly. “Well… no. I mean.. Yes? I- my mom is a lawyer.” Amara stammered. She then took a big bite of her sandwich, I knew it was an excuse not to talk. “I see that you have no greater aspirations than those of your mother’s. Hmm, interesting.” Aunt Sadie said as if she was calculating Amara’s every flaw. “How was work, Aunt Sadie?” I ask, trying to take the focus of the conversation away from Amara “Good. Amara, how are you enjoying school?” Aunt Sadie asked with a wicked look on her face.