Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ Fourty Seven Times ❯ Breakfast ( Chapter 2 )

Author's Note: This is `chapter' two. Please don't make me resort to BEGGING for reviews, eh?

 

All characters are MINE so please ask if you want to use them, and don't put my story somewhere else or I will be forced to hire assassins.

 

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Breakfast

 

She came down the hall, still dazed. She was not surprised to see her mother had made a large, traditional breakfast. Even though it was only the three of them, she, her mother, and her younger brother Martin, there was always a restaurant style breakfast sitting on the table. Today it was pancakes, bacon, eggs, and hash browns, each on their own plate at the center of the table. There was one plate already empty to the side, a puddle of syrup still on the plate. Her brother always left the house early to hang out with his friends, doubtlessly causing mischief for the neighbors. She had a new habit of being late and missing the bus.

 

“You need to eat up,” her mother told her, piling food onto her plate. “You have a test today. And I won't be home until late, so dinner won't be ready until at least seven thirty. Do you want more eggs?” Noticing her daughters' vacant expression, Valerie paused. Her daughter hadn't even glanced at the food in front of her despite the fact that she had gone to bed early the night before, skipping dinner.

 

“Are you alright, honey?” Valerie hesitated, waiting for her daughter to speak or respond in some way. “Dear? Did you fall asleep?” Her child was still unresponsive, although her eyes were open and blinking. Slowly, she lowered her head until she was staring at the food.

 

Valerie sighed. She must have been up late last night, studying. “Come on, honey, you need to eat and keep up your strength.” She looked up at the clock. “Oh! Sweetie, you mustn't miss the bus! I can't drive you today!” Valerie playfully slapped the back of her daughters' thick skull.

 

“Ouch! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I- Ow!” She touched the back of her head gently with her middle and forefinger.

 

“Look at the time! You can't miss the bus!” Valerie had an important appointment that morning, and couldn't arrive late.

 

“Oh shit! Bye, Mom!” She got up, grabbed her bag, and began to leave the house, her feet pounding against the tiles of the floor.

 

“Watch your language!” her mother called after her. “And run!” Valerie looked at the full plate now sitting on the table. “Oh, dear. She didn't eat.”

 

Now that she thought of it, her daughter had skipped breakfast many times recently. She was becoming very skinny, although it was difficult to see through her loose, long sleeves. She hadn't asked for more money to put in her lunch account, either.

 

Her daughter locked herself in the bathroom each night, right after dinner. Valerie didn't want to believe it, but she was a psychologist. She had to notice these things for the good of her patients. Her child had been withdrawn lately; she never received calls from her friends anymore, but then, she never got home until very late. She said it was for her after school activities; for the life of her, Valerie couldn't think if she had ever been told what those were.

 

Valerie was late for work. As she passed the bookshelf to get her purse, she grabbed a book titled Eating Disorders; The Early Signs. She could look over it during her lunch break. Valerie could feel a mother-daughter talk just around the corner.

 

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Authors Note: Review? I'll love you forever and a day!