Maternal Absence Page 9

  “No, I’d rather you not witness the trash that I come from.”

  “Don’t say that,” said Linda.

  “Well, it’s true.”

  “You’re not trash,” said Anna. “You’re right, though, about your mother.”

  Linda looked at her.

  “What? Her mother’s trash. Just face it. I’m not saying Piper’s trash.”

  After lunch, she took the train downtown, and got off and walked to the Sheriton. She found the side entrance to the café, went in and ordered a coffee.

  She tried to tell her herself to calm, as her heart pounded and she breathed heavy, but it just wouldn’t slow. Then she looked up at the clock and realized that half an hour had passed.

  She pulled out her homework and tried to focus, but she couldn’t stop looking out the window for her. Finally, she went up to the counter and asked the lady, “Can you call the rooms here?”

  “Sure, who are you looking for?”

  “Mercy Collins, she’s my mother.”

  “Oh, actually, there’s a note here.”

  She pulled a white envelope from the side of the register. Scrawled across the front was her mother’s familiar cursive.

  Eagerly, she ripped open the envelope as she walked back to her table.

  ‘Piper,

  I’m sorry to do this to you but I thought it best that we not see each other. You’re very angry with me, and you shouldn’t be. I don’t understand why you hate me so much, or why you yelled at me on the phone, yesterday. What makes you think you can talk to your mother that way? When you grow up, give me a call. Until then, I don’t want to see you.

  By the way, I did try to look for you after you went missing. I’d gotten arrested for bouncing too many checks, but hey, you’re so much better than me, right?

  Take care.

  Mom’

  Wow, thought Piper. After everything her mother had done, she really couldn’t figure out why Piper would be angry with her. She honestly thought that yelling at her on the phone was okay, and that Piper ought not to have yelled back.

  It was just the sort of thing she expected of her. She thought she could treat her bad, and Piper should just take it. Perhaps that was so, but it wasn’t anymore.

  Piper sighed as she ripped up the letter and tossed it in the trash. Then she told herself to smile. As far as she was concerned, it was already a better day than when she woke up.

  She went back to school because her choir was supposed to practice right after the last class. After missing a week of school, she needed to catch up.

  As she walked up the front entrance, Linda and Anna were headed out. They stopped her in the hall.

  “How did it go?” asked Linda

  “She didn’t show.”

  They looked at her a moment.

  “Are you okay?”

  “Yeah, I’m better in fact. When I read that she’d gone, a weight was lifted off my chest. Still, it doesn’t make it easier.”

  “What do you mean?” asked Anna.

  “Knowing that I’m all alone in the world. No one will ever be there for me, unless I meet a man and get married and have kids. Until that time, I’m on my own, I guess.”

  “That’s not entirely true. You have me and Anna, and Molly asked about you the other day.”

  “Yep,” added Anna. “We’ll always be friends.”

  “Sometimes, blood isn’t the best thing for people. I see this sort of thing in my own family all the time. Just because you’re related, doesn’t mean you’re good for each other. Be glad that she’s gone, and not holding you back, anymore,” said Linda.

  Linda’s words made Piper reflect to an earlier time in the apartment back in Pittsburgh. Back to a time when she told herself she’d rather be alone. And when she thought about it now, she realized how silly she was. She didn’t want to be totally alone. Piper was very happy until her mother came back. Sure, maybe one day she’d have to face her again, but not today. No, because today she had choir practice. This week, she had tons of homework to do. Now, she had friends and a life worth living. Mom wouldn’t be important anymore, not for a while, anyway.