Chapter 2

Mom was never happy, maybe anytime Shee had me around. Miss Mara was the only one I knew that could make her smile.

Unlike my friends, I wasn't allowed to call her "mom" outside our building, she never came to pick me from school and didn't attend PTA meetings, at home I rarely come close to her, she would always tell me she was having her quiet time and won't want to be disturbed. At times I stay a week without seeing her, I would pass information to her through a cell phone or miss Mara. She returns home late most times when I was already in bed, and I think she makes food at night too, then when she's around, she's always indoors. We had no house keeper so I had to take care of myself.

I was going to clock thirteen the next day, and she's planning to send me away. What a birthday gift, though I have never received a gift from her, she always travelled or sends me a vacation a day before my day. But all these never made me hate her. I had always wished to get more of her, trying to do things to make her happy.

On her birthday - 2 years before now- I invited my friends, wanted to surprise her with a birthday song. We had behind the sofas on the sittingroom and waited for her to come in, I had already phoned her, telling her that she had a visitor. When she came, we popped out singing a birthday song. She waited till the song was over. She was actually got surprised though. Excited that my plan went well I ran to her and gave her a tight hug only to get a slap on my left cheek. "Happy birthday Mom" I managed to say with a smile accompanied by tear drops.