*creak*

The door knob turned left. While I still lay in the doorway with my eyes fixed to the door.

*click*

It opened easily own its own than from pressure of my hands.

"Aaahhh... Yes"exclaimed a booming voice. Now that voice was filled in happiness of a success.

The door slightly inched away from the doorframe. I started screaming my heads off when I saw a brown country shoe peeping out of the sealing edge of the door.

A hand grabbed mine from behind and another pasted a blow on my back to make me stand up.

"Why are you so loud? Stop it already." Mom winced and placed a palm over her ear reacting to my scream.

My scream died off when I saw a man come out in his orange boiler suit from now fully open door. He was that owner of those brown country shoes.

He had one screw driver clutched between his teeth while most of the other tools stuck out from his pocket.
Now I know why the sounds were muffled initially.

He stepped out and closed the door behind him.
He came forward and shook hands with Mom. While I followed his every move with wide eyes and opened mouth.

"Welcome to your new home Mrs. Bassett." the man said while his mouth curls into a smile revealing a row of his white teeth.

"Thank you Mr. Warner." said my Mom while happily shaking his hand.

" I was fixing the door knob. It was loose a bit." Mr. Warner said to me pointing at the door making me close my still open mouth.

I managed to gain some words and blurted out what held in my throat.
" I thought it was ghost or something when the knob started dancing its own. I didn't expect you to come from inside since you were not seen when we came here. I get scared easily you kno...."

*slap*

"Millie is very talkative, as you can see it yourself." Mom spoke through clenched teeth with her eyes shooting death stares on me.

"Mom that hurts"I whined rubbing on the spot of my Mom's perfect slap.

Mr. Warner started laughing.
" Madam is funny."

We both turned to see Mr. Warner enjoying the scene of a mother and daughter drama.

We didn't mind the laughter and joined in to break the awkwardness.

Mr. Warner handed over the keys to Mom and walked away to his car in driveway. I saw him drove off the street.

" I was an idiot for not noticing his car parked in front." I sighed under my breath while entering through the door.

" You should have noticed, to cut some slack on the embarrassments you give me." Mom complained following me into the main room.

"Momm.. It was not embrasssin... Wow"
I stopped my whining while my eyes widened seeing the place.

It was splendid.

The room was so spacious it would fit two new sets of sofa even can hold extra sets of bean bags. This was too much for us but I loved it anyway.

I took the bedroom in left while Mom took the one in right. My room was large with a cozy bed and table at a corner perched with a lamp. The cupboards were neat and freshly dusted. Mr. Warner has done a good job.

Yet another day should be spend in unpacking. But it was for Mom not for me.

From tomorrow my boarding life starts at a new high school. It's too much to ask for staying at a hostel, having a home in the same city. But I had to be serious with studies or I end up watching movies every night with Mom and enjoying life. So I left my suitcase to rest free from unpacking. I left my paper bag with posters and my other stuff.

I noticed my old Halloween mask among them. Shifting homes also mean digging in the old memories too. A evil thought lightened in my head as I saw the old mask.

I creeped in and stuck my head out from door of the other bedroom. It was the same as mine. Mom was laying on her bed with eyes glued to the ceiling.

" You have so much to do" I growled under my horror mask of last Halloween.

" Aahhh.. You scared me to death. I will burn that thing if I see that again on your face." Mom jumped off the bed shouting words. I take after my mom, I too get scared easily. But its fun to scare my mom too. The evil me. I laughed at my own thought.

I giggled and went to sit on the bed.

" I had to take it back to get you off this bed." I patted my hands on the soft mattress gesturing to take a seat.

" My room is out of bounds from today." Mom announced like a rebelling teenager before sitting on the bed.

" No one is going to come anyway"My voice trailed off when I thought of leaving Mom alone.

" Awwww...My Millie is sad to leave me alone." she said sweetly while pulling me into a tight hug. She knew me well.

" No I am not. I won't regret leaving you here. You make me clean the home all time when you are around." I lied trying to break off from her grasp.

She knew I was playing around. "Okay my baby girl. Then don't come back in weekends for my chocolate brownies." she mocked at me. She knows I will fall for anything with her chocolate brownies in bait.

" Mommy you won't know how much I regret leaving you alone in here" I jumped off the bed to act out a scene with a hand gripping my chest and the other wiping the invisible tears.

" You are bad at acting Millie." Mom started laughing at my weird act.

I was happy to see her laugh. Even happy when I make her laugh.

" Will miss you Mom" I went for a hug when my eyes welled with tears.

" Me too darling." hugging me tightly.

~

They say the cool breeze felt at the dawn break is blissful. But I never experienced that. I was a heavy sleeper.

I woke up as the alarm went off at six. Mornings are the best things of a day.

I washed up and changed into a neat pair of clothes. A black pencil fit jean and a blue tank top. It looked good. It was apt for the first day. I would wear blue everyday if I wouldn't be called a freak.

I packed my other things went out to the kitchen.

We had managed to unpack the things and arrange the kitchen at least. I didn't want to leave the kitchen under the responsibility of my Mom. I won't be surprised to find knives in freezer while coming for the weekend.

The sweet smell of pancakes filled my nostrils. She knows how to make the day perfect with her breakfast.

" Happy Morning" Mom chirped from the kitchen when she spotted me setting the suitcase down near the doorway.

" Morning Mom and to pancakes" I replied and walked to sit on the chair placing my backpack in on the dining table.

" It's hot. Take it slow."she said while placing a steaming place of pancakes on the table.

" Thanks Mom." I managed to say before stuffing in a large piece ignoring the heat.

~

It was sunny in very morning. Sun shined happily through the clouds.
Summer doesn't seem to be wearing off at the earliest. It was still having fun roasting the skin off the people. I wondered to myself stepping out of home hiding my face from the sunlight.

Mom pulled the car out from the driveway.

" Bye bye, new home." I glanced at the blue door and bid a farewell.
I jogged to join Mom locking the door behind.

My new school was one hour from home. It seemed near. But it was not. I felt wise choosing the hostel. Or else I would have ended up cycling the whole distance. I felt disgusted at the thought of reaching the school drenched in sweat the very first day.
Thank the odds.

I hugged Mom before getting off the car. I got my suitcase from the car trunk and swung my backpack on the shoulder. I went to the front waved at Mom and stood by watching her drive away. I missed her already.

The sun glared from above.
I stood there.
I stared down at my neat pair of white sneakers.

I was standing at the edge of the pavement as my shadow fell on the road. I smiled at it which I could not see obviously.

I raised my hands in a V. Showing peace to my own self.

I saw something dark getting bigger and bigger beside my shadow. It reached the height of my own shadow now.

It even raised its hands imitating mine. I heard my own scream echoing in my ears as the dark figure ended up showing it.

The same 'V'.