Through the Eyes of a Girl-A Collection of Essays

(rough 1)
He was my best friend and he left while I was in the bathtub. We had just moved. I was five. My mom had prepared dinner. The table was set and the house smelled of pot roast and potatoes. She had baked bread and made a beautiful and healthy salad. She put me in the bath and filled the water up with bubbles. I played with a washcloth and swirled it beneath my fingers. She left the door open so she could hear me. We were all in a good mood. I felt at home.

My brother was in his room. He was drawing. He got up and looked in his closet, he plugged in an iron and starched a shirt. He was in high school and he was cool. He was smart, good looking and preppy. He was the President of his class. He was captain of the football team. He drove an El Camino, he gave rides to the other teenagers in our neighborhood. I was proud of him, proud to be his little sister. Everyone knew me because of him. His girlfriends were nice to me and taught me how to cheer.

My dad came in around 7:00, later than he was expected . He was carrying a 12 pack of beer. He didn't speak to me when he came in the door. He walked past the bathroom through the living room and into the kitchen. I could hear he and my mom talk. I tilted my ear to listen. I could hear them, but not clearly over the TV, the sound of the water. Their voices got louder and I began to take notice. I sat in still water turning colder, the bubbles now were gone. My brother stood up and listened at his doorway. He motioned at me across the hall to stay quiet.

I heard my mom begin to cry. She said, "It's not fair!" she started talking quickly starting to move about. I could hear the sadness in her voice I could here the desperation of someone who was scared. My dads voice got louder and he began to get upset. He tried to calm her, but she didn't listen. She started going insane. She cleared the cabinets , pushed everything to the floor. She started throwing things and hitting him upon the chest. She begged and pleaded. She cursed him. She ran down the hallway looking for my brother. She found his room and started screaming. "Your dad wants to leave us, he wants to get a divorce. He doesn't love us anymore. Isn't that funny?" She screamed.

I sat in the tub being still. Tears flowing from my eyes. I twisted the washcloth and held it close while I cried. I was afraid to leave the water. It was private and warm and safe. I hid behind the curtain. I just listened. My dad started getting mad he was frustrated by the show. He threatened her to calm her down, but she didn't. He grabbed his jacket and keys, he headed to the door. My mom attacked him with the pot roast and threw it at him. He yelled that she was crazy and he knew it would turn out like this. He had almost made it to the door when he stopped. He yelled for me, "Clara are you there?"
I sat quietly afraid to talk. "Clara if you're there, I want you to know something. I love you with all my heart. Don't forget it, I'll always love you. I'll be back real soon."
He left through the doorway I never saw his face. I listened as his car drove away stunned by what had happened. My brother closed his door. My mother sat in a chair and weeped. I turned back on the water and laid down.