Page 32 - Reason To Sing by Kelita Haverland

Reason To Sing

box. I can hear Mommy’s voice off in the distance. My ears
perk up. She sounds angry. I try to listen.
Ivan, you’re not getting that big jar of pickles out of the
cupboard. You’re in no shape, so please, just forget about them.
Go on now - get out of the kitchen!”
No sooner has Mommy left the kitchen, Daddy is back
rummaging around in the cupboards. He is not taking no for
an answer. He really wants those sweet mixed pickles!
When he finally finds his treasure, he carefully attempts to
remove the heavy jar from the top shelf, but loses his balance.
SMASH! The giant pickle jar hits the floor. From all over
the house we hear the heart-stopping crash and race into the
kitchen. Shattered glass, sweet mixed pickles and sticky juice
cover the entire kitchen floor! It’s an overwhelming sight and I
know what is coming next.
My mother is livid. “Ivan - look what you’ve done! Didn’t I
tell you? This is exactly what I said was going to happen. That’s
why I told you NOT to get those pickles out. Just look at this
mess. Get out of the kitchen!”
Daddy looks like a pathetic scolded child. But I am the
child. Why do I have to witness this? Oh, please don’t let her be
so mad. I don’t want to be here, right now. I wish I was invisible.
Mommy does not try to hide her anger. She knows she
is now the one in charge of cleaning up this dangerous mess.
Daddy keeps repenting and offering to help. He kneels on the
floor, desperately trying. He mutters, “I’m sorry,” over and over
again. His speech is weak and slurred. “I’m s-s-oo s-s-s-sorry.
You’re right. You’re right. I’ll clean it up. I’ll clean it all up. I’m
sooooo stupid – so stupid. I’m so sorry.”
Daddy protests and tensions only raise higher. Mommy
is fuming! She doesn’t want Daddy to help out at all! “Ivan,
there’s glass everywhere!” she screams. “You’re going to cut

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