Page 22 - The Muse 2019-20 Issue

It’s Just a Game!
by Noa Cohen
7th Grade
Blue Ribbon
“Yeah, Mommy, what’s in that bag?” I said mockingly in a high-pitched voice.
“Mommy!” she shouted. “Maya is making fun of me! You should punish her if you’re a good mom!”
“Girls!” my mom said. “Calm down! I don’t want the neighbors to hear you fight!”
She waited ten seconds for us to be quiet and then continued waving the bag. “I bought something that will make us spend some time together. This is why I bought this...Drum roll please...” She waited for us to drum roll, but noticing we weren’t going to do it, she said, “Board Game!” She got the game out of the
bag. The box was black and shiny and said in golden letters: CityMania: Create your own city!
“Mom,” I said, “You are not gonna make me play that! You know I hate games! They are so boring!”
“Honey,” my mom replied, “life is a game!”
“Let me guess! Another quote you found on Twitter?” I asked.
“How did you know?” she said, surprised.
“I just know you!” I said exasperated.
“You have to play!” she said. “It will be good for us to spend some time together!”
Suddenly, I realized something. “It is just so you can post a picture of us, right?” I asked going
towards my room. It was more of a statement than a question.
“Honey, you know it won’t look good if it’s just Lily and me!” she answered.
“Why is social media all you care about? The only reason I take dance classes is just so you can
take pictures. You don’t even care if I like dancing or not! And if I decide to quit, you would just make me do art classes!” I shouted.
“That’s not true!” my mom said all offended-like, “Besides, I almost reached 200 followers. I can’t just let them down!”
“Mom, 200 followers is not even that much!” I shouted. “And you would rather let your kids down? Now I get it, YOU ARE PATHETIC!”
“I am your mother! Don’t you dare talk to me like that! One more word and...”
“Ding Dong! Saved by the bell. Literally!”
“Hello, Emma!” I heard Mom say. “What are you doing here?” She opened the door with one
hand and adjusted her long brown hair behind her ear with the other.
Emma answered confused, “Sorry, Mrs. Rain. Didn't Maya tell you she invited me to sleep over?
Did she not tell you? If there is a problem, it’s fine. I can just-” 22
Control is one of the things I wish I had. My whole life is being controlled by my mother. Little did I know what control could do to a person! It all started when Mom came home with a bag from the new antique shop that opened down our street a few days ago.
“What's in that bag?” my little sister, Lily, asked.
Natalia Nuila, Grade 7