Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: GAMBLE (04/14/16)
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TITLE: Caught! | Previous Challenge Entry
By Catherine Craig
04/20/16 -
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Tired of second-guessing her mother’s reasons for the clandestine activity, Crystal slipped quietly inside the front door. “Mom, what are you doing?”
Startled, June threw up her arms, sending the small white squares flying in all directions. “What in the world do you think you are doing?” The words spoken in a flat irritated tone and the feverish look in her mother’s eyes further aroused Crystals’ suspicion.
“Mom, let me help you.” Bending over to hide her alarm, she picked up the wayward torn open tabs. “Why are you looking through these? They old!”
Crystal looked in time to see a look in her mother’s eyes, almost like an animal caught in a trap and seeking escape. There was no warmth, nor was there love in that look, just wariness and fear. Stifling a gasp, she just stared.
“You have no business out here, Crystal. Why were you sneaking around outside, spying on me? That’s what I’d expect from your father, not you!”
“Mom!” She felt the blood drain from her face. This wasn’t her mother, but a stranger. Clearing her throat, Crystal tried again. “Mom,” she began evenly. “It’s not normal to tear through those tabs the way you are. You don’t even seem like you.” Her voice rose and she bit her lip to keep from crying.
June started to speak but stopped and instead, stretched her lips into a grim line. Her hands went to her hips. “It’s nobody’s business what I do out here at night. I told your father that; now I’ll tell you!” Taking a menacing step that caused Crystal to back step, she lowered her voice; the look in her mother’s eyes reminded Crystal of a snake seeking its prey. “If you ever come out here again like this – after dark – to check on me, you will live to regret it.”
Summoning up every bit of courage she had, Crystal prayed for more. “No mom, you listen!” She stepped forward, this time causing her mother to retreat. “There is something terribly wrong here.” Her voice rose and she mentally shoved her indignation down. “If Dad has gotten after you about this before I moved back home over this, then…” June had bumped into a chair and collapsed onto it, listening, her lips parted and eyes wide with surprise. “Mom, what is driving that…” At a loss for words, Crystal dropped onto the chair across the table from her mother. “How do I describe what I saw?” Helplessly, she held up her hands. “I can’t!”
For a moment, June covered her face with her hands, but then stood up. Without saying a word, she crossed the restaurant, stopping at the wainscoted wall on the far side so quickly that Crystal bumped into her.
Taking a knife from its tray behind the bar, June slipped it into a crack and pried a board loose. Bending over to reach into the cavity, her mother groped, searching for something.
“Aha, here it is!” Rising, she turned around and held something out to Crystal.
“No!” Shocked, Crystal stared at the box overflowing with hundred dollar bills. Swallowing, she reached for it and then as if scorched, drew back. “Did you win all this from pull tabs?”
“No.”
“Then how?”
Her mother’s eyes met hers.
“You didn’t.” Crystal stared. “Did you?”
“Yes.”
“Why?
“Your father threatened to take everything, to leave.”
“So you stole from him?”
“Yes.”
“I see.”
Her thoughts were in turmoil. How could she not have seen this? Crystal dropped her eyes. Caught up in her own troubles; she’d ignored the warnings signs. “Why reveal the truth?”
“ I need help,” June confessed. “I justified taking the money as being my due, but have lost in my trips to Vegas what I thought I’d gained. My money habit is out of control.”
“Wow, Mom. What a mess!”
“Yeah.” June smiled, her brown eyes bright with tears. “I can’t do it alone.”
In silent agreement, both reached for the other’s hands and lowered their heads. Crystal waited, and then bleakly, prayed as her mother wept. “Dear Lord, Father in Heaven, You know all! Help us, please!”
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