1.2

A few days had past since that infamous scene in front of the bus and the kids at school were finally finding something else to talk about. However, the subjects still pertained to Janet. That's the things about small towns, Kaylee thought as she walked outside to get the paper. There really wasn't anything to do but gossip about people. Picking up the paper she absently glanced across the street. Right across from the house sat a car. Kaylee could just see the vague shape of two people inside. Shrugging, she headed back toward the house.
Kaylee had just reached for the doorknob when she heard a door open. Looking over her shoulder she saw a woman emerge from the car and cross the street in short, harried steps. Janet must have been watching too because the door to the house opened and she met the woman in the yard.




Not wanting to witness yet another scene between Janet and a furious woman Kaylee reached for the door. The sounds of sobs froze her in her steps.
"Please, please just leave us alone!"
"I'm not doing anything to you. Now your husband on the other hand..."
Moving to the side Kaylee saw Janet lick her lips after making that suggestive statement. The woman buried her face in her hands.
"Please, all I want is my family back together again."
"Lady, I didn't come to him. He came to me. Go sob on his shoulder. Maybe you can kiss and make up. Just remember...when you're kissing him you're tasting-"
"Mom! What's wrong?"
Kaylee's head whipped around to see a boy about her age sitting in the driver's seat of the car. He had rolled down the window and was staring across the street with a worried expression. She watched as he started to reach to undo his seat belt.
His mother must have seen it too but she quickly wiped her face and sucked in a breath before she turned toward the car.
"Nothing sweetheart! I'll be right there."
Kaylee was still staring at him when he turned his head and their eyes connected. She jolted as his piercing blue eyes seem to stare deep inside of her. She had never really given it much thought. She never wondered if those men that her mother slept with had children. She guessed it was kind of naive of her to think that Janet was only ruining her life. Uneasy she tore her gaze away from his.
"...anything you want."
"What I want is for you to get off my lawn."







Kaylee came home from school that day to notice the deep silence of the house. That was never a good sign. Putting her books down she picked up and overturned glass and an empty bottle of alcohol. Placing them on the table she saw the bright red of Janet's dress. With a sigh she sat down beside her. She looked so peaceful when she was asleep. She almost looked down the woman that Kaylee remembered from her childhood. Except now her face was starting to look haggard. With a grimace she shook her head then reached out and gently shook Janet.
"Janet, wake up. Let me help you to bed."
Grumbling Janet shrugged off her hand. With a deeper sigh, and with a movement of long practice, Kaylee slipped her arm around Janet's waist and started to ease her to her feet.



"Leave me the hell alone," Janet slurred as she pulled away from her. Kaylee tried to steady her but she slapped at her hand, twisted away from her and tried to grab the half-empty bottle on the table at the same time.


There was a small silence then Kaylee reached to help her up again.
"I don't need your help," Janet snarled pouring herself another glass of gin with an unsteady hand.
"Janet, let me help you to bed," Kaylee said soothingly, trying to calm her down.
"I'm..I'm not tired," Janet said as she wobbled in her heels. "All I want for you to do is piss off."
"Janet, give me the glass."
"Kaylee, piss off," she mocked in the same tone of voice.
Knowing that it would get worse before it got better Kaylee reached for her glass.
"You want it so bad? Here!"






Trembling with rage Kaylee watched as Janet lit up a cigarette. Her shirt now reeked of gin and all she wanted to do was hurt Janet. In her condition she might not be able to put up that much of a fight. Rubbing her forehead at those dark thoughts Kaylee took the only option that was left to her.




The days seemed to move slowly for Kaylee. She tried to keep as much distance between her and Janet as possible. Kicking a pebble in her path she pulled her hands out of her pockets to glance at her watch. It was almost midnight. Janet should either be passed out or out with one of her "friends". Kaylee figured it was safe to go home. But, to be on the safe side she crept into the house.

Kaylee was surprised to see that all the lights were still on. She was even more surprised to see, not only was Janet up and sober but she...had packed.

"What's all this?"
"Get your crap kid. We're leaving this dump."
"W-what? What do you mean?" Kaylee stammered as she looked at all the boxes laying in the living room and the suitcases near Janet. "I don't understand."
"Jesus, Mary and Joseph! Just do what I saw for a damn change. I packed your crap. Just get the suitcase. I want to be out of here in two minutes."
"How can we just pick up and move?" Kaylee demanded.
Janet's eyes darted to the side. "I came into a sudden windfall and I want to get away from all the gossiping old hags in this town. Besides, I heard there was this nice little place not to far from here, but far enough. Pleasantville or some crap like that."
"I-"
"Look," Janet snapped uncrossing her arms. "Just get your suitcase and some of these boxes. I don't want to hear another damn whiny word come out of your mouth. We're moving. It's final"
Janet brushed by her then stopped, suitcase in hand.
"You'll like it there. They'll be plenty of opportunities for you."



While she didn't particular like Veronaville it was still home. Or at least it was as close to home as she was going to get. Kaylee looked out the window at the house. It hadn't been much and there weren't that many good memories but...she was sad to leave. She glanced across the console at Janet and a shiver went through me. While she was sad...


Janet had a small smile on her face..and looked as if she were plotting something.