clumsy

Amelia

The loud crash sound echoed in my room.

“Amy? Are you okay? What was that?” Mom’s worried voice yelled from downstairs.

“Nothing, Mom. I’m okay!” I yelled back. That was obviously a lie.

I was frozen with my right knee close to my breast, my fingers around my shoe, with my right foot halfway in it. I had been struggling to put on my shoes as I was so impatient to sit and calmly put them on. Rather, I was hopping around my room on my left foot, while trying to put my right leg into the shoe.

That was when I kicked my reading table, sending the innocent ceramic vase mom got me two Christmases ago, that sat on the edge of the table, sending it to the floor as it shattered on my red rug, adding to my disoriented room. My clothes, books, bags, and shoes were scattered everywhere in the most inappropriate place just because I was in too much of a hurry while searching for the right outfit combination.

That wasn’t my problem at the moment, not even the broken vase… at least, not yet.

I continued struggling with the shoe, still hopping on one foot when I hit a pile of clothes, lost my balance and fell on my butt.

“Oof!”

My shoe flew out of my leg, up to the ceiling, and then fell on my bed with a bounce.

“Oh my God! Amy, hurry up or you’ll miss the bus.” Mom yelled from downstairs again.

Couldn’t she hear me trying?

“Yes, Mom. Give me a sec.”

I angrily got off my butt, picked up the shoe, went over to my bed and sat, calmly putting it on this time.

My alarm on my phone went off and I jolted, grabbed the phone, dismissed the alarm and then shoved it into my large black tote bag that could swallow a television.

Quickly, I headed for my dressing table and picked up my big, squared glasses, then placed them on my nose.

“Nope.” I said as I studied myself in the mirror. I took the glasses off and placed them back gently on the dressing mirror.

I studied myself once again, from my long blonde hair, bright hazel eyes, moderate nose, to my full lips. I looked great.

I turned to the door and bolted out of my room.

I had a job interview that morning. My thirtieth job interview in that month alone, and I was ten minutes late! All the other interviews always ended badly. It was either I was late – like right now – or I wasn’t qualified, or because I was too clumsy to get anything done right. And I never got past the tests.

That was behind me now, because even though I was running late, I was fully determined not to let my clumsiness ruin that interview for me.

Thirtieth time was the charm, right?

I hurried down the stairs and into the small dining-room I shared with my mom. As a single mom, it was just us. Just me and my mom for all my twenty-four years. I knew nothing about my dad, and mom never mentioned him. Who cares about some jerk that never showed up? Mom was the absolute best and I was content with just her.

There were two heaped plates of pancakes covered in honey on the dining table. My mouth watered; mom’s pancakes were five stars worthy.

I checked the time on my tiny silver wristwatch, then quickly snatched two pancakes and shoved them into my mouth greedily, while being careful so the honey doesn’t ruin my shirt.

And of course, I choked.

I was beating my chest, searching the table for water. There was none.

“I’ve told you a million times already, Amy. Don’t rush your food.” Mom was standing next to me, holding two bottles of water while offering me a bottle.

I snatched it and drank deeply from it, relieving myself.

“Thank you.” I sighed. “For a second there, I thought I was going to die.”

“And you would have, if I wasn’t here.” She had a disapproving frown on her face. But what she didn’t know was that she was gorgeous no matter what expression was on her face. I got her looks, except for her eyes; hers were a pretty shade of light blue. I used to imagine mom as a model when she was much younger. She had the height and the body even at her age. But the fact remained that I didn’t know what she did when she was younger, she never really talked about the past. I only knew the tiny details she was willing to share with me.

“Then it’s a good thing I have you.” I hugged her and was going in for a kiss to her cheek, but she held my shoulders and pushed me back gently.

“Nuh-uh. Don’t kiss me with your honey-stained face.”

I swiped the back of my palm over my lips immediately, attempting to wipe it off.

“Did I get it?”

“Yes.” I grinned and went in for a kiss again, she happily accepted it.

“Gotta run. I’m late.” I turned to head for the front door, but mom held my hand, stopping me.

“Hold on, what about your glasses?”

“I don’t need them all the time, mom. I’ll be fine.”

“Okay. Here, take this. Just in case.” She said, offering me the second bottle of water.

I took it and shoved it into my tote bag.

“Thanks. I love you.” I said and then ran out before she could stop me again.

I did need my glasses all the time because my eyesight was awful. I couldn’t afford contact lenses just yet and I hated those big square glasses. They made people take one look at me and decide that I was a nerd. Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with being a nerd, but I wasn’t even remotely one. I did okay in school but that was just it. There was nothing exceptional about my brain.

Also, I’ve been made fun of a lot during those interviews because of my glasses. Sometimes by the interviewers, but mostly by the other girls waiting to be interviewed. High-class bitches as my friend, Sonia called them. And I was so sure they would be at that interview.

I pushed that thought aside and focused on making it to the bus stop on time. I was a few distance away when I spotted the bus stopping to let people in.

Great! I made it!

Or so I thought!

Everyone got in and the bus begun moving before I could even get there.

“Hey!” I yelled, running after them and waving my hands above my head so the driver would see me.

“Hey! Stop!” I yelled louder.

To my relief, the bus stopped and I got on, panting and sweating from my little run.

“Thanks, Jerry.” I said to the driver; I’d known him for years.

“Late again?” And he’d also known me for years, as always being late.

I offered an awkward smile in reply and found a seat at the end of the bus. I shut my eyes, still trying to even out my breathing.

I opened my eyes a few minutes later to check my watch.

9:00 AM

My hand dropped, and I hit the back of my palm on the iron rod under the chair.

“Ouch.”