Time to Grow
folder
Original - Misc › Science Fiction
Rating:
Adult
Chapters:
4
Views:
1,217
Reviews:
1
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Category:
Original - Misc › Science Fiction
Rating:
Adult
Chapters:
4
Views:
1,217
Reviews:
1
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance of characters to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. The Author holds exclusive rights to this work. Unauthorized duplication is prohibited.
Time to Grow
“Papá! I’m home! “The small teenage girl called from the front doorway. “Papá?”
She set her backpack down and went into the kitchen. On the basement door a paper plate was taped to its handle. The girl sighed and snatched the plate, her whiskey-brown eyes raking over the scribbled note.
“Penny,
Had to go to the University. Won’t be home ‘til late. Please turn on burners 3, 5 and 6 in lab at 5. Te amo, hija.
Papí”
Penny rolled her eyes. Another night alone. She should be used to it by now. Her dad was always at the University now that he was Head of the Science Department. It seemed he never had time for her any more. She was just his personal secretary, taking messages, cleaning and making sure his private laboratory didn't explode.
She felt a wave of irritation. No, she thought. I’m more like a slave. Most sixteen-year-old girls would be out at the movies with friends or on a date, but being the daughter of the famous Dr. Rameiro Sanchez meant she had to spend her Friday nights baby-sitting chemicals and turning on Bunsen burners. Most girls her age didn’t even know what a Bunsen burner was.
She scowled down at the paper plate in her hand before crumpling it up and throwing it in the trash can. “Me choca mi vida!” she whined, stamping her foot. “I hate my life! It’s not fair!” She let out a long string of Spanish swear words and felt slightly better. She jumped when the kitchen phone rang, startling her out of her tantrum. She grabbed the receiver and yelled into the phone. “What?!”
There was a tinkling laugh on the other end of the line. “Did I call at a bad time, darling?”
“I’m sorry, mom. I was just ranting,” Penelope amended, blushing.
“So the ringing in my ears remind me.” Another laugh. “It’s okay, Penelope. How’s your day been?”
Penny sighed. “Tiring. When are you coming home? I miss you. Dad’s never home and I have no one to hang out with.”
“Hopefully by next week. The French Ambassador is proving to be more difficult than we expected.”
Penny sighed, twirling a curl of hair around her finger in dismay. This was the problem with having a mother who was part of the President’s Cabinet; she was always on some important trip and she could never go with her. “I understand, mamá. I just wish I could have gone with you.”
“You will soon, I promise,” Mrs. Sanchez soothed. There were voices in the background calling for her attention. “Penny, dear, I have to go. I’m late for another meeting. I’ll call back tomorrow, okay?”
“Fine,” Penny murmured, wishing she could have more time. “Se divierte para me. Have fun for me.”
“Si, hija, I will. Do your homework and eat something healthy for a change! Bye, honey!”
Penny groaned as the line went dead. “She just had to mention homework,” she huffed, checking the clock for the time. She realized it was almost five. She needed to turn on the burners soon.
The basement lab was quite similar to an ice box in temperature. She hated to be down there too long, never liking the cold or the smell of chemicals. On the way to the burners, she slipped and skidded over a stray pebble or bolt. She glared down at the offending object only to find a small ring laying on the floor, the gold glinting prettily in the harsh fluorescent lighting.
Curiosity got the better of her and she slipped the ring on to her thumb. It was a little snug, but the golden band was very pretty. She didn’t know why such a thing was in the lab, and even though she was tempted to keep it for her own, she thought it better to put it back before she got in trouble.
The only problem was: the ring was stuck. She twisted and pulled but no matter how much she tried, it just would not come off. Frustrated and panting, she slammed the ring and her hand against a tabletop. There was a an echoing clang and a soft click.
Well, that can’t be good... she thought as a wave of dizziness overtook her and she blacked out.
She never did get to turn on the burners.
She set her backpack down and went into the kitchen. On the basement door a paper plate was taped to its handle. The girl sighed and snatched the plate, her whiskey-brown eyes raking over the scribbled note.
“Penny,
Had to go to the University. Won’t be home ‘til late. Please turn on burners 3, 5 and 6 in lab at 5. Te amo, hija.
Papí”
Penny rolled her eyes. Another night alone. She should be used to it by now. Her dad was always at the University now that he was Head of the Science Department. It seemed he never had time for her any more. She was just his personal secretary, taking messages, cleaning and making sure his private laboratory didn't explode.
She felt a wave of irritation. No, she thought. I’m more like a slave. Most sixteen-year-old girls would be out at the movies with friends or on a date, but being the daughter of the famous Dr. Rameiro Sanchez meant she had to spend her Friday nights baby-sitting chemicals and turning on Bunsen burners. Most girls her age didn’t even know what a Bunsen burner was.
She scowled down at the paper plate in her hand before crumpling it up and throwing it in the trash can. “Me choca mi vida!” she whined, stamping her foot. “I hate my life! It’s not fair!” She let out a long string of Spanish swear words and felt slightly better. She jumped when the kitchen phone rang, startling her out of her tantrum. She grabbed the receiver and yelled into the phone. “What?!”
There was a tinkling laugh on the other end of the line. “Did I call at a bad time, darling?”
“I’m sorry, mom. I was just ranting,” Penelope amended, blushing.
“So the ringing in my ears remind me.” Another laugh. “It’s okay, Penelope. How’s your day been?”
Penny sighed. “Tiring. When are you coming home? I miss you. Dad’s never home and I have no one to hang out with.”
“Hopefully by next week. The French Ambassador is proving to be more difficult than we expected.”
Penny sighed, twirling a curl of hair around her finger in dismay. This was the problem with having a mother who was part of the President’s Cabinet; she was always on some important trip and she could never go with her. “I understand, mamá. I just wish I could have gone with you.”
“You will soon, I promise,” Mrs. Sanchez soothed. There were voices in the background calling for her attention. “Penny, dear, I have to go. I’m late for another meeting. I’ll call back tomorrow, okay?”
“Fine,” Penny murmured, wishing she could have more time. “Se divierte para me. Have fun for me.”
“Si, hija, I will. Do your homework and eat something healthy for a change! Bye, honey!”
Penny groaned as the line went dead. “She just had to mention homework,” she huffed, checking the clock for the time. She realized it was almost five. She needed to turn on the burners soon.
The basement lab was quite similar to an ice box in temperature. She hated to be down there too long, never liking the cold or the smell of chemicals. On the way to the burners, she slipped and skidded over a stray pebble or bolt. She glared down at the offending object only to find a small ring laying on the floor, the gold glinting prettily in the harsh fluorescent lighting.
Curiosity got the better of her and she slipped the ring on to her thumb. It was a little snug, but the golden band was very pretty. She didn’t know why such a thing was in the lab, and even though she was tempted to keep it for her own, she thought it better to put it back before she got in trouble.
The only problem was: the ring was stuck. She twisted and pulled but no matter how much she tried, it just would not come off. Frustrated and panting, she slammed the ring and her hand against a tabletop. There was a an echoing clang and a soft click.
Well, that can’t be good... she thought as a wave of dizziness overtook her and she blacked out.
She never did get to turn on the burners.