The cold metal chair had long become uncomfortable. The constant buzz of noise around me and the scamper of movement gave my mind no rest. I was so tired today, tired enough to fall asleep right on the bench. But even sleep would do me no good, that place between dreams was unruly lately.
Miss Adelaide held my palm in her's. She accompanied me all the way here, to let me take my statement. I was glad that her face had regain their colour. Yesterday she had been waiting at the doorway when I arrived, Tobias looked just as troubled behind her.
It was a nightmare trying to explain everything that transpired last night. Miss Adelaide was quick to call Mrs Alba before I arrived and give her a proper scolding, give a her very strongly worded reprimand for keeping me so late. Again, I had to call Mrs Alba this morning to apologise for the inconvenience, I also had explanations to give once I clocked in for another shift.
Miss Adelaide was flabbergasted, what she thought would be a regular disciplinary session about leaving work early was summarised as an armed robbery. The policemen didn't make it any better, they could have left out the part of me getting shot at. The gun obviously failed—but still...
The police officers that took my statement was staring at me. He'd been doing so ever since I stepped into the station. Again, it was a nightmare trying to explain why I stood in front of a loaded gun with absolutely no need to.
I spun a very complicated and robust tale. I told them I'd seen the gun model he used and knew about it in great detail. I also spun in a complicated web of observations I made about the gun's magazine and extractor, assuring them that I knew it wouldn't fire.
It was the best thing I could do with such little time. And any questions they pressed for details I evaded and gave convoluted, long winding explanations that answered nothing. And the result?
Of course he didn't believe me. But asking questions from a teenager that almost lost his life was insensitive and unethical. I was the victim, not the offender. As a matter of fact I deserved better treatment, maybe I should have asked for some juice before talking. I was sure they wouldn't mind.
Everything here was exhausting, but the most maddening thing here, was her. That egotistic, conceited, centric woman was here today. She was very tearful, doing her best to appear frail and pitiful – not that she wasn't. My slip up yesterday although careless, I still hoped it would keep her away. It worked to an extent.
Even now she was standing side by side with the officer that took my statement. Pestering him, unpacking all her problems on the poor man. She caught me staring and shrank back, gripping her large rosary with fervour. Her antics were almost funny, in fact they were.
I smiled at her, doing my best to appear harmless. She clinged harder to him, then her whisper became rushed, more desperate. 'Quite rude. I did ensure her safety yesterday.'
The police officer was puzzled, the trembling cross in her hands and her outlandish story were so confusing. He had listened to her exaggerated sob story and gotten her statement. But it was outlandish enough, she wanted him to jail the young teenager peacefully sitting with his guardian.
Yet, he still stared at me with unnecessary suspicion. He wasn't buying that story was he, right? If he did I would have to change my assessment of his intellect. That conceited woman was the last person he should be listening to.
A cold hand pressed on my creased temple. "Are you alright dear? This station is quite crowded. You've already given your statement, why are they still keeping us? I still don't know what you were thinking staying out so late. Did you really need to buy something at the store that time of night. If you came home early, you could have enjoyed a hot meal and sorted all your business in the morning."
Her ability to switch from worried inquiry to nagging me was impressive. It was one of the thing I would always miss about her. She continued speaking and I did my best to answer. The confusing shift between worry and anger would help her vent out her frustrations and probably spare me another one at home.
Miss Adelaide noticed the shift of my gaze and followed it to the shaken woman. The woman shrunk back when she caught Miss Adelaide looking. "Do you know her?" She sounded a bit hurt by the woman's behavior.
"Barely, she was one of the unfortunate detainees during the robbery. I would avoid her, she doesn't seem well... you know up there." I scoffed out and twirled my finger near my temple. It was insulting to be associated with her. Me, know her? Absolutely not.
The officer had finally had enough. Luckily another one of his mates walked up to him to hand him a report, successfully pulling him away. They stood at the corner discussing the report, he worded some orders and sent the man off. He locked eyes with us and took measured strides. There was a small frown of his face and his eyes bloomed with curiosity.
"Thank you for waiting. I'm sorry for taking so much time, sometimes paperwork takes time to come full circle." He sounded very apologetic. "Oh it is alright. I know how busy you people get. It can't be easy trying to respond to so many problems at the same time." Miss Adelaide response was empathetic.
"Well you're all cleared. You are free to leave," He looked at me. "Might I add Miss. Your boy is very good with guns, his knowledge saved the other civilians in the store. With knowledge like that I'm sure he will find a comfortable place in law enforcement." Miss Adelaide stopped dead in her tracks and I facepalmed and cringed back.
Her heated gaze was fixed on me. She was absolutely horrified, she opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. I gave the man a hateful glare and forcefully led Miss Adelaide out. "Wha-what? O-officer..." She attempted to question the officer, but I did my best to intervene, pulling her out the station. One glance back revealed the mirth and mischief in the cop's eyes.
The man knew exactly what he was doing by bringing it up. That was it, my chance at a quiet evening utterly gone. Miss Adelaide's pale face worried me, she didn't try to speak to me. Her grip on my arm tightened like a vice and we walked silently all the way to the bus stop. The trip home was silent and awkward. She didn't even look at me again, she avoided my face and seethed quietly.
***
I walked into my room and flopped on my bed utterly exhausted. What happened today went beyond mere scolding. She even cried at a point.
My knees were sore, a consequence of spending over two hours kneeling. I just kneeled there, in her room while she paced around speaking sorrowfully. It was a challenge getting her to calm down. Logical explanations alone were ineffective.
There was a certain methodical approach and nuance when it came to calming a motherly figure and adjacents. Being too quick to explain or interjecting in their rant too early or too late would just make you start a square one. One slip up and you had to go down the long list of emotional queries again.
I did understand her grievance and fortunately I was able to pass it up as foreknowledge I acquired from books. But that brought up another round of scolding once she gave it some thought. She wondered why I would develop a curiosity in guns. And that earned me another thirty minutes on the floor but this time I had my hands up.
Ironic, just yesterday I was lamenting about being put in that position by a gun slinging miscreant. Today the same happened, but not by someone that was closest to me. Life could play some unfunny jokes, even when you weren't in the mood for humor.
"Are you alright?" Tobias was sympathetic and offering me pity. I wasn't interested though, one look at her face when we came in and he gleaned an understanding of the situation and stayed clear to avoid being in the crossfire. "Spare me your pity Tobias, I am in no need of it."
He nodded and returned to reading his textbook. He did voice a silent snicker he thought I wouldn't hear. I wondered what to do with the rest of my day. The impromptu robbery stopped my shopping, so I had to go out again and buy the things I needed—definitely staying clear of that store and possibly the whole neighborhood.
I also didn't go out to train my veil last night. Things to do, *sigh* they could wait a few hours. Right now I would just power down for a full nap. I deserved it didn't I? Yeah, it was well deserved. "Wake me in an hour or two Tobias."
He stilled mid-flip puzzled by the unfamiliar request. "Are you sure you're alright?" I didn't answer. I settled in my bad and pulled the sheets up. Just as I was on the brink of slumber I remember that robber's eyes. 'That emotion in his eyes. What was....'