RDP Monday: Radical
Abbi Hardenberg has just finished loading her dishwasher.
Her kitchen is white, spotless. It shines. It smells like Bright Ways lemon cleaner and vanilla. From the windows above her sink and from the skylight above her head the sun shining into her cool, quiet kitchen is pale and watery.
She steps and her eyes shift over the granite counter tops, the clear glass cannisters full of beans and pasta dried herbs and then she turns and walks towards the kitchen door that leads to the hallway upstairs.
On her way out, as she passes the counter, in one smooth motion she opens a drawer, takes something out and shuts it.
She hits the light switch and the door swings shut behind her.
Photo by Milly Eaton on Pexels.com
Abbi is standing in front of her daughter’s bedroom door and just before she knocks on it, she rubs a bit of dust off with the palm of her hand. She grimaces and then wipes it on her thigh.
” Marina, ” she calls as she turns the knob and pushes the door open ” have you cleaned-”
Abbi’s twelve year old daughter is standing in the middle of her room.
Abbi felt the corners of her mouth twitch.
” It’s the monster Mom. I can’t get rid of it. If I could just get rid of it once and for all, my room would be perfect. ”
Marina’s walls are the palest shade of pink, the comforter is smoothed to perfection on her sleigh bed. Her desk is polished to a mirror shine and a little vase of daisies sits on the right hand corner.
” You’ve been up her for hours Marina, what is the problem here? ”
” It’s the Monster mom. Every time I turn around, every time I think I’ve done a good job it’s there. It’s just there messing everything up for me.
Marina points to the mirror above her vanity. ” Look, it’s almost perfect Mom. ”
They both look at the mirror and then they both look at each other.
Abbi drops her left hand down in front of her and Marina sees what is in her Mother’s hand.
Marina doesn’t look surprised to see a hammer clenched in her fist.
” Let’s do something about that monster once and for all. What do you say? Let’s really clean house Marina.”
Marina raises her hand , something is shining in her partially closed fist and then Abbi steps into the room and the door swings shut behind her.
