Saving Rain

by Kelsey Kingsley

“I’ve been working at the grocery store,” I told her, pouring the milk. “And?” I looked up from the glass to meet her accusing glare, my eyes narrowed with irritation. “And what?” “What the hell else have you been up to? Because I know damn well you’re not spending all your time at the fucking grocery store, and if you’re not at school, you must be doing something else.” She was right about that. But I wouldn’t tell her what exactly I was doing. Her wrath wasn’t worth it, and I needed the money. We needed the money. “I just hang out with the guys.” “Bullshit,” she spat, snatching the milk carton from my hand and stuffing it back into the fridge. “I bet you’re out there, knocking some of those slutty girls up. Aren’t you?” “Yeah, Mom, that’s exactly what I’m doing,” I muttered, shaking my head. Little did she know, I was still a virgin. When the hell was I going to find the time to have sex when I was too busy making enough money to make sure I could keep the lights on between her thousands of lost and found jobs? “Well, I know for a fact that you’re popping pills.” Now, that got my attention. “What?” I snapped, neglecting the glass of milk on the counter. “What are you talking about?” She hurried for her purse, hidden among the piles of mail and oddities on the table. She pulled out the orange bottle I was all too familiar with and shook its contents in my face. “Look familiar?” she accused snidely, and of course it did. I’d only been watching her shake that thing around s...