Chapter Three.

KEEZEKHONI

Chapter Three- Dispute

Kelly Swain

4/12/2011

[Shian-Lau's mother wakes him up in the morning for breakfast.  But, finds out he had been writing letters and gets very irritated.]


Shian-Lau's mother approached the door.  He quickly laid back down on his bed and pretended to be asleep.  His mother came to the door and knocked lightly.  "Shian-Lau, wake up please," she yawned.  She opened up the door to his room and looked at him. "Oh…did you get too warm last night," she asked perplexed, looking at his scattered clothes.  Shian-Lau shook his head and rubbed his eyes.  She then slowly closed the door.

He stood to his feet again and walked to his battered, red door.  Shian-Lau walked slowly down his tight, crammed hallway.  His shoulders almost touched the sides.  He walked into his living room, to sit near a puny fireplace.  He lifted a block of wood and tossed it inside the fire.  He poked and prodded at it until the flames engulfed the new wood.


"Shian-Lau," his mother called gently.  "Come help me make breakfast, please," she continued, wiping her hands on her apron.  Shian-Lau stood to his feet and headed towards the dingy kitchen.  Shian-Lau's mother was digging in the open cupboards for a small, red box of oatmeal flakes.  "Stir those eggs, please," she said grabbing the box and shaking them up.  Shian-Lau sighed and walked over to the eggs and began to beat them together.  There was an abrupt silence.


"So…did you sleep well, Shian-Lau," his mother asked monotone.  Shian-Lau lifted his eyebrow and muttered, "Sure".  His mother sighed.  "What time did you go to sleep," she asked with a tinge of anger.  "I dunno," Shian-Lau said, lacking interest.  "Shian-Lau!  Did you stay up writing those stupid letters again?  Haven't I told you before to stop that?  You need sleep more than you need to be talking to that man," his mother fussed.  Shian-Lau's eyebrows furrowed.  "What does it matter that I write him letters?  Why are you so against me going to meet him?  He shows more interest in me than you ever have," Shian-Lau screamed.  His mother's faced was scrunched up in anger.


"That man is nothing but a lunatic.  He doesn't know himself from a hole in the ground!  The last thing I need for him to do is fill your head with that nonsense!  I don't even know why he talks to you about all that foolish stuff," his mother continued.  "He's not crazy!  He's the only one I've met that's ever made sense.  How would you even know what we talk about anyways? That just proves that you've been reading the letters," Shian-Lau yelled, throwing the bowl of eggs on the table.  "Shian-Lau!  Why did you just do that?  You wasted those eggs!  Clean it up right now," his mother screamed, fuming with anger.  "You can do it yourself," Shian-Lau growled, storming for the door.  "Shian-Lau, get back here right now," his mother said between her teeth, following behind him.


Shian-Lau rushed out the door and mixed himself in with the now, busy and bustling streets.  People scurried and hustled along the sidewalks, tightly bundled in their snowy, tattered apparel.  All that could be seen by passing people were their eyes peeking from behind their scarves.  "What a bitch," Shian-Lau said to himself.  "Why is she getting into my business?  Why does she have a problem with gramps?  I mean, it IS her dad.  At least she knows who her father is," Shian-Lau said sharply.  He let out a heavy sigh and continued to make his way up the street.