breakfast

Five is hard. Everything is challenging — even breakfast. The bar stool wobbles as you stand on it to reach your favorite cereal. Your small hands pull at the unopened cereal bag until it pops open, sending kernels all over the kitchen. Milk splashes on the counter. But you did it!

Mom comes home after a long night with fury on her face. She grabs you, shakes you. The lights look funny and then there is a fire all about. Screams and smoke. Mom puts out the fire then screams at you, “Monster.” 

The next day, she leaves you with strangers.