Little White Lies

[Jasmine Anderson]

((This is only for me))

Jasmine sat at the kitchen table putting jelly on a piece of toast. Her mother was going away for a week to the United States for work. Natalie Winters always left a week each month anywhere to take pictures and write articles. Pulling up a spaghetti strap from falling anymore on her shoulder. Taking a bite of her toast Jasmine stared off into space letting her thoughts take over. Craig still wasn't home from a friend’s house yet. They were to spend the whole day together playing the guitar and writing songs. But there was something fishy going on between him and her father and Jasmine really wanted to know what. Taking another bite of her toast Jasmine saw her mother coming down the stairs having trouble with bags. Whipping her hands on a dish towel Jasmine stood up from the chair walking over toward Natalie picking up a heavy suitcase.

Walking backward a couple of steps Jasmine caught herself before falling to the ground. "What’s in this bag? It's almost as heavy as four saddles!" Jasmine said watching her mother fumble with opening the door. "Honey I'm going for a week. It's almost all the clothes I own." Natalie responding kicking the door open and walking down the two steps toward the car. Jasmine followed behind her mother throwing the suitcase in the trunk. Hearing the hood of the trunk slam down Jasmine smiled walking closer to her mother. Natalie brought her only daughter into a hug swinging her around like she used to as a baby. "I'm going to miss you so much pumpkin." Jasmine heard her mother whisper into her ear kissing her forehead. "I'm gonna miss you too!" she replied with a smile that her mother called her pumpkin.

Natalie let go of her daughter walking to the driver’s side. Watching her mother back out of the driveway Jasmine just kept quiet noticing the car get smaller and smaller. Once it was out of sight Jasmine walked back up the stairs and back into the house. Sitting down on the couch in the living room Jasmine turned the TV on. A soap opera was on but she wasn't interested in watching it at all. Grabbing the controller Jasmine pressed the button noticing a music video on the next Channel. Putting her legs to the side Jasmine grabbed a pillow and rested her chin on it gazing at the TV. Music filled the room as Jasmine was lost in the melody. She always wanted to be a famous singer. But that would never happen. “Your up early." came a voice from behind her.

Turning around on the couch Jasmine stared at her father smiling. He was in a suit ready for work at the hospital. "Well mom left. Wanted to say good bye to her and Craig and I are going to go to The Talon. You know write songs play the guitar. The usually Friday night routine. So we won’t be home until late." Jasmine said still gazing at her father. Should she ask him? What if he didn't answer her? But Jasmine just had to know. "Dad....What's been going on between you a Craig?" Jasmine asked finally hugging the pillow more. Henry just took his keys off his desk before answering. "Aw I really don't know. Maybe it's because I wouldn't get him that amp." he said heading for the door. "See you at dinner tonight honey..." Henry replied but stopped as Craig opened the door first entering the house without saying anything.

"Where have you been? It's three hours later than when you were suppose to be home." Henry said glued to his spot by the door fiddling with his keys. Craig just stared up at his father with a bored look. "We stopped for breakfast." He replied simply walking up the stairs to his room. "Now wait one moment. When your mother isn't here that doesn't mean you can do what ever you please. There are rules to follow while living under my roof." Henry replied with a stern look on his face. "I thought rules were supposed to be broken. You break them." her brother answered walking up to his room. Henry just put his hands through his black grey hair before walking out the door. "What was that all about?" Jasmine whispered not even noticing that the TV was still on.

[Jasmine Anderson]

An hour later Jasmine was pacing the living room. Her guitar case swung back and forth matching each footstep. The conversation kept playing over in her mind like a never ending slide show. What did Craig mean by 'I thought rules were supposed to be broken? You break them'? Did he mean something about breaking promises? Like her father not getting the amp for him? Jasmine didn’t know but the feeling of knowing what was going on was as strong as ever. Putting her fingers through her dark brown hair Jasmine just sighed. Was she ever going to know what was happening around here? Tapping the plastic guitar case Jasmine closed her hazel eyes enjoying the sound it made. Feeling goose bumps rise on her bare arms from a sudden wind. Looking up at the fan on the ceiling as it went round and round. Ignoring the sudden cold Jasmine smoothed out her light blue faded out jeans staring at her white tee shirt that had a flower pattern at the top.

"You ready Jazz?" came a familiar voice from behind. Nodded her head Jasmine stood up from the couch swinging her shoulder bag on her shoulder while picking her guitar case handle with the other. Turning around to face her brother she just smiled following him out to the car. Craig’s curly brown hair was straight today with bangs brushing into his eyes. He sleeper an orange shirt with four people lining up holding guitars with dark jeans. Jasmine never really thought of her brother actually wearing formal clothes. A tux and everything would just look so.....different on him. Climbing into the passengers side seat Jasmine set her guitar in the back than putting the seat belt over her shoulder and buckled it. The than slowly backed out of the drive way and went down the road. Only thing that was playing was the radio and nothing good was on.

"Craig..." Jasmine said staring out into the vast green lands of Ireland. "Hmm." he said not taking his eyes off the road. Clearing her thought Jasmine stared at her brother with a more serious look, "What going on? You never talk to dad like that and he would never ever let you talk to him the way you did." Jasmine said turning her head to the right looking out the window again. The music than was turned up some. Jasmine knew her brother was thinking over her question in his mind, but what was taking him so long? "Just tell me already! I want to know. Everything just been different!" she finally said during a commercial. Hearing a sigh come from next to her Jasmine just waited patiently for something. Only music..... "You should have noticed by now Jazz. Just drop the subject…were here." Craig finally spoke parking the car in a parking space before turning off the engine.

Jasmine laid flat down on the ground staring up at the ceiling. Her notebook and pencil lay on her chest but nothing was written. What was wrong? She would have already written a whole chorus by now. Leaning forward more Jasmine just stared at the blank piece of paper blinking a couple of times. Nothing came to her. Putting her fingers through her hair Jasmine turned her head toward Craig who was drinking some water. "I don't know what’s wrong with me...." she began slouching over the table. Her brother just took another sip before taking the notebook from her. "I can't come up with anything else either. Been like that for a while." he answered handing his sister back the journal. Groaning Jasmine stared up at the stage listening to the singer perform. He was OK but the song didn't mean anything.

Tapping her foot on the ground to follow the beat Jasmine closed her eyes trying to imagine something, anything. All she could see was the end of her eye lids. "Craig....Jazz how are you two doing?" Ashley asked sitting down next to her brother. Jasmine eyes shot open to stare at Craig’s girlfriend. They had been dating for a year now and were so right for each other. "I think I'm going to go home..." Jasmine said collecting her things and jumping from the both. "Are you sure you don't want a ride?" Craig and Ashley asked together but soon brusted out laughing. "No I will leave you two love birds to be. Maybe I will get inspiration for a song walking home." Jasmine replied hoping that would be the truth.

[Jasmine Anderson]

Jasmine walked down the white side walk almost close to home. The Talon wasn't that far from her house, but Craig was always to lazy to walk there. Putting her hands through her hair Jasmine stared up into the sky her hazel eyes twinkling. It was turning into an orange and pink color while the sun was setting. How long had she been walking? Looking down at her watch Jasmine saw it flash 6:30. Her father wouldn't be home until seven and he always expect Craig and her to be home at nine during the summer. It would be nice to surprise him and have an early dinner tonight.

Taking out her keys Jasmine inserted them into the key hole turning it to the right. The door than swung open reveling a dark and deserted home. Turning the light switch on Jasmine walked up the stairs to her room to read. About to walk the last step she heard the front door swung open again. Stopping Jasmine just stared at the two people blinking a couple of times. Was she in the wrong house? No she wasn't....She couldn't be. Noticing it was her father with somebody else....Another women kissing at the bottom of the stairs. Jasmine's eyes grew big and her heart leaped. This was his secret? All those lies because of this? Dropping her keys on the stairs Jasmine scrambled to her room.

Closing the door behind her softly Jasmine locked it leaning against the white wood slumping down to the ground. Why was he doing this? Did he not care about his wife? Did that woman not know he already had a family? Jasmine buried her face into her hands fighting back the tears. The one idol that she looked up too was now a cheater. Having an afire with another women and thinking that your daughter and son won’t find out was incredibly stupid. But just why? There were so many questions and feelings running through Jasmine at the moment. She just felt like curling up into a ball in a dark corner and cry.

Shaking her head from side to side Jasmine heard a knock on the door behind her. "I don't want to talk to you now!" she screamed wiping the tears from her eyes. "Its me Jazz...Craig." her brother spoke softly enough to hear. Standing up from the ground Jasmine unlocked the lock stepping back a couple of steps. Craig opened it slowly staring up into his little sister puffy red eyes. "Are you OK?" is all he said. Jasmine threw herself at Craig wrapping her arms around his back into a hug. "No I'm not OK. I saw dad making out with another women...." she said crying on his shoulder. Craig than gently stroked her dark hair. "I know....But you can't tell mom..." he whispered.

Admittedly Jasmine pulled away from him glaring into brown eyes. "NOT TELL HER! NOT TELL HER! Craig! Dad is cheating on her. We just can't continue to lie to her! She's our mom!" Jasmine shouted at him more tears going down her checks. Craig took a step closer to Jazz wiping the tears that ran down her checks. "I know but that would mean they would divorce! Do you really want them to do that?" Craig asked, liked he had planning to say it. Jasmine looked down at the ground her version blurry, "No...But we just can't go on with our lives knowing what he is doing. Each day that dad is going out with that women are going to hurt mom even more!" Jasmine spoke, her voice shaky. Craig said nothing put pulled his sister into a hug, "I'm glad I'm not the only person who knows now...” he said patting her back.

[Jasmine Anderson]

Jasmine sat at the kitchen table with her arms crossed over her shoulder staring at the hamburger before her. The room was quiet, only the sounds of chewing filled the air. No one dared spoke. What was there to really say? "Aren't you going to eat sweetie?" Henry asked before taking another bite of his hamburger. Jasmine looked up from her plate and just stared at her father, who was he trying to fool? "I'm just not hungry..." she whispered looking once again back down at her plate. The feeling to burst out crying and yelling at him was building up inside of her. But Jasmine just kept quiet picking apart the food in front of her.

Shortly after Craig left the kitchen table to his room. Jasmine just sat there with her arms crossed still as there was only half of her hamburger left to finish. Henry was about to leave the room before she spoke. "How much do you love mom?" Jasmine asked turning her head in the direction of her puzzled father. "Honey I love her very much. I wouldn't have asked her to marry me if I did." Henry answered just standing there confused. She couldn't take it anymore. Standing up from the table Jasmine threw her napkin down on the ground storming up to her father. "Well it doesn't seem like it!" she shouted at him. Henry face than began to get all sweaty, "I don't know what you are talking about..."

At that point of time Jasmine felt tears run down her face. "Why? WHY!?" she screamed pushing her father arms away from her. "What are you talking about?" Henry lied again. "Stop playing clueless with me dad! I know about her. Craig knows about her. But mom doesn't. Did you expect us not to find out?" Jasmine replied watching her father look down at the ground trying to think of what to say. There really wasn't anything to tell her. Nothing was going to change the way she felt. "I remember the time when you I taught you how to ride a bike. You were seven and you and as cute as can be. I told you that I would never let go but I did....and you broke you wrist. I keep that cast as a reminder of how easily I could hurt you.." he said looking back up at his daughter. "That was an accident....And this wasn't!" With that last statement Jasmine ran toward the door grabbing her jean jacket and guitar case before running down the street.