Kain's Story Part 2

       Once Kain finished his homework (which only took him about fifteen minutes), he decided to read. He needed to visit the library again. He already read all the books he checked out and was now reading his school History book. He finished his English and Science text books a couple of weeks ago. This was why he didn't even need to think about his homework. He already knew it all. This was also why some of the kids in his class hated him. He always got 100s on his exams and the teachers would compare him with the others.
         The sound of his alarm interrupted his reading. He turned it off and looked at the time. "Already 6pm?" He yawned and stretched when he stood up. He was reading in his bed and he must have fallen asleep. He walked over to his door and hesitated before opening it. He glanced back at the clock. His father had probably forgotten their whole fight by now.
         Kain opened his door and peeked around its edges, ears twitching, listening. When he saw nothing he walked out. "F-Father?" He called out questioningly. "What do you want for dinner?" Kain started making the meals after his mother died and if his father hadn't forgotten, then he would be distracted by the thought of food. "Father?" He called again, walking downstairs. He looked out the window and saw that his car wasn't in the drive way. He wasn't home. He stopped at the door to check and see if it was locked. It was. His father must have sobered up enough to remember to lock the door, which meant he was going downtown again.
         This also meant that Kain wouldn't get any sleep tonight, so he was glad he got in that nap. Kain wandered into the kitchen, already dismissing the thought and  wondering what to make for dinner.  He opened the refrigerator and sighed. The fridge was full of liquor and, surprise, surprise, nothing else. "Damn it dad…This is why I do the shopping…" He checked the cupboards in a futile attempt to find something he could eat. His tail twitched in annoyance "Nope." He walked back to his room and grabbed his jacket, deciding to go to the grocery store. He looked at the small wooden jewelry box he kept on his desk. It was a dark brown and there were intricate designs of flowers on the lid and sides. It belonged to his mother and that's where he stored all of his mother's recipe cards. Kain tucked it in his jacket pocket, went back into the kitchen and opened the drawer that held the grocery money, aka: Father's wallet. He counted all of it and took out a twenty. "That should be enough…" He thought out loud, placing the wallet back in the drawer. Before he left he wrote his father a note, saying where he was going and taped it to the fridge. His alcohol was in there so he would see it. If he even bothered to read it was a different matter entirely.
          He shut and locked the door behind him and began walking in the direction of the store. It wasn't dark out yet and he could probably make it back before it did if he hurried. On his way there he thought about what he should buy. Probably some milk, he wasn't going to waste money on water because he could just drink it from the faucet…What wouldn't be too expensive for dinner? Something with noodles? Chicken Linguine is pretty easy to make.
            With his dinner planned, he walked into the store. He took a basket and headed to the aisles that held the items he was searching for. He decided on a half gallon of milk instead of a whole so it would be easier to carry and decided to get lemon juice to season his chicken with.
          After he got everything he went to the register.  The cashier looked at him with a mixture of curiosity and concern, which caused his tail to flick with annoyance. She must have been new, because every one that worked here knew who he was and knew he didn't like that look.
            "Hello little boy. Are you here with your parents?" She said with the smile adults gave to "little children."
            "No…" Kain replied, just waiting for the next response. "No? Well, you know, its pretty late. You shouldn't be wandering around outside without an adult." Was the answer Kain expected to hear. Geez…was she trying to play the good Samaritan? He struggled to smile back.
            "I know~" he said, using the fake innocent kid approach. "I live close by~" He added a laugh for good measure.  "It doesn't matter how close you live, its still dangerous." She said, like she knew everything about the world. "By the way," she added, not content at ending the conversation there, "are you hurt? You have a cut on your face." His fake smile disappeared and he touched the cut right below his eye. He honestly didn't remember how he got it. He wasn't always able to escape his father when they fought. But it wasn't any of this lady's business. And he mentally added her to his list of annoying people. Yes, he had a list. A long one.
            He was about to tell her off when the manager walked by, saving her from his retort. "Well! If it isn't Kain!" He exclaimed with delight. He was older than his father, although he looked younger, but everyone looked younger than his father. He was a snow leopard, a very happy-go-lucky one.
       "Here, deary, I'll take over the register~" He said, dismissing the annoying woman. "O-Okay then, " she said as she left. "Remember not to talk to strangers on your way home." . When she turned her back Kain stuck his tongue out at her.
       "Tsk tsk, Kain. That's not very nice." He said reproachfully. Kain looked back at him. "She was annoying, so she deserved it." Kain said, as if it was obvious why he did it and completely justified.
        "So, a new person was added to your list?" He said with amusement. "I'm surprised the whole city isn't on that list by now."
        Kain looked down with an embarrassed blush on his face. "You're not on the list Shoka…you're not annoying…" He looked up when he heard Shoka chuckle. "I guess I'll just have to try harder then~" He said jokingly. Shoka was the only one he told about his "list."
         He finished scanning Kain's items and separated them into two plastic bags. "Your total comes to ten dollars, dear." He said, holding out his hand for the money. He called everyone dear.
        "You know," Kain mumbled. "You don't have to always give me a discount…" He handed Shoka the money and watched him get his change.
         "Yes I do," he said firmly. "And you are not leaving until you let me tend to that cut under your eye. Its bleeding and you don't want it to get infected." He picked up his bags and led him to the staff area. When he got to the couch he put down Kain's bags and went to get the first aid kit.
         "Shoka, its not that big of a deal…its just a scratch" Kain mumbled. "Even scratches can get infected Kain," he retorted, dabbing antibiotics on his cheek. "How'd you get it, anyway?" Shoka said, without thinking.
         "I…fell" Kain said, looking away. It wasn't his best lie, but Shoka still nodded. That was the best thing about Shoka. He didn't press him for any answers he didn't want to give. "Well then," Shoka said, playing along with the lie, "you should be more careful then. Okay?" Kain still caught what he was trying to say. He wasn't talking about falling.
          "Okay." Kain replied reluctantly. "I'll try"
          "Good," he said, placing a bandage over his cut. "Now off with you. Before it gets dark out." He didn't offer to take him home. He already knew the answer would be "no" anyways.
          Kain picked up his bags and hurried home. He was hungry and he still had to make dinner. The next time he went shopping he would avoid that girl's register. She would probably give him weird looks for awhile, because Shoka would tell her what he told everyone else. And that would be annoying to deal with.
          He took the spare key out of his pocket and unlocked the door. Father's car was still gone so he relocked the door and threw away the note he had taped to the fridge. He began to cook his dinner, glancing at his mother's recipe at times. He ate alone, which was usual and wrapped his father's plate and put it in the fridge writing another note, which said:
                                                                 Your dinner is in here…
                                                                       Eat it when you get hungry.
                                                                                              -Kain
         After he wrote the note he checked to see if the front door was locked and went upstairs to change into his PJs. He put his mother's jewelry box back in its spot on his desk and locked his bedroom door before he set his alarm clock, turned off his light, and went to sleep.