The Momster

The Momster

By Avery Bennett

.

To My Mom, who is not a monster, and Grandmother (also not a monster.)

Maple Leaf Writing Project

Brattleboro, Vermont

Copyright 2017

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5 years ago today, I found out that my mom is a monster and I have just barely lived to tell about it.

It was July 7th, 2012, a normal summer day. I was making my normal breakfast. 2 eggs, bacon, and 5 year aged cheddar on perfectly buttered toast. As my mom was in the bathroom for her normal 2 hours when she was slapping on her makeup, I heard a strange noise. It wasn’t the normal noise you hear from bathrooms, it was a creepy slithering sound.

I ran over to look under the crack of the door and I saw a long, green, and scaly striped tail on the floor. I pinched myself to make sure I wasn’t dreaming. All of a sudden, I smelled something burning, and I ran back to the stove to find my bacon, spattering everywhere and burnt eggs. So much for my perfect bacon, egg, and cheese this morning! My mom walked out of the bathroom and gave me my normal greeting.

“What was that odd noise coming from the bathroom?” I asked.

“Oh that sweetie, um that was the toilet flushing. Something is wrong with it again. I’m off to call the plumber.”

The next morning the same thing happened and the next morning and the next, and the next. Her responses went from toilet flushes, to clogged sinks, to her flat iron breaking. I asked her what was going on. Immediately, she fainted and screamed in pain. I rushed into the living room to get my dad. He didn’t seem surprised. He came in and called an ambulance. They loaded her in and we rushed to the hospital.

Well, first let me rewind a little bit. My full name is Madeline Elizabeth Smith. My Mom’s name is Susana Rose Smith and my Dad’s is Daniel Franklin Smith. We live in Austin, Texas on 34 Main Street. We don't have any pets, but I keep begging for a dog. My Mom and Dad got married 1 year, 5 months, and 17 days before I was born. My birthday is 07/ 12/ 2003. I am an only child and I do not want ANY siblings.

We all went into a small beige room at the hospital. My dad started to try to make up a story saying that she had a disease. My dad knew that he wasn’t fooling me because his face was turning red. I told him to tell me the truth as my mom woke up. As my mom recovered she and my dad explained to me what happened.

“We wanted to tell you sooner, but we really didn’t think you were ready.” they explained.

“OK, then what is wrong?

“I am a monster.”

“Wait what? Am I a monster too?”

“No. You were adopted by us. Your birth mother lives in Oklahoma.”

“How did you turn into a monster?”

“When I was a little girl, my mother ,who was a witch, made an evil potion that poisoned me and turned me into a monster .”

“Grandma turned you into a monster?!”

“Yes, that’s why we don’t see her anymore.”

“Can we go see my birth mother?”

“Maybe when you’re older.”

“Well, if you have been a monster all along, why did you faint today?”

“Today is the anniversary of when I turned into a monster. It was 20 years ago today.”

As my mom was recovering and trying to be polite and eat the awful hospital food, she started turning a slight shade of green. It kept getting darker and darker. Then, she was growing scales from her head to her toes. Next thing you know, you have a full blown reptile with sharp teeth and a 3 foot long tail. She hopped up, in monster form, and started to attack the doctors and nurses trying to soothe her. My dad ran to me, grabbed me and got me out safely. We quickly checked out at the front desk and hopped in the car to go home.

As soon as we got home dad explained to me that when mom turns into monster form she goes ballistic and her human self doesn't know she is doing it. (I'm pretty sure he said a bunch of other things about her brain and blah blah blah but I was already out like a light sleeping on the couch.)

I woke up in the middle of the night because I had a nightmare that everyone I knew turned into a monster and I was there he only human left.

The next morning when I woke up, my dad had left me a note on the dining room table. It said, Madeline, I have gone to the hospital to see your mom. I will be back at 12:00 P.M.

That means……. I AM HOME ALONE!!!!!!!!!

I ran back into the living room and cranked up the volume on the TV. I hopped up on the couch and started to dance around like some disco dancer took over my mind and body. I went to the kitchen to get some ice cream out of the freezer. I also got chocolate sauce and whipped cream to make an ice cream sunday. I was so lost in the chocolatey goodness I didn’t realize the huge mess I made on the couch. I looked at the clock to see how long I had before I got terminated by my father for making a mess on his new couch. I was in official panic mode now. I grabbed the whole roll of paper towels and all the cleaning supplies in my kitchen. I ran back to the living room to start scrubbing. I quickly realized how stupid I was being. I took the cover off the cushion and put it in the washing machine. I did the best I could to remember what bottle of soap goes in which hole. I think I got it right. Well, I hope.

I turned it on and went back into the living room. I went back to my show.

When I sat down, I noticed a brown book sticking up. I pulled it out and opened it. It said “19 years ago, Jane, Madeline’s birth mom turned me into a monster. I haven't told anyone, even my husband! The story I tell people is that my mom was a witch and she turned me into a monster.” That was all that was there. I can't worry about this right now.

I took the journal into my room and put it under my pillow.

An hour had gone by and I checked the washing machine. I wondered if I put the soap in the right spot, and I had. It was just that I had put WAY too much in. I started to mop up the soap. I could finally see the washing machine! I took the cover out and put it in the dryer. Another 30 minutes went by and I had a brand new looking couch cover! I looked at the clock and it was 11:45. I caught my breath as I realized that I could have been road kill if it wasn’t for the washer and dryer. I looked down at my clothes and they were covered in chocolate. I got dressed and put my shirt in the washer.

All of a sudden, I heard a knock at the door. It was Mom and Dad! I rushed to the door to let them in and Dad pushed Mom in on a wheelchair.

“Hi, Mom!” I exclaimed.

“H-h-hi.” She replied.

“Your mom has gone through 2 surgeries and she is still in lots of pain.” Dad explained.

“Why?” I asked.

“So they could take the poison out of me to turn me back into a full human.” She explained.

“So, how long until you recover?”

“5 to 6 days. I’m going to go take a nap now.”

After that it was just me in the living room alone and I got pretty bored. I eventually fell asleep on the couch.

The next few days went by and Mom had started going to physical therapy. I stayed in bed until 11:00 A.M. on weekends. One morning, while I was eating breakfast, Dad came into the kitchen and started to eat some eggs.

“Finish up your breakfast and get dressed!” He exclaimed. “I have a surprise for you!”

I quickly finished my bowl of cereal and dropped it in the sink. I ran to my room and threw on some clothes, whether they were clean or not. I then, went into the living room to find my Dad with his old camera my Mom got him for his twentieth birthday.

“What are you doing?” I questioned.

“I may or may not be videotaping you when I tell you that we are… taking a road trip!” He yelled excitedly.

“Oh, yay.” I said while using sarcastic jazzhands.

“Oh come on, you will love it!”

“Where are we going?”

“It's a surprise!”

“Come on and get in the car.”

“OK.”

While I was moping into the car, I noticed something unusual in the back seat. It was a red and shiny box with a black lock on it.

“What is the box on the back seat for?” I asked.

“Well, why don't you get it and see.” He answered.

“Ok!”

I reached back to grab the box, but it was too heavy. I finally got ahold of it and hoisted it into my lap. I opened the box to find a brand new camera!

“What is this for?”

“It is for you to take pictures on our trip.”

“Thank you, thank you, thank you!”

“Thank your mom, she picked it out.”

We pulled into the hospital parking lot.

“What are we doing?” I asked.

“Getting your mother from physical therapy.” He responded.

“Ok, is she coming?”

“Yes.”

“Where are we going?”

“Your mom will tell you.”

“OK!”

We went into the physical therapy waiting room. We found more mom and got back in the car. Mom and Dad were talking in secret about where we were going, but I heard them anyway.

“Ok, are you ready?” They asked.

“Yes!” I responded.

“We are going ……… to Oklahoma!”

“Yay! Are we going to meet my birth mother?”

“Yes! She lives in Tulsa so it will take us 7 hours, but it will be worth it!”

“Did you set something up with her?”

“Yes, we will have dinner with her and then spend the night in a hotel.”

“OK, I can’t wait to meet her!”

“Madeline, I was cleaning your bed sheets yesterday and I found a journal under your pillow. What was it?” Mom asked.

“Actually I wanted to ask you that.”

“Ok, last year I got a journal and wrote something very important in it. I was lying. Jane, your birth mother was the one who turned me into a monster. She was trying to take you back.”

“Mom, why are we going to see her then?”

“She really wants to see you.”

3 hours went by in the car and we stopped at a fast food drive through.

I got a hamburger, which I hope had real meat on it, and a nice big chocolate milkshake.I wolfed down the burger, and slurped down the shake, and got a huge brain freeze.

Another 3 hours went by and I started to feel a little car sick. I asked my dad if he would pull over in a gas station so I could get some water. He pulled over and went in to buy me some water.

“Madeline, I need to tell you something.” Said my mother.

“Yes, Mom?” I asked.

“My surgery didn’t work.”

“What?”

“But, it did take out the monster poison in my body and now I have super powers!”

“Wow! This is amazing! What can you do?”

“Well, we haven’t really figured it out yet but they are working on figuring it out.”

“Cool!”

Dad got back in the car and I told him what Mom told me about her superpowers.

“Wow! Do we have them to?” Dad asked.

“ No, it was only because of my surgery.”

Dad handed me my water bottle, and we headed down the road towards the restaurant. When we got there I noticed a tan-ish lady wearing a blouse and blue jeans waving wildly at us.

“Is that her?” I asked.

“Yes it is, Madeline, and I want you to be on your best behavior.” My Mom said so seriously, it kind of scared me.

We got out of the car and my Mom introduced me.

“Madeline, this is Jane. Jane, this is Madeline.”

Jane came over to hug me so I stepped forward and put out my arms. She then, grabbed me and picked me up, (she was VERY strong) and ran to her car.

But then, my Mom stuck her hand out and electrocuted her. I then, ran back to my family. and hugged them until their heads nearly popped off. I had to think about what just happened, but then I realized that my Mom has electric powers!

“Mom, you can shoot lightning out of your hands!” I exclaimed.

“Yes, yes I can!” She said.

As my Dad called 911, I wished that I actually had got to know my birth mother. But, I love my family more than I will ever know.