Last Friday, my mother said that she would have to go back to our hometown and stay there for a week to see to some family issues. Therefore, she would not be able to be cooking for me in her absence. She apologised to me for it.

Hearing that, I was not sad. Instead, I was excited. If Mother were not home on the weekend, I would have an opportunity to play my favourite PC game all night long. Father has been working the night shift recently. Over a normal weekend, all I can do is homework, nothing else.

On Saturday afternoon, after the last class, I rushed all the way home. No sooner had I stepped into our flat than I went over and pushed the power button on the PC. While the machine was being booted, I came back to the shoe rack in the doorway to have my shoes changed. As I was changing into slippers, I heard someone stirring in the kitchen. That was weird. The next moment Mother emerged from the kitchen, with a smile on her face.

“Oh, Lord. Why the hell is she home?” I cursed under my breath.

After my mother saw my PC already turned on, her face became very long and the sweet smile turned into a glare. The only thought on my mind then was whether I could survive the weekend.