Chapter 2: The Image
Adeline continued walking through the loud New York like setting, before reaching a tall blue house with a black metal gate around it. The grass was green and plush as it was freshly mowed, and two large oak trees took a generous amount of space. The pathway was long and paved with bricks lined up with a garden which seemed to disappear in the snow. Adeline pulled a key out of her coat and unlocked the gate, stepping in and quietly shutting it behind her as if she didn't want to startle the neighbors, who were out shoveling their driveway. She eased up the path examining everything in sight, particularly at the large porch where a dining set was placed. She made her way up the four steps and turned to face the deep red door. She reached down and pressed the doorbell a few times stopping to take a breath after. Inside she heard a muffled voice that of a woman, Adeline braced herself as if the worst was too come, she straightened out her hair and clothes and took one last deep breath before the door opened wide. A long haired woman about mid forties with glasses opened up the door and ripped them off before screaming "Honey you came"!! she yelled opening her arms wide and grabbing Adeline. As uncomfortable as Adeline was she smiled and hugged her mother back "hey mom, how's it hanging" she said "hold on let me get your father, come in sit down, eat if you want" the woman responded leading Adeline into the house. It was a large beautiful house with decorations everywhere and the walk in never disappointed with its array of family portraits lining the walls. Adelines' particularly favorite one was the one taken on her sixth birthday where she seemed to have noticed a cockroach easing its way up the large chocolate cake. She then screamed and climbed on the table and stomped all over the cake causing a casual sense of chaos among the other children. Her dad got a kick out of the whole situation and demanded the photographer to get a snapshot of his daughter and all her glory. Every year after that it became tradition to pop in the tape and watch it for laughs. Adeline smiled as she kept on down the hallway to the living room to find her father sitting on the couch petting the family cat Opie "Maddox sweetheart!! I'm glad you came, Opie was just heading out" he said turning and looking towards Adeline "Alex honey!! bring his bag" he screamed. Adeline smiled and made her way awkwardly to the couch and sat next to her dad, he put his arm around her and pulled her close giving her a warm hug. "How's my little rebel without a cause"? he asked "still trying to find my purpose i guess" Adeline responded. Within seconds her mom came strolling in with Opies' cat carrier "Sid I couldn't find the one grandma bought with the mesh lining" she said holding it up "that's fine love, whatever gets him there safely". Adelines parents were quiet and eccentric characters in and of the least, especially in the way they hoped Adeline would've been a boy something they both hoped and prayed on. They didn't want a gender reveal as they were entirely sure she was a boy and felt like the confirmation was a waste. To their surprise that day in the delivery room Adeline was a girl and as stubborn as her father was he didn't want to give up the name so they followed through. However her father over the years had a hard time accepting the new born femininity that he often made the mistake and indirectly and unintentionally treated her as a boy. From male driven advice, to getting her into sports, to even letting her pursue the idea of a tomboy. All of it failed when she grew her hair out and puberty came but none of it died in vain. "Mom why do you allow him to send the cat on vacation, its ridiculous" Adeline asked "Opie needs to get out too honey" she responded. They placed the carrier onto the coffee table and Opie a large tabby cat ran in and snugly laid down as Alex latched the carrier shut. Adeline stuck her fingers through the cage opening and pet the cat softly. "Don't worry darling he will be back in about two weeks time" Alex said. She picked the cat up and made her way to the front door where she grabbed another larger bag of supplies, Adeline stood up and rushed to the door to give her mom a hand. Once her mom was settled and made her way out of the door, Adeline walked back out and made her way back to her father who was now in the kitchen cutting an apple. "Dad what made you decide to name me Maddox"? Adeline asked leaning against the wall as she watched her father "your mom wasn't going for James Dean" he chuckled Adeline smiled "I could've been Jamie dean" she replied."We were aiming for something tough, but nothing typical so Maddox spoke to me. I was set on that name for the toughest first born bo-" He stopped and glanced at Adeline who seemed to frown indirectly "sorry honey i didn't mean to" he added as he stopped carving the Apple "its okay dad" she nodded. "Look at you now, you turned out beautifully" he said "I'm not so sure about that" Adeline replied and at that moment she reached in to her pocket to find her pack of cigarettes missing. Her eyes grew wild with fear "hold on dad" she said before running back into the living room. She rushed over to the couch and searched frantically between the pillows. She spotted them in the couch pillows and she snatched them and shoved them back in her pocket as she shuffled her way back to the kitchen with her father. "Everything okay love bug"? he said smiling softly at her. "Oh yeah, I thought I dropped my wallet" Adeline staggered as her face was covered with lies. She walked over and gave her father a hug. As she wrapped her hands around him he planted a kiss on top of her head "sweetie, you smell like cigarettes, tell Kaedis to smoke in a separate area, its getting in your hair". Adeline stared deeply into the floor too hide her guilt "I will dad next time I see him". Adeline pulled herself together as she looked up at him, she gave him a kiss on the cheek as they proceeded to go their separate ways "Tell mom I said bye , I have to get home and get ready for work" "will do". Adeline walked down the long hallway and let herself out through the front door. She made her way back in the direction she came as she strolled along wondering where the rest of the day will take her.
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