Behind the Smile (Short Story Part 2) “Thanks, and oh by the way, this is your additional allowance. I’m sure you would need this,” he said handing some her bills of money. “No dad, I’m good with my allowance in my wallet. Thanks by the way. Goodbye, dad,” for the second time, she turned her back on him. And this moment, tears came running down her cheeks. She didn’t bother to wipe them now, knowing that they would come and come every time. Instead of going to school, she took a bus going to the province. She’ll go to her mom and will spend the night there. Doesn’t matter the long hours of trip, all she needs now is a mother’s hug. And she hopes that maybe... maybe she would be the first one to greet her. “Ah, I’m sure she remembers it now! It’s one of the most important things in her life, because it’s the day she delivered her first daughter to the world,” she smiles on the thought. And before the sun sets, she finally steps on the ground of the province where her mom was born. She’s very excited on the thought, that after a year, she would finally cling onto her mom and kiss her a lot. She knocks on the wooden door, and after several knocks, an old lady opens the door. “Good evening Ma’am, is my mom there?” she asked courteously. The old woman just nodded and widens the door. She steps inside and wait for her mom that’s been called by the old lady. “Darn! That’s my toy! Give that to me, you moron!” “I don’t want to! It’s mine now!” “But mommy bought it for me!” and the little kid started to cry while the other started to play the car toy he’d snatched from his younger brother. “Hey kids, what are these?” finally her mom came down. She smiles widely, feeling excited to hug her. But instead, her mother walks towards to her youngest son, levelled on him and worriedly asks, “Oh my, baby why are you crying?” “Jericho snatched my car, mommy!” the child said while crying. “Jericho, give back your brother’s toy!” her mom yelled. “No mom, I don’t want to!” the boy replied. Then her mom faces the younger boy again, “Don’t worry baby, I’ll just buy you a new one. A bigger one, is that fine?” The younger boy finally wipes his tears on his cheeks, “Really, mom?” Her mother nodded, and that makes the younger son jumps into joy, hugs her mom and kisses her, “Thank you mom!” Alison smiles on the scene, thinking that she will also do that too to her mother later. She misses her so much.