Chapter 7: Surprises and Stalkers

The rest of the week was very eventful. Everyone had something go either incredibly right or incredibly wrong. It was Wednesday, but everyone wanted it to be Friday. Everyone wanted school to stop for the week, for Autumn to be gone, and most importantly for things to be back to normal. This was the week when the surprises hit. Maybe I should start with early Wednesday morning, before I woke up.
I tossed and turned. “No!” I remember myself shouting. It was happening again. The same dream that had haunted me for the past three months. I looked over the edge of the building that was below me, down onto the street. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. This was it. It would be all over after this. But why had I chosen this way to die? I was terrified of heights. I shrugged it off. I wouldn’t have to worry about it anymore. I jumped, then felt a heavy weight on me. It was a person. It was yelling “Roderick!” It was Athena. She had jumped and grabbed a hold of my shirt. I looked down. A trampoline stood at the bottom. My family surrounded it. I managed to look up into Athena’s eyes. “Don’t do this to me Roderick. Please.” Suddenly I realized I was in the air, falling. I woke up in a scream. I looked around my room. I was still in my bed. I sat up in bed. My heart was racing. I rubbed my eyes. When were the nightmares going to stop? I heard a knock at my door. It was Mel.
“Roderick, are you okay?”
I hesitated. “Yeah, I’m…I’m fine. Just a bad dream is all. I’ll be out in a few minutes.”
I heard Mellanye sigh. “Okay,” she said uneasily.
I got up and made my bed quickly. I was going to be late for school if I didn’t hurry. I got dressed in a pair of ripped black skinny jeans and a black t-shirt that said on the front in red letters:

“I love life” and on the back “Because the pain makes it oh so worth it. “

I walked out of my room and into the kitchen, where Athena was busy making lunches and getting breakfast on the table for the others. Mellanye met me at the door.
“Are you SURE you’re alright? I heard you scream.”
“I’m fine,” I said, looking away from her.
“Look me in the eyes and tell me that.”
“I…I…I can’t.”
“You dreamt it again didn’t you? Your suicide attempt.”
I nodded. “I’m fine, Mel. Just…let me eat so I can get to school.”
She looked at me uncertainly. “Okay, fine. But if you want to talk about it…I’m here.”
I nodded again and made my way into the kitchen to get some food. Athena met me with a hug. I looked into her eyes then recognized the look she gave me. She had had the same dream. She mouthed “are you okay” and I nodded. I mouthed the same to her, and she nodded in return. Both of us knew what had happened, both of us still had the memories, the nightmares of what had occurred those few months ago.
I grabbed an apple and a slice of bacon, suddenly not so hungry. Athena didn’t eat much either. I finished my very small breakfast, grabbed my lunch, and ran out the door. I didn’t stop running until I got to school. I burst through the door to find Jake leaning against his locker, looking at the floor. His cheeks were red, and he had a stupid grin on his face.
“Thinking of Athena?” I teased as I approached my locker. He glared at me.
“You going to HELP me or sit there and give me shit?”
“Fine, fine. Since when do you like my sister, anyway? You should have told me.”
“Well…I’ve liked her since I met her two years ago. I didn’t tell you because I thought you would think it was weird and I didn’t want things to turn awkward. To be honest…I thought it was just a simple crush, you know? It would fade within time. But…it hasn’t. It’s only become stronger. I mean…dude do you know how lucky you are to have her as your sister, living under the same roof? She’s amazing. Smart, beautiful, considerate…everything I’m looking for.” He sighed. “Think about how much you like Halyn…and times that by twelve. That’s how I feel about Athena.”
“Wow. Really?”
“Yeah. And I don’t know what to do.” Silence.
“Does Drake know?”
“Hell no. If he does, he hasn’t said anything.” I nodded, thinking.
“Well…do you know what she likes?”
“Not really.”
“Find out.”
“How?”
“I don’t know…stalk her.”
“Stalk her? You mean follow her around?”
“Yeah.”
“Or you could just tell me.”
“But then it wouldn’t be fun… Look, just stalk her.”
“Dude…isn’t that illegal?”
“Not if she doesn’t know. I’ll help you.”
“Alright…well…if you say so. I could give it a shot.”
“That’s my boy. OH and I’ll ask the family to invite you to dinner this weekend while Autumn is gone.”
“Thanks. Oh God, here she comes!” He started freaking out.
“Dude, chill. Follow my lead.”
Athena approached my locker. “Hey.”
“Hey. Athena, you remember Jake.”
“H-h-hey Athena,” Jake said.
She blushed. “Hey…um….uh….”
“Jake.”
“Right…haha…hi Jake.”
He blushed bright red. “It’s almost time for class…I’m…I’m gonna go. Later Rod…later Athena.” He took off.
“You like him,” I said.
“Oh shut up.”
“Never,” I said, grinning. She grinned back. We started to walk down the hall. Suddenly she stopped. “What’s wrong?”
“Do you feel like…we’re being followed?” I paled and stopped, knowing Jake was right behind us.
“Why do you say that?”
“I just…don’t know. Never mind…let’s get to class.” Suddenly Drake popped up.
“Hey guys.”
“Hey Drake,” Athena and I said together.
“Athena, I have to tell you something.”
“Um…ok?”
“You know my brother Jake right?”
She blushed. “Yeah.”
“He likes you.”
“He…he does?”
Drake nodded. “He doesn’t know I know. But I figured I should tell you. Give him crap for me, will you?”
“Of course! How long has he liked me?” Drake looked around as though to make sure Jake couldn’t hear him.
“For two years, from the day he met you. He thought it was a crush…that it would fade. But it became stronger over time, and I knew he liked you because all he could talk about was you. He still hasn’t stopped. You’ve got him under some sort of spell.”
“Wow. I didn’t think anyone liked me that much, outside of my own family.”
“Well he does. Just…do me a favor and don’t let him know that I told you. He’d throttle me in my sleep if he knew.”
“Lips are sealed,” Athena said with an evil grin.
“Good,” Drake said with a twisted smile. “Anyway, I have to go. Catch you later.”
“Bye,” we said.
Athena turned on me. “Did you know?”
I shook my head. “No, but it gives me reason to tease him once he finds out Drake told you.” Athena shook her head and whacked me playfully.
“You are so full of yourself.”
“Duh!”
We rushed off to class. Chemistry was first. How I hated chemistry…I didn’t get it – no one in my family aside from Mellanye got it really – and it was boring. Pouring chemicals into beakers for lab and reading about the Periodic Table of Elements was not how I wanted to spend my time. If you asked around, everyone that knew me would tell you that I thought chemistry was a waste of time. I sat through class, watching Jake stare at Athena, and finding myself staring at Halyn. I was turning sappy, but I had her talking to me at least. Soon school was ended, my detention was over, and rehearsal was almost done. The balcony scene had gone perfectly, the next scene we were rehearsing was the graveyard scene at the end. I stayed a little later than I wanted to, but since I was with Halyn I didn’t care much. I walked home, more tired than usual. Tomorrow I had sports practice for gym. Ugh, I thought. Gym was another waste of my time. I reached home to find that only Athena, Mellanye, Vlad, and Bree were home. Autumn was still at the grocery store, I found out from Mellanye, getting carrots. Mom and dad were not home from work yet. I put my things into my room and decided I would ask if Athena needed any help with dinner.
I walked into the kitchen only to find that Bree was helping Athena with dinner instead. Over the past couple of days, Bree had gotten accustomed to her handicap and was trying her best to help with chores and cooking. She was stirring pasta sauce when I walked in.
“Hey bro,” she said with a tired smile. “How was school?”
“It was alright. Tiring. Boring. You know, the usual. Glad to see you don’t have another detention slip yet. Feel good to be free for once?”
“It was actually kind of weird. I’ve gotten used to getting detention. But since I can’t fight…it’s difficult. And what’s worse is I have gym tomorrow.”
“What do you play again? It’s hard to keep up with my own schedule let alone yours, or anyone else’s in this family. That’s why we have that nifty little schedule board in the living room that Athena got before school started…”
“I play tennis.”
“Ouch…that’s gonna suck.”
“You aren’t kidding.”
“So are you and Athena okay? It seems as though both of you had dreams last night.”
Athena and I looked at each other. “We’re fine. Just…wish the dreams would die, you know?” Bree nodded.
“I can understand that.” She gave me a hug. We heard a car drive up; the parents must be home. Sure enough we heard the front door unlock and in walked Dad.
“Hey kids,” he said giving all of us hugs.
“Hey Dad,” the reply came from all of us at once.
“Where’s Mom?” Athena asked.
“Getting some stuff out of the car. Listen, she’s had a really rough day at work today…try to keep things positive when she walks in, will you?” We all nodded, not daring to disobey Dad.
Mom walked into the kitchen, a few shopping bags in her hands. “Ugh…I hate it when we have to get new medical supplies. Spends the budget like crazy. Here Bree. I bought you a new brace and sling since you said they were uncomfortable. We’ll replace the old ones after dinner.”
“Thanks Mom,” Bree said, giving mom a hug. Mom hugged Bree back then sat down. Bree went back to stirring the pasta sauce.
“I’m going to go change out of my work clothes,” Dad said, making his way towards the doorway. Suddenly, Bree’s arm slipped and hit the spoon. In what seemed like light speed, the spoon flew out of the pot, stringing along bits of pasta sauce which landed on the floor and countertops, and hit Dad in the back of the head. The spoon landed on the floor and my dad spun around.
Bree approached him, shaking. “I-I-I’m sorry, Dad,” she said shakily. Instead of being angry, Dad patted her on the head and smiled.
“It’s okay. I needed a shower anyway.” He bent down and picked up the spoon. I looked at Athena, who grinned. I followed her gaze. It landed in Dad’s eyes. Then I saw it. He was wired. As in, he was horny. And not just a little. His pupils had dilated completely. I grinned. He looked at the spoon for a second, then at Mom.
“Oh Dusty…” he said in a somewhat taunting tone.
“What?” she replied, not catching on. He looked at her with a mischievous grin. She paled. “Uh…Sean? Are you feeling okay?” She got up and backed up towards the door.
“We may be a little late for dinner guys. Don’t wait up for us.” Suddenly Mom took off in a run, Dad chasing her.
“EWWWWWWWWWW,” all of us said. We heard a door close, then nothing more. Bree got out another spoon and started stirring the pasta sauce, while Athena was cleaning the floor and countertops of the pasta sauce.
“I am NOT cleaning that spoon,” Bree said with a grin. The kitchen erupted in laughter. Suddenly Autumn walked in. She looked sad; melancholy even.
“Hey Autumn,” Athena said softly. “Dinner is almost ready. I made you your favorite: vegetarian lasagna.”
“I’m not hungry, Athena. I’ll be in my room.” The room went quiet, and stayed that way for a few minutes after Autumn left the room.
“No insults? What’s her damage?” Bree asked.
I shrugged. “I dunno.”
Dinner finally finished cooking. We ate and cleaned up together, then went to our rooms to do homework. Well, I didn’t. I went to my room to grab something else. I closed my door and went over to my bed. I reached underneath my bed and felt around. Then I grabbed the long neck of the bottle and soon after found my shot glasses. I dragged them out. I peeked out of my door and saw no one coming. I travelled quietly to Autumn’s room and knocked.
“Who is it?”
“Open up Autumn.”
The door opened and a very sad, tear-stained Autumn peeked out from behind it. I lifted the vodka bottle and shot glasses up. “Can I come in?” She opened her door and I stepped in. She closed the door behind me. Her room was a nightmare to any Goth kid. Barbie pink walls surrounded burgundy furniture and a pink bed. Even the floor was red. Clothes were everywhere. Heart-shaped pillows were tossed on the floor. A book shelf (painted purple) contained romance novels, some chick flicks, and pop music like the Jonas Brothers. I cringed but sat on her bed.
“I take it you’ve had a rough day too?” Autumn asked shyly as I poured a couple of shots. She sat down next to me.
I nodded. “I had a dream about…the jump…last night.”
“Ouch.”
“What happened to you?”
“The kids in my class say I’m fat and ugly.”
“You are neither fat nor ugly Autumn.” I downed the first shot, so did she.
“I used to think that too, Roderick. Then I reached high school…things changed.”
I looked at the clothes hanging in her closet. Autumn was a size four in jeans. “You wear a size four…how could you possibly think you are fat?” She shrugged.
“Once you hear something long enough, you start to believe it.”
“I don’t care. You are not fat. And as for the ugly business…not true either. You are the envy of every girl at school, outside of your family. You are the trendsetter, the fashion diva.”
She looked up at me. “I act confident but I’m not, Roderick. What’s wrong with me?” I looked at her in shock.
“You want to know what is wrong with you? Honestly?”
She nodded.
“Absolutely nothing.”
“But…”
“Listen, you may be a bitch sometimes but you are still beautiful. Why do you think we put up with you Autumn? It’s because we love you. You can be a bit judgmental, even a bit harsh…but all of us can be. We are human. It’s what we do. You are a beautiful girl who can do whatever she puts her mind to. You knock most guys out of the ballpark. You just need to build your self-esteem.” She threw back another shot.
“I guess.”
I felt bad for Autumn. I didn’t know her real well…but when she opened up, you could tell that for once the demon had a heart and not a dungeon in its place. I decided to tell her about my own insecurities.
“You know I went through a period where I thought I was never going to get a girl.”
“You did?”
“Yep.”
“How?”
“I don’t know exactly…I just…when I was a teenager…looked in the mirror one day and I saw myself as a hideous creature who wasn’t smart or cool or cute…and I had convinced myself that I would never get a girl. I thought I was fat and pimply. All boys go through a phase like that. We just get over it quicker. You’ve heard the saying that boys mature slower than girls, right?” Autumn nodded. “Well it applies here. To boys, looks aren’t huge…we feel like we were made to be grungy and kinda dimwitted and dirty. We go through a phase but it goes almost as quickly as it comes. Then we start thinking about girls. Looks on a girl please guys. When a guy hits sixteen, his hormones start up. We look at makeup and hair on a girl, how big her breasts are and if she has a hot ass. It’s what we do. Then we ask for nudes.” I smirked, and she giggled a little. We had both put back about six shots each, and were getting more and more drunk. “And Mel has been in the same position you have. Bree and Athena too. All girls go through a stage where they think they are fat or ugly or not good enough for a guy – just ask your sisters. But, as I said before, you are neither fat nor ugly, and you are good enough for the right guy.” I hiccupped. Within time, Autumn was feeling better, and you could tell because the conversation changed direction drastically.
Autumn confessed, hiccupping as she talked.
“Really? I always thought you were a caramel person.”
“Nope.”
“I’ve always wanted to dance naked in the living room.”
“OMG NO WAY!” Autumn said, half-way dazed.
“Yes way. I think it would be fun!”
“Well…no one is out there now. You could if you wanted to.”
“You know what? I will!” I stripped, right there in front of Autumn, and bounded out towards the living room. Autumn, laughing up a storm, started some music and I started dancing. I danced for about half an hour. I shook my ass and my hips and did a few flips. Then I saw a flash. A camera flash. I looked over in the direction the flash had come from and there stood Bree, a camera in her hands. At first it didn’t register. Then it hit me. I chased her through the house, trying to get a hold on the camera.
“Roderick PLEASE can I keep these pictures?”
“WHY?” I asked, still trying to get the camera from her grasp.
“I…I…I want to put them in my scrapbook.”
“What scrapbook?” Autumn asked drunkenly.
“My Roderick Scrapbook,” Bree said bluntly.
Autumn yanked me off of Bree and told me to get dressed. Athena came bounding out of her room, a large black scrapbook in her hands. She saw me and screamed.
“MY EYES!!! COVER IT UP RODERICK BRANDYN!” I grabbed a pillow and quickly sobered up, putting the pillow in front of my crotch.
“Sorry Athene,” I said, blushing.
“Bree, please tell me you aren’t taking pictures to put in your scrapbook.”
“Wait, what scrapbook?”
Athena sighed. “Bree has a scrapbook of you…Bree…”
“Uh…I…no?” Bree stuttered as she snatched the scrapbook out of Athena’s hand and ran to her room giggling. “WOO PICTURE OF RODERICK NAKED!” That was how Wednesday ended, but NOTHING could prepare us for what was to happen on Thursday.
Thursday would be a very violent day. People who usually never got in trouble actually were sent to the guardhouse, fights broke out at school for an actual reason, people walked in on awkward moments in the Kallow household, faces were slapped at baseball practice, and even more surprises were unleashed by our mother. I’ll start with Thursday morning. Things started normally. We all made it to school, Jake was stalking Athena as planned, and the sun was shining. No fights had broken out in the Kallow house this morning, though things between me, Autumn, Bree, and Athena had been pretty awkward since my drunken dancing the night before. I made it to my first and second classes, Algebra and English, with no problem and actually passed my English quiz. Third period was gym class. Everyone at our school hated gym, though some people for different reasons. I loved playing baseball though, so I went to gym class. I was an instructor, and taught people how to swing a baseball bat. Today was really exciting though because I got to tutor the person who was tutoring me in theatre: Halyn.
Halyn walked over and said hi.
“Hi.”
“Um…I’ve never used a bat before…”
“Oh. Well here let me help you. First we need to get you one.” I walked over and grabbed a suitable bat for her height. “Now, let’s go to the plate and I’ll walk you through the basics.” She nodded and followed me to home plate.
“Okay so you’re going to stand like this.” I stood on the side of home plate with my back straight and my knees slightly bent. Halyn assumed the position. “Great! That’s perfect. Doing good for a first-timer,” I said with a smile. Halyn blushed. “Now, holding the bat can be tricky so here let me adjust your hands.” I stood behind her and took one of her hands and put it on the bat. My palms were sweaty and my face was red. I did the same with her other hand. “Now let’s try a swing. You are going to go like this,” I said, working with her to get a sturdy swing in the making. She gave a couple of good, sturdy swings, but was a little off balance. “Alright, doing well. Here, let’s adjust your balance.” I did some rearranging with her grip and footing, then helped her take another swing. As the bat swung back, my hand slipped and touched her breast. I realized what I had done and was very red.
“Oh God I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to-“ SLAP!
“OW!” I said as she slapped me. “What was that for? I didn’t even mean to…uh…” I went redder.
“Pervert.” She walked away and gym class ended.
I went to two more of my classes, History and Grammar, and then moved to my locker. My day was almost finished. On my way to my last class, I heard crying. I followed the sound, trying to figure out where it was coming from. When I located the source, I found it was Halyn, sobbing in the corner. I went over to her immediately.
“Halyn, what’s wrong?”
“This girl…said some things about me…and…” She started bawling again.
“What did this girl say?”
“She mocked me. She said to make sure I cut downwards, not across the wrist, for me to go curl up and die. She said that no boy would ever love me and that I’m not worth the ground I walk on.” She blew her nose. “She said no one would miss me if I was gone, that I should hurry and kill myself before I hurt anyone else by living. She told me to stop being an attention hog, stop cutting. She said if I did I might get a boy. She said if I wore different clothes and didn’t look like a creepy, f-ed up freak I might get lucky. But she said it was a big might. More like a probably not. She said she swore I’d never get a guy as long as I was alive so I might as well kill myself now.”
I hugged Halyn close. “Who was it?”
“You know her as well as I do.”
I gasped. “Autumn?”
Halyn nodded.
“She wouldn’t! She didn’t!”
“She did.”
“Stay here and don’t do ANYTHING. I want you to stick around okay?” She nodded.
“Now promise me you won’t do anything stupid.”
“I promise Roderick.”
“Alright then. I’ll be back. Stay here.”
I ran into the hall. “Drake. Jake. Have you seen my sister?”
“Which one? You have four, dude.”
“I know where Athena is!” Jake said excitedly.
I rolled my eyes. “I’m talking about Autumn.”
“Cafeteria.”
“Thanks.”
I ran off towards the cafeteria. Spotting Autumn almost instantly I grabbed her arm and dragged her out to the hallway. I slammed her up against the locker like Dad would do to Mom if he got really pissed.
“You told Halyn to kill herself. WHY?” I yelled.
Autumn smirked. “She’s a Goth kid. Like you. Who needs to go curl up and die. No one cares. No one wants you here. No one wants her here. I only told her the truth.”
“You BITCH, I want her here.”
“Why?”
“BECAUSE I LOVE HER DAMN YOU!” I felt empowered. I pushed her further into the lockers.
“Then why don’t you go and die with her?” That did it. I blew a fuse. I slammed her into the lockers again.
“Why don’t you?” I asked her, my voice dark, my eyes narrow slits. She turned and ran, and I chased after her. I tackled Autumn down to the floor and we tumbled, throwing punches. I locked her arm behind her back.
“APOLOGIZE!”
“NEVER!”
I heard a “crack”, much like the one I heard on the day Bree broke her wrist. Autumn cried out, tears were running down her cheeks.
“Roderick you are hurting me!”
“THEN APOLOGIZE!”
“I said NO!”
“Your funeral, bitch.”
We tumbled over and over again down the hall. Things were getting more violent. Autumn scratched my cheek with one of her snapped nails. I didn’t care anymore. I saw Vlad and Bree and Athena running towards us. Both of us got up and resumed wrestling, throwing punches at each other until our faces were covered with blood. I picked Autumn up (she only weighs about a hundred and fifty pounds or so) and threw her at the lockers. She fell to the ground. The lockers were dented in. Autumn was on the ground, knocked out, and I was finally starting to calm down. Then I blacked out.
When I woke up, I was in the principal’s office, getting bandaged up. Autumn sat there with me, along with Halyn in a chair across the room. My mom burst through the door.
“What happened?!” she asked, her face filled with alarm.
“Your son-“ Principal Blackthorne began.
“Your son was standing up for me, Mrs. Kallow,” Halyn said shyly. “Your daughter said some nasty things to me that…that made me cry and…Roderick was just defending me. Things got ugly.” My mother looked at Autumn.
“Is this true young lady?” Autumn looked away, not wanting to answer.
“Excuse me, but I need to make a quick phone call to some relatives,” my mother said. She stepped out of the room. Halyn approached me.
“Thanks for standing up for me Roderick.”
“No problem. It’s what I do.” She smiled. “Wow.”
“What?”
“You have a great smile, you know that?”
“R-really?”
“Really. Can…can you smile again? For me?”
She did. I smiled back and she blushed. My brother and sisters came into the room suddenly.
“RODERICK ARE YOU OKAY?” Athena squealed as she came up to give me a hug. I grinned.
“I’m fine but don’t squeeze so hard. It hurts.”
“Sorry.”
Vlad spoke up. “You looked like Dad back there, man.” The principal looked stunned.
“Did you just talk?” she asked Vlad.
Vlad just backed into the shadows and stayed quiet.
Suddenly mom came back into the office. “Autumn Thorne Kallow, I don’t know what I’m going to do with you. Aunt Sam and Uncle Raphael are going to come get you from the office and straighten you out for the weekend. Halyn, I’m so sorry you had to put up with my daughter’s insolence. How would you like to come over this weekend? You can even stay over.”
“That sounds great Mrs. Kallow.”
“Mother!”
“Shut your mouth Autumn. You had better be thanking the good Lord that your father isn’t here.” Autumn stayed quiet.
“Roderick are you alright?”
“I’m fine, Mom.” My mother looked at the principal.
“What’s the damage?”
“Three hundred and fifty dollars worth of damages to the school, another week of detention, and community service for two weeks.”
I looked at the principal, and before my mom could respond said, “Here’s money for the damages. Sorry about the school and my behavior. I’ll even do community service for a month if you want me to. I feel so bad.” I dished over the money. Principal Blackthorne looked surprised.
“Perhaps there is some integrity and decency left in you after all, Mr. Kallow. Perhaps I misjudged you. For that, I’m sorry. And…don’t worry about community service. I’ll override it. You have paid enough for your wrongdoings.”
“Wow, thank you Ma’am,” I said gratefully.
Suddenly two familiar faces poked their heads into the principal’s office.
“Uncle Raph! Aunt Sam!” I squeaked. They came over and hugged me.
“How you doin’ Sport?” Uncle Raph asked. I grinned as he messed with my hair.
“Eh…in a bind.”
“You’ll get through it, just like your old man. Don’t tell your father I said that about him, though ahaha.” He turned to Autumn. “YOU on the other hand…you need some good, old-fashioned hard work to get you from rotten to good again. No one in this family will tolerate your behavior Missy, and I guarantee you that your father would have a cow if he knew what happened here today.”
Aunt Sam cut in. “Agreed. You need some behavior modification young lady. And I will be glad to give you some. Now, come on. Get in the car. We will get you to our house and cleaned up and fed. Then you will be put to work.” Sighing, Autumn got off of the chair she was sitting in and followed Aunt Sam and Uncle Raph out the door. Mom gave Aunt Sam a hug, thanked her for taking Autumn for the weekend, and watched her depart.
Suddenly Jake burst in. “ROD ARE YOU OK?!”
“Dude, I’m fine. OH, Mom, would it be okay if Jake came over this weekend too? He and Drake can’t stand another game night with the fam.”
“Sure.”
“And Mom?”
“Yes?”
“Will Dad be hearing about this?”
“Yes but I doubt you’ll get in trouble for it.”
“Oh good…can we go home?”
“Sure. Come on kids.” We bid Halyn and Jake good bye and got into the car. We drove home in silence. When we got home, Athena and Bree went to get some aspirin and bandages for me. I sat on the couch and Mom sat on a chair. Mel got home and sat down in another one. Finally Vlad and the other two girls came into the living room and started bandaging me up. While they were doing so, my mom stood up. “Kids, we need to have a talk. I haven’t had this talk with your father yet but I’m so excited…I can’t keep it in anymore.”
“What is it mom?” Athena asked, curious as always.
“Well…I don’t know how to say it any better than this…but…” She paused for dramatic effect. “I’m pregnant!” The whole room stood still. This was definitely a shock, but nothing could prepare us for what mom would say next.