Unruly

ay or make us wait until everyone else is gone, but not this doctor. Doc Harper is the most incredible and compassionate medical professional I've ever

ldered that I fail to recognize that fact. Moreover, I want to be angry at him for being here, but he has made that impossible. I am starting to seriously doubt whether he was mocking us earlier. What kind of person bonds with a child like Jersey and spontaneously accompanies

od, huh?"

ing him the chapstick. He briefly glances at me

ot the first time I have jumped to the wrong conclusions when it comes to my brother. But anyone who has lived through what I have would understand why. Jersey has endured bullying, harassment, and even physical ha

fears that she will pass away at a young age, leaving her poor baby alone in the world to fend for himself. No matter how much I assure her otherwis

exclaims, getting up from the ground

oing today?" Doctor Ha

ick," Jersey p

the exam rooms. He knows better than to have us wait there, for Jersey can be quite a hand

Mickey Mouse, join us," Jersey in

urely at the doctor, then a

you'd like," Doc Harper say

larify, waving my hands in fron

ops, frowning

is face turning red. "It's not like that

d as to why I'm sudde

ng his walk. "If Jersey wants one of his sis

s fine," Mick says, backt

y insists, leaning over and tuggin

ops his

sets his mind on something, it's nearly impossible to change it until he's ready. There are moments when we have to

h my teeth, resisting the urge to respond with a little F-U action. How dare he not be under my infl

elf seated in the chair, the doctor initiates the examination. He starts with an odd habit of feeling Jersey's

the doctor asks as he contin

unting the doctor for his attention. "I put it on..." he smears the chapstick all around his mouth, "a

doctor calmly responds, "Interes

s the label. "Using excessive amounts of this chapstick may not be ideal for

erly, "Yes, I alway

n on your face, especially when it gets on your lips

I become anxious as I see the mutinous

a rash from a chapstick. I scratched it all night and w

Mick, his terror-stricken expr

lly. "Yeah, clowns fr

newfound terror. "Here. You take it,"

ith a special chapstick that you can use after each meal, just once. Three times a d

ity peaks, "Does

, "Not really. Is

No, I guess not. Sometimes I lick thin

ining Jersey's ears before moving on to checkin

I licked cat foo

's struggling. I roll my eyes, sensing that Jersey is a

ome stray cats. I wonder how many times I've tasted

ating it regularly. It won't harm you," the doctor assures him. He tu

sting experiences. "I also licked the kitchen floor once. Mom always tell

gross that day since I never manage to clean the floor as well as my mom expects

ave a lot of germs, especially if dirty shoes are constantly tracking th

ng us all off guard. He holds out his hand,

urious to see what he'll do next. Even Mick's curiosity overcomes h

s face and slowly turns to face each person

I correct him. "And it's Mi

ination table and walks towards Mick. In one swift moti

to say, bending over and

grin as he returns to his initial spot. He hands the h

set now?" Do

in tip-top shape," Jers

m holding it in. He had it coming, suggesting that he would come to the doctor and lick

s," the doctor says, holding a cl

ds and focuses on the

today'

day before Friday, which is Thursday.

is in this room

er Harper Harper,

use a person

man over there in the corner. He likes my sister

o way to stop this train wreck. When Jersey gets going, no one

s voice. "Sparkling, huh? Sounds se

ery smart in a special way. I'm different,

won't make a difference. This will just be written down as

d what are your p

out everything, exc

at?" the d

chapstick or the floor any

d id

ther things?"

heading. Both Jersey and I have

" the doctor asks.

to lick something

Without thinking, I stand up and reach out for my broth

m feeling. "Well, that would depend on what it is, I suppose. You can pretty

o. Absolutely not. Cat feces contain numerous harmful bacteria." Jersey lets out a relieved breath and hops off the examination table. "Good," he exclaims. "Because they taste really awful. I won't eve

rjects, hastily declaring, "I'll wait outside with Jersey." Though I yearn to join him, I realiz

d your brother to lick... well, let's just say... inappropriate things. However, it's important to keep

g a deep shade of red. "I'm aware of that. We

rward slightly, his gentle, brown eyes pierce into mine, evoking a sense of overwhelming emotion. He's too understanding to be a typical doct

rly disgusted with the discussion. Jersey is far too vulnerable to navigate the world on his own. I've witnessed twelve years of bullying,

rows his brow.

of all profanities bangs on the door of my mouth, beggi

you propose

"I don't know. Just... keep him a

ke care of that? Y

o.

ou

sticking my chin ou

u'll want to get married and

s away from bobbing and weaving my head around in true home-

ay that now... but you can't possibly imagine how challe

with the good doctor. I hate to think of w

clothes he despises and even gotten a black eye for it, and I've watched over him and kept him out of trouble for more hours than I can count. Except for that one time he licked cat poop. He's my brother and my responsibility. I'll make sure he's okay, whether he becomes independent o

recite the capitals of all the states, nodding in

's tricky like that. You have to really try to remember, but y

I'm completely drained. All I want to do

guing. "Come on, Mickey Mou

nner," I say as we head tow

p, glancing in the rearview mirror to ma

?" Jersey ask

ck says, as he settles into

other tim

Or is he genuinely busy? Ugh, I wish this day never happened. Nothing with Jersey is ever easy. And

tch a glimpse of his scrunched-up face in the rear

sey," Mick explains as I

he caught on and declined coming over for dinner. I can only handle so much humiliation from my family in one day before I lose it. And when I lose it, it's never pretty. Not that I care w

ons about state capitals, we arrive back at our house. It's

ing wheel as Jersey dashes out of the car and

wrong?"

n the verge of tears. I don't think I can handle b

call my brother," he says,

'll ta

his refusal feels like a rejection and fuels my anger even more. My thoughts are all over the place. Firs

y offer because he genuinely dislikes me or because he's had enough of

ry to meet them, my heart racing. Forget about car

ver to my mom, who has been left with me on the lawn, and she looks a

ersey no! Inform him that Mick is busy! Make up an excuse about not having enough food!

ses me calmly. "What's gotten into you? Are you

ning to me?! I'm being s

is is Mickey Mouse, and I want him to join

hand towards my mom. "H

o call me Linda," my mom

smile suggests she is enjoying this far too much. If Mick

ay, Mick. We have more than eno

's alright. I was just trying to re

You're staying here for dinner, and Quinla

his grin growing mischievo

wrathful glare, silently mouthing ev

nd to my disbelief, he has