He's My Brother's Best Friend
ndow from where I lay on my be
r because I don't want to go
and smiling all this while, chuckles. I turn to give him a cold glare.
re always flocking around him. This I know bec
nts are separated, but we spend the holidays
baby Jesus to forgive your s
for yourself, pig
softly scolds me. "Jesus wou
ig
ain. Another
to church on Christmas Eve. When I'm back, we
, she exi
fles my hair. I fight
says "See you
o him, but not this time. If I had known that that was the last time I wo
lived a thousand miles away with separate p
ion with Christianity. She always talked about heaven and it being perfect. I hope she is the
am not going to get it but it is persistent. It then turns into
d wear my flip-flops.
the least expected per
w can I help you?" I asked.
but is this Mrs. Hopki
. I don't like the sou
abelle Hopkins ,
er?" I ask. Panic was in my voic
brother, I presume, have been in an a
nothing. As if he hasn't just crashed my world.
iousness draining out of me and I felt the policeman's
***
me. My handsome father. Ben got his looks from him
s, he rushes to my side
le as tears fa
u hear me? Everything is going to be f
ts and continues to soothe me.
fferent parts of the country, or the fact that he cheated on my mother w
was refused, she chose to forgiv
ave the day. H
on a sofa in the backyard and cried. Her body shaking as sobs
chipped in Bible verses here and there. And told her to hold tight to God's no-divorce policy. So when dad
spent as little as she could. Saving up the rest. Because of her miser habit, I wore the cheapest of clothes and the crappiest gadg
wn to him, dad wouldn't go back to the house. He insists we stay in a hotel. I agree a
e to a boutique and buys me ne
t died, but when it dawned on me that
*
Mom 's sister Aunt Michelle is here, her friends, some of Ben'
ffins in the cemetery and th
good woman and I know
urmur and nod
s' body, a man told them that he was no longer
oreen and her son might not be with us now, but the
to look at dad, with his dark shades. A
nd his name is in fact James, but he nev
claims, but he says he doe
things that pulled him
and looked around. He then sits down at the dining table. I didn't know what
s and taps on the dinin
le, I can see the tears he was fighting b
happened to your Mom
dy's. Some things just... happen.
me things like the death
guess none of us kn
h me. I mean, if that's oka
year-old live by herself? He knows I do
are the only one who would t
her. That's if you want to. I want you to come live wit
hesitate to smack you no matter your age. That aside she h
smiles and nods. I could see the exciteme
long, he
o happen to the
t do you want to do
p the money for yourself. N
lot of money. I won't be needing
nt to do? Are you
. It held so many memories. Not all of them
father calls me
k and look
ve you d
ha
t to Aunt Mic
" He asks, Some
ght after the birth of her last twins. She works really hard at the end of the day for very little.
the house and there would be e
how much of a genius I am. I co
and smooth
***
. The pink wallpapers
acked and my important
look at it and
d. I pick up her Bible and bring it close to my nose. It s
ge that she wasn't going to burst through the door, telling me
Michelle and dad are sitt
ns to me, I can't recognize her. My Aunt has been crying. Her eyes are red
u set?" She a
r and dad. I was kind of
s at me
s it?"
ars his
She thinks you should have it instead
ce turns red and she pulls me into
She sobs, "You are suc
ipes my face and that was when I realiz
cousins appreciate your kind gesture. It's
pulls dad in
s. But no worries, I and t
ho were hard to control, turning
g to miss M