I woke up to the sizzle of bacon. I yawn and sit up, groaning. Surprisingly, I slept really well last night. I get out of bed half asleep.
Stretching out the kinks in my body, I stumble down the hall to the kitchen. When I arrive there, the kitchen is completely clean and smells like bacon.
Abigail is at the stovetop, frying bacon. She's completely dressed in some beat up clothes, with her hair up.
"Morning," She says, turning to me with a plate piled high with bacon.
"Morning," I mumble back. I walk over to her and gently take the plate from her. I proceed to take it to the table which had been set for three. I sit down and start eating. The food is amazing. All of the breakfasts that I've had at restaurants was so bland and flavorless compared to Abigail's cooking.
"What's she still doin' here?" Marvin grumbles from the doorway.
I turn towards him and say, "She works here now, remember?" Marvin isn’t normally like this with our maids. But then again, life wasn’t always like this.
I stand up and take my dirty plates to the sink. When I turn back around, Marvin is glaring at Abigail, who's standing next to me quivering. Again?
"Marvin! This is our guest!" I exclaim. Marvin grunts and opens the fridge.
Abigail turns towards me, still shaking. "Here," she says, holding out a trembling hand, "I can wash that."
I shake my head. "I can do it, I made the mess."
She stands by me at the sink, turning on the water. The water doesn't drain.
I hand my dishes to Abigail. "One minute," I say, crawling underneath the sink. I firmly shake a pipe. A quiet gurgling noise comes from the sink. I shake it harder. A louder noise comes from the sink. "It's draining now," Abigail says. I sigh and get back up.
Marvin snickers from behind me. "Nice goin' Terrance. You look great in mold!" He says. I turn and look at him. He's smirking. Great.
I reach behind me, but I can't get it off. I walk out of the kitchen, leaving Marvin laughing.
I change my clothes and wash my face. I look at myself in the mirror and brush my hair. I look like a train wreck. I should look better, especially now. I want to look my best. Deep a voice inside asks, Why? There's no point.
I walk back into the kitchen. Marvin is walking up to Abigail, who's clutching the counter behind her. "...cutie. Why don't you hang out with me an' my friends?" He coos. Abigail whimpers. Marvin reaches Abigail and grabs her shoulders. He leans in towards her, who leans back. I walk up to him, pull him off of her, and put myself between him and her.
"Marvin! Leave Abigail alone! She doesn't want to hang out with you!" I shout. Marvin stomps downstairs to his room, sending me angry glares.
I turn to Abigail. "Are you okay?" I gently ask.
She nods and unclenches her hands off of the countertop. "How can you be brothers?" She says, staring at the stairs.
I shrug. "I'm adopted," I say, putting my hands in my pockets.
Her jaw drops open. Her face quickly changes to understanding. "That makes sense," she says. Abigail quickly looks me over, making me feel tingly, and turns to the stove.
I look at the clock. 7:48. Time to head to work. I might be late.
"Abigail, I have to head to work. Call me if Marvin bothers you anymore. My number should be on a sticky note in my room. If I don't pick up, walk over to the neighbors, either way down the street a half mile. They'll help," I say, thinking hard.
She nods, wavy auburn hair bouncing. I walk to the garage door. I look back at her. She's washing the fridge with an old rag.
I steel myself and walk into the garage and hop into my car. I pull out onto the dirt road. I drive in the dust, eyes glued on the road. I think, 'I hope Abigail will be alright with Marvin there.'
---
At lunchtime, I'm too flustered to stay away from the house anymore. There’s nothing happening at the office but unnecessary drama. There
I burst into the front door, and the smell of cleaning solution and cigarette smoke wafts out. The first smell is okay, but the second is “MARVIN!” I holler.
I stomp to his room, where several of his buddies and him are smoking cigarettes. “ALL OF YOU, GET OUT!!! NOW!!!” I scream, pointing to the door. They look at each other but then look at the gun and taser hanging by my sides. They scurry out, grabbing several bottles of liquor.
I walk out to meet them. “NO SMOKING, DRINKING, GETTING HIGH, GAMBLING, INJECTING OR DEALING DRUGS, OR ANYTHING IN MY HOUSE!!! ” I screamed into each of their faces. When I get to Marvin I say in a low voice, “Get somewhere else to live. I'll give you two days.”
He pleads, “Oh come on, Terrance! Please.” He hangs his head. “Give me two weeks, please, to find a place and a job.”
I snarl, “Fine! Don't expect me to welcome you back in when you lose your job this time.”
I turn to the others. “SCRAM!” They look at each other, then at my gun again, then start running drunkenly.
I say without looking at Marvin, “I expect you to stay out here until you’re nice and sober.” I scoff. “What a liar,” I mutter as I walk past Marvin to get into the house.
Comments (0)
See all