Clematis Snowdrop once upon a time had thought he had a normal, happy childhood with parents who never seemed to get along. Normal, nothing strange to see here.
It was normal having antagonistic separated parents and grandparents who spoiled him and his brothers.
It was normal waking up in a big house staring weirdly around him as he found it difficult remembering what he did the day before.
Surrounded by brothers whose nonexistent fuss manifested into joy because Grandma Megan was always there.
Having a distracted Mom then a lovesick Mom and a perpetual unaffluent father was lived on as normal.
Having two ex-step-Dads, a current step-Dad, four half-brothers and step-brother, Oliver Thomas, was definitely not normal.
At first Clematis hadn't minded Has To Be or his sons but after the divorce hit his Mom hard, her reigning victory was dating pretentious, smitten men from various walks of life.
Marvellous thing was, the dates and marriages never lasted. If only the children born stayed that way too.
Having accepted Mazus and Ranunculus were his Mom's favourites, Clematis whole life had been trying really damn hard not to be petty over trivial things like Mazus and Ranunculus attending the most elite primary school in their area having.
Petal Snowdrop, the new 2 year old on the block smothered with fondlings, was the genesis of Clematis insomnia with his piercing sudden midnight cries.
For all of Mazus, Ranunculus and African Lily's wrongs, they'd been infants who loved napping. Unlike Petal, the worst attention seeking baby in the world.
Clematis Snowdrop couldn't wait until he was far from their crazy household. Meanwhile, Chrys says the opposite, a great son defending their Mom's lifestyle any chance he got with statements like "Mom deserves love. Why shouldn't we let her be?"
At an early age when Clematis realised he couldn't keep his Mom in check, he found the quicker way of getting what he wanted was to either pick huge fights with her or her favourite sons.
The latter always proved successful.
Last year when the twins turned sixteen, his Mom adamantly refused to buy them a car after getting their drivers licence even though she could afford it.
Her tune changed when Daffodil became sixteen earlier this year, the boys were surprised upon receiving gifts of cars.
Perhaps it was because Clematis had harvested himself a bad apple that Mom gleefully informed him his yellow Audi was a lot cheaper than with Chrys 1 year old silver Porsche Boxster, a reward for his diligence and kind way of life.
Clematis had rolled his eyes. His Mom was still upset over the tattoo on his torso and Daffodil's tongue piercing. At least, Oliver had more taste than his old-fashioned father who fought with his son for 'corrupting' the teenage boys and his wife for turning a blind, upset eye.
"I'm calling it," Clematis passed the cig he smoked on to Daffodil, "By next year they'd be divorced."
Sucking deeply on the cigarette, Daffodil exhaled slowly, enjoying himself like a king in the backseat.
The brothers usually enjoyed smoking in either Chrys or Daffodil's car because of Clematis aforementioned bad seed and Daffodil's health risks.
"Nah," Daffodil stretched the word. "Next year would be their third year. Typically, it's longer than that."
"You pray it's more. After all, you'd cried your eyes out, had a panic attack and fainted trying to prevent the marriage."
Daffodil kicked the headrest where a smirking Clematis laid his head. "Shut up. I was young and stupid."
"Nothing much has changed."
"HEY!"
"I miss Barbie," the twins paused for a second unsurprised at Chrys bemoaning.
Laughing, Daffodil passed the cig to Clematis. "Pining old fool. Still waiting on your godmother?"
Preferring weed, Chrysanthemum's tolerance for it was extremely low but that made it spectacularly funny because whenever high, he'd moan the fact of his lovelife.
Specifically, Aunt Facial who rarely visited anymore.
Out the window, Clematis rowed his eyes across the unfamiliar houses in the quiet secluded street annoyed at Daffodil kicking under his car seat requesting the cig back.
A pang squeezed his chest. He needed the smoke back. "I miss her too."
"Oh, god. Not you too."
"I'm not disgusting like Chrys. I just..." a huge sigh, "She was the only constant sane fixture. Now, she's slipping away too."
Passing the cig back, Daffodil unhelpfully informed. "Aunt Bell spoils us."
Daffodil was like that—glossing through things, refusing to dwell. Clematis wished he shared that. He dwelled on so many things, so many memories.
"At least Oliver keeps to himself. It helps he's at college."
Groaning, Clematis banged his head against the window, the curls of his red hair softening the blow. So many sons. So many relatives. Ex-relatives.
All he could do was pray Petal and Nicolas Thomas were the last addition and his 37 year old Mom's eggs were tuckered out.
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