The first Fraternity dates back to 1776 and was established in the College in Williamsburg. A Greek  motto, an oath of secrecy, a ritual, a seal and a secret grip or handshake to form a special bond among the men entering this organization. Sounds cool, no? 

Reality is way different.

Arlo was walking slowly back home, he felt a bit tired after the whole day of hard work. First in the morning he was spreading flyers, then at nine his school began. After he rushed to the library to study, finally he had two hours tutoring math to some spoiled brats of Mr and Mrs Suthery, the owners of three shops in his town. Right now he was really beaten and wanted nothing more but to rest. Tomorrow won’t be any different. Ever since his father lost his job Arlo was trying to do everything he could to support the family. Dad was depressed, he hasn’t been able to find a job for six months now. The whole family was tiptoeing around him in fear of his mental breakdown.

Arlo was tired of it all. Of the whole work he had to do, of the suffocating situation at home and of his own helplessness.

His house was in the suburbs, it was a nice one family house with a garden bought when his father started his job as a marketing specialist in the B&F company. His parents took out a mortgage and they were both fulfilling their dream about a happy family. Now that dream was in danger. The payment was due and the savings were out. Mom was often crying, his younger sister Jenny was shutting herself in her room while Arlo, being seventeen years old, was trying to help as much as he could. It was his last year in high school and he was working hard to get a scholarship as he wanted to join the renovated St Gorge’s University. 

In front of  his house he saw an unfamiliar car parked. Were they having guests? Or maybe someone brought them bad news again.

With a deep sight Arlo opened the gate. 

At home he was welcomed by loud conversation, he knew that voice it was aunt Marry.

“Arlo?! You're finally here!” She stood up from their patterned couch and almost ran to him.

“Oh my god you are such a cutie!” She almost pinched his cheeks. 

CUTIE, this word was like a curse of his life. He didn’t have a girlfriend because all girls called him a cutie. He was adorable, sweet and pretty. Yeh, one girl even called him pretty. Arlo had soft blond hair, dark brown eyes with really long eyelashes and dimples, whenever he smiled. Most of the girls here considered him an amazing friend. He hated that too. 

“Aunt Marry, you look good.” Arlo smiled and noticed how aunt’s jaw literally dropped in awe.

“Oh you are so adorable. Come sit here.” She dragged him to the couch already occupied by his parents and sis.

“Well, I’m here to invite you for a weekend and you must come. There will be a great family picnic and you all need a little bit of fun, huh?” 

A short discussion followed and after rejecting the offer a few times it was settled that they will all go for the weekend to aunt Mary.

Aunt Mary was mother’s sister, her husband was a successful manager in a renowned company. They had a big house and one daughter. Aund didn’t work and enjoyed her life as a perfect housewife. Arlo visited her three times in his life and remembered that her house looked like one of those from a catalog. Arlo felt strange there, like an item out of place that didn’t fit anywhere.

On Friday in the afternoon they all went to the city. Aunt Mary came to fetch them with her big car. It took about one hour to get to the city and another twenty minutes till they reached the aunt's house.

The house was just as big and just as neat as Arlo remembered. They had two guest rooms so Arlo got a room for himself while his sister was actually happy to share a room with her cousin. They were both almost the same age, however his sister Jenny was two months younger than cousin Elen. They seem to get along pretty well and Arlo felt relieved for her. His parents decided to spend some time with aunt and uncle. Soon he heard them laughing and talking downstairs. Arlo decided to have an early sleep. After that long and busy week he deserved a good sleep.

He was woken up by the smell of pancakes. It was so mouthwatering that he rushed in his pajamas to the kitchen. Aunt Mary was in her kingdom using all her power to create a magnificent breakfast.

“Need help, auntie?” Arlo smiled at the sight of the golden discs piling on two plates.

“No darling, I’ll be ready in five minutes. Change your clothes and come down.” Aunt smiled and Arlo immediately went back to his current room to change his clothes.

The pancakes were delicious.

“There is a family picnic today in the park, John’s company sponsored it and it will be fun. We will go there in the afternoon.” Aunt announced.

“There will be a lot of people from my work, as the event was sponsored by my company and even the company’s CEO will be present.” Uncle John smiled.

Arlo took a quick glimpse at his father who looked kind of down again. 

“Elen, you may take your cousins to do some shopping and we can meet on the spot.” Aunt suggested.