Chapter 1
It was the summer before my senior year of college and I was more than excited to get the year started. It’s not that I was a nerd that loved school, I just loved being around all my friends. See, I never invited my friends over my house ever because I lived with my grandparents.
Don’t worry, this isn’t some sob ‘I’m an orphan’ story. No, I just lived with them while my dad was away on business. He’s an executive materials manager; I have no idea what that is but he has to travel a lot because of it so when he goes away for a long time my little sister, Debbie, and I live with our grandparents.
Today though was different because our dad was coming home after being away in England for six months. I was more than thrilled to get out of that house. It’s no fun being a twenty year old who had to go to bed at nine o’clock every night.
“Doug, you got everything packed up?” Debbie called from her bedroom across from mine.
I zipped up my duffle bag and lifted it off the bed, dropping it next to the rest of my things. “Just about.” I said, rubbing some sweat from my forehead. The summer sun beat furiously into my window making the room twenty degrees hotter than it normally should be. “You all set?” I asked, shuffling across the hall into her room.
All I could see of my little sister was her butt sticking out from beneath her bed, the tips of her feet tapping against the dusty, wooden floor. “What are you doing?”
She slid back out and look up at me, dust bunnies were clinging to her shirt and the tips of her brown hair. She held up a single red pump. “I’ve been looking for this all day.” She stood up and dusted herself off then threw her shoe into her open suitcase on the floor.
I leaned against the doorframe, shaking my head. She was four years younger than me but she acted and dressed like she was twice her age. I watched her as she collected her clothes out of her closet; It amazed me how much she looked like our mother. She had her long brown hair, green eyes, slender frame. She even had mom’s smile. I, on the other hand, inherited all of our father’s traits. Sandy blonde hair, blue eyes and though I was thin like her I wasn’t as toned, probably because I never worked out a day in my life if you don’t count gym classes.
I stood there and watched her while she packed up her stuff, my eyes scanning the room just in case she missed anything. It was a habit of mine I picked up ever since she was six. That was when our mum died.
Drunk driver hit her car while she was coming home from work. Dad assured us after he talked to the doctor that she didn’t feel anything, I guess that’s somewhat comforting but the memories were to much for dad to take, I think, so he moved us all here to America to be close to her parents, my grandparents. Imagine being only ten and having to take up the role of another parent to your baby sister.
I was so wrapped up in my thoughts that I didn’t even hear noise of the taxi that just pulled into the driveway until Debbie screamed and ran from the room. I looked around, startled for a moment, then followed my sister down the stairs and out the front door where our dad was stepping out of the taxi.
“Daddy!” Debbie squealed, running into his outstretched arms.
He laughed and lifted her off her feet in a giant bear hug. “My little monkey. Have you been behaving yourself?” He asked, smirking at her knowingly.
She giggled. “Of course I have.”
I stepped out the front door and strolled over casually, putting my arm around Debbie’s shoulder. “She’s been surprisingly live-with-able.”
“Live-with-able?” He asked. “Is that another one of your made up words.”
“I’m sure you can Google it.” I smiled and threw my arms around him. “I missed you, dad.”
“I missed you too.” He smiled warmly. “Let’s go inside. I have some things we need to talk about.”
Cont…