Where's a brother when you need one?

Awkward dinner times

There was a knock on the door interrupting Ethan and Dylan from continuing pushing me left and right and look to see Maverick, leaning against the doorway. His raised eyebrow at me a question by itself and I answer with a nod to signal 'I'm alright.'

"Dad wants us all to have dinner together."

All three of us heard the 'now' in his voice as we found our own ways to get down from the bunk in my room. Dylan taking the ladder, Ethan carefully leaps down and lands in front of my draws which helped him climb up with his muddy socks in the first place and I scoot around the barrier and try and put my feet on my rolling chair. I couldn't quite reach, the tips of my toes barely scraping along seat.

By now my three brothers are just watching me struggle, all hanging around the door probably just waiting for me to fall before laughing and telling everyone in the house. But I was determined to not make a fool of myself. When I feel tippy toes touch the plastic I push myself off the bed but when I land I underestimated my clumsiness and fall right off the chair and onto the carpet, letting out and 'oomf' and a groan. My ears ring as my brothers bellow in laughter clutching onto each other to stay upright, Ethan failing and joining me on the ground. I try to pout but I soon start to wheeze in amusement. 

"You, numbskull."

Man states before we clasped hands and he helps me off the floor then boots me out the door, Dylan and Ethan right behind me and we descend the stairs towards the dining room. The room itself is crowded, full of men and one woman. We should have our own reality tv show!

Nah, what an awful idea that would be.

Jett brings in food after food and considering we are all pigs I am not surprised at how much we all have to eat to fill our stomachs. The table top is set up no space seen as some of my brothers drag in chairs from studies and bedrooms to be able to fit everyone around the what seemed to be large but has shrunken in my mind. Where do we all sit? What will be our new normal arrangement?

I ended up being sat between the twins, Mike and Nick. I know! In between them. I thought it was weird too. Considering they're twins and all, but I suppose they sometimes would want to be set apart from each other. Dad and Naomi at one end of the table and my blood brothers mainly on one side and my new brothers on the other. Me being the odd one in 'enemy territory' as my brothers probably would be thinking. I watch as their side picks up tongs and spoons to dish but notice that the others have not moved an inch, staring awkwardly towards their mother.

"I'm sorry to say this as I'm sure you are all hungry, but can I take a second to say grace first?"

All movements stop as my brothers stare at her in confusion, my dad nodding frantically at us before they return their hands to their laps. He stares encouragingly at Naomi to continue. She stares nervously at all of us before resolving her posture and setting her hands, palms up towards dad and Oscar, I think?

"Join hands please, it won't take a moment."

Reluctantly we all join hands, my hands suddenly turn clammy as I mutter an apology towards the twins beside me. They just chuckle quietly in response. She clears her throat and we all straighten our postures.

"Bless us, Lord for the food and drinks that we are about to receive. May we be truly thankful for Jesus Christ. Amen."

"Amen."

My new brothers echo.

"Amen."

My dad says, awkwardly but shrugs it off. My brothers and I look at each other but nonetheless repeat quietly as well. All of us eventually start dishing the lamb, roast potatoes, broccoli, cauliflower cheese, carrots and pour the lamb juice gravy over the top. 'Thank you's were cast around the room making Jett beam with pride. It's all quiet for a moment, nobody makes a sound. All of us too awkward to draw attention onto themselves when all of us are in this new position.

"Sooo, are you guys ready for school tomorrow?"

Dylan, Ethan and I groan simultaneously at the prospect of hell. The rest of them chuckle at our immediate but correct response. Naomi smiles, looking amused.

"I'll take that as a no? Mike, Nick and Oscar, are you boys ready for school?"

Oscar spits out his water, spraying it all over the food and a bit on Fin, making him shoot out of his chair in reaction to get away. the chair legs scraping along the hard ground. Mike to the left of me raises his hand but doesn't wait to be called on. Finley huffs before glaring at the person responsible for the soaked shirt and sitting down.

"Didn't we just move? Honestly mother, we should get a few days, maybe a week or two to get organised, you know?"

"We obviously need a month at least to get to know our new brothers. It's the least you two can do for uprooting us from Philadelphia to Long Island."

"For that attitude you two are walking to the school."

Mike and Nick are gobsmacked, mouths open and all. Oscar rolls his eyes, along with every other occupant in the room. I quickly stuff a potato in my mouth to stop myself from laughing at the situation. It. was hilarious watching everyone's faces. and Naomi telling the twins off. The atmosphere immediately changed as soon as she stepped through the door. A woman in the house after 13 years would defiantly be a game changer.