Forlot: A Girl Who Needs Her Space - Book Thirty-Two

Chapter Three

It was like any other day. My younger brothers were playing baseball outside. I am not sure how they play baseball when it is just the three of them. It has to be boring. I would play with them, but there is no point. They would make it so I was not having fun.

My older brothers were in Aztec's room - Aztec is my oldest brother - and recording a video for their main channel. They share a total of two channels, which in my opinion, is more than enough. If only our mother would take away their channels, and I am not saying that because I want to be a mean sibling. I just want them to be taught a lesson. You know. For what they have done to me.

I have watched most of the videos on both channels, and I cannot believe that I am saying this, but...they are really good. Their videos, not themselves. This is coming from somebody who is not much of a gamer.

My older brothers are gamers, and my younger ones are interested in sports. So what do I like to do? Can you readers guess?

I am a writer!

Not only am I the writer in this family, but I am also an addictive one at that. I do not think that there has been a time that I have not written in my notebook. I have this small notebook that I use only for my ideas and writing. Think of it as a diary minus the personal stuff. Mom said that my grandpa and grandma got it for me because they really wanted me to be a famous author. I thought that it was sweet of them.

So I ask...why was I given two cursed objects? One is enough!

It was the weekend. Everybody in the household was having a blast - except me and Mom and my aunt.

Before I continue, I should explain that my brothers and I do not have an aunt. Mom is not close to a ton of her family members, so that is why we do not have a relationship with them. I want to meet them, but I do not know where they reside. I am unsure whether they live in Forlot or somewhere else in the country.

But like me, Mom has somebody whom she calls her friend, and her name is Elore. My brothers and I call her Aunt Elore because she really is the aunt that we deserve. I deserve an aunt like her, not my brothers. Not until that they clean up their act. But that would never happen.

I was wrong.

I was standing in front of the window that overlooks the front lawn and twirling a hair strand around my finger. I had a lot of things on my mind. Karma. My brothers. My single mother. The title and plot for my new story. I had contacted Karma and invited her to my house. I was bored and needed the company. She said that she had something to do first, but would be over later. So here I was. I was waiting for her.

Mom soon entered the room. Aunt Elore was next to her and patting her back. My mother was clutching a couple tissues and plopped on the couch. Aunt Elore joined her and pulled her close.

"Mom? Aunt Elore?" I said. "What is wrong? What is going on?"

Mom buried her face in the tissues and began crying.

"Carmen...I am afraid that we have some bad news," Aunt Elore said.

"What is the bad news?"

She hesitated. "...I hope that you remember Grandpa and Grandma."

"Of course I do. I do not remember them much, but I know that I have loving grandparents."

"Well...they passed away."

This shocking news made my aching heart jump into my throat. I did not know what to say. "W-what?"

Aunt Elore reached out and stroked my cheek. "I am so sorry for you and your family. I am sorry that you did not say goodbye."

A tear escaped my eye and streamed down my cheek. "No...no! This cannot be. Grandma and Grandpa are not gone. They are still here. They are still with us."

"Oh, honey. They may not be here anymore, but they will always live inside our hearts. And trust me when I say that they are watching us as we speak."

She was right about that. My grandparents definitely were watching us. But I have a hunch that they were keeping a close eye on me.

My brothers - William and Benjamin and Henry and Aztec and Jeffrey and Rodney - and I were absolutely devastated by the loss. Although that we never spent much time with them, we loved them - and still do - and would give almost anything to bring them back.

Unfortunately for my six brothers, I was the key into seeing them again. It just would be a shame if I kept it a secret from my brothers.

Two days after our grandparents passed, Mom got a strange letter in the mail. A few minutes after she got the mail, she told all of us to gather in the kitchen as soon as possible. Karma was at my house at the time, so she joined us. But of course, my brothers were not happy about it.

"Why is your friend here, Caramel?" Henry asked as Karma and I came into the kitchen.

I adjusted my glasses and narrowed my eyebrows. "I am not allowed to have friends over now?"

"As much as I do not like you making friends with—"

Karma interrupted him and shook her finger at him. "You had better watch what you say. 'Cause I will not hesitate to take out your tongue and cover your head with it."

"Ooh! I am sooooo scared!" He tossed back his head and laughed. "You can never scare me!"

"Wanna bet?"

Mom came in. "Kids. Please have a seat."