Different Sides To The Same Story

Chapter eight - Jason Dalton

   "Momma?" I question, closing the front door. "Hey, Momma? You here?" I head towards the noises I hear in the kitchen, it's too early for my mom to be home, but who's here? I sneak to the corner before the kitchen, turning to look.

There in my kitchen stands my older sister and her three kids. "Jay!" Perri says, running up and attaching herself to my leg.

"Jesus Carrie how the hell did you get in?" I ask, turning my attention from my niece to her, as she stirs something in a pot.

"What can your big sister not visit you?" She questions, her curly black hairs falling over her one shoulder while the rest is hanging down her back. Layla's attached to her chest, sitting there contently. Her eyes are dark like mine but her skin's darker, Carrie's only my half sister, her dad being Teddy; the cool guy that used to visit us and bring gifts when we were kids. My dad being a nameless face from a bar.

"You can, maybe text next time so I don't have a fucking heart attack?" I tell her as she simply chuckles in response. I look down at Perri, prying her off my leg and hoisting her into the air. She giggles as I hold her like a sack of potatoes. Perri's almost seven, her birthdays in the next month, meaning I have to start thinking about what to get her. I place her back on the ground and take a look at the floor where her only son sits, he's playing with his blocks quietly. I knee down, to his eye height, "Hey little dude how're you doing?"

He looks up meeting my eyes, "Okay." Jacob answers simply. He's four and barely says any words, which I know makes Carrie worry. But he's a good kid, and I love him half to death.

I rise, looking over Carries shoulder to see what she's cooking, "What're you making?" I question staring at the vegetable curry looking thing.

"Pad Kra Prao." She tells me, simply.

I squint at her, groaning a bit, "You don't even know how to cook that shit, I'm ordering pizza." I tell her, immediately getting a reaction.

Her eyebrows shoot up as she purses her lips trying not to say something, "I'm trying to teach the kids about their heritage, they're too white." She says, as I laugh.

"What that they're a quarter thai?" I say through laughter. She gives me a glare that says 'don't say anything' as she points her wooden spoon at me threateningly. "That's why you came over, for Mom's thai seasoning." I exclaim, putting my hand to my chest, "I'm scandalized."

"Oh shut up." she warns me, stirring the pot again.

"Don't forget the rice." I warn her, sitting down on the floor with Perri and Jacob.

She stands on her tiptoes reaching the rice out of one cabinet, "The rice, right." she mutters, putting a pot on to boil.

"What'cha doing?" I ask Jacob, as his blue eyes flash up to mine. He sits back showing me the tower he made out of blocks, as Perri comes and sits in my lap. "You guys wanna watch some tv?" I ask, as both of them brighten. Carrie glares down at me but doesn't say anything. "Go to the tv room. I'll be right there." I tell them both, standing up. After they both race out of the room, I turn to Carrie, "Any news on Jacob?"

A worried look I'm pretty used to comes over her face, "He's autistic." She tells me simply, "We got him an appointment and they told us we were right, he has autism." She says.

"Why didn't you tell me?" I ask, kinda hurt.

She glances at me, before looking at the pot, "I didn't wanna say anything until I knew it was true or not. They told me he's not completely nonverbal but he might not speak more than he does right now." She says.

"Look Carrie, Jacob's a great kid, that doctor didn't tell you something we didn't know already." I remind her.

"Yeah but an idea and a lifelong diagnosis are two very different things." She tells me, tears bringing her eyes.

I pull her into a hug, "He's the same person he was last week. The same kid that loves PB and J's but without the PB." I joke, making her laugh a bit through the few tears. "You're a great mom Carr, he's gonna be fine."

"Jay!" Perri calls from the living room.

"Duty calls." I joke, "It'll be okay." I say one last time, softly, before turning and walking into the living room, and flopping onto the couch next to the kids.