The Hidden Life

The Hidden Life Chapter nine

      Chapter Nine The start of the end The rest of May was pretty good, just too much homework really. Brickfield never gives us a break. It seemed like the closer we got to G day (Graduation), the more homework they gave us. I believe between Jack, J.G, and I, we had at least 20 hours of homework almost every night. It was mostly a recap of the past school year. In the middle of the month I baked cupcakes (from the box, I got my cooking talent from my father) for Jack's birthday. He wasn't a big fan of the day. He isn't the one to be the center of everyone's eyes. Not sure if that is a guy thing or just a Jack thing. Almost near the end of May I got a head cold on top of a sore throat and a fever of 103.1, great. My temperature is the same as the oldest station on the radio. My mom had to go to work that day and said she'd come home and make soup for me at lunch if I wanted. Such a mom thing to do, but then again her mom track record is somewhat spotless. I told her I would be fine. I know how to open a can of soup if I wanted or how to order some. My sister walked by and saw me on the sofa with a throw blanket on me. "What's wrong with you Meredith? You trying to get out of the start of finals or something? Or are you just playing sick?" When my mom wasn't in the room I found the strength to flip off my baby sister. Hey, I'm sick not dead. My mom came in the living room with her purse and light jacket. "Ok I'm leaving, call me if you need something, ok honey?" She bent down and kissed my forehead and went out the door. I reached over for the clicker for the tv. "So what is your secret Meredith, how did you get a high fever? The old hold it to the light trick or did you put it in some hot water?" I didn't answer her, I just started flipping through the tv channels trying to find something good. "Fine, don't tell me, see if I care." That got her to leave. Thank God. I spent most of the day in the living room curled up in the throw blanket channel surfing, finally landing on a talk show. It was a lame one. Somehow It felt like a rerun even though I had never seen it before. I did get better by that Wednesday in time for the first final. It went pretty well I guess, the first final of the season sets the rest of them off for how they go. On the last day of finals I grabbed the letter from Hudson and went down the stairs to my father's study. When I looked in there, I saw him looking at his computer, probably going through the books of the house or his work or something like that. "Hey, what are you doing Dad? A little work?" He looked up from his laptop and saw me standing there. "No, I was just looking at how my team did this past season in football. You need something Meredith Anne?" I walked closer to his desk and dropped the letter on there for him. "What is this? What did you do to Lamberg to piss her off this time?" I rolled my eyes at my father and said "just read the letter ok." He read it and reread it over and over again taking in the words. He just let me stand there waiting for him to say something about the letter in his hands. I started to tap my foot impatiently, waiting for him to say something. I don't do waiting at all. If I have to wait on anything I just give up and start doing something else like homework or just messing around.(We teenagers nowadays, have no patience for anything. If it's not on our computer or cell phone we can care less.) "So, anything to say about it Dad?" He looked up from the letter and smiled at me. "This says it was sent a while back, why are you showing it to me now?" I grabbed the letter from the desk and walked off. "Well I thought you would be happy I got into a good college, forgive me for being wrong." I went to my room and slammed the door. Again with being a teenager I'm allowed to act like one time to time. I had to do a family tree for history for half my history final. Like we don't have enough stuff to do for the end of the school year? Thanks to a handful of phone calls to my grandma Julie, I got about to the 1900's. (I did have to promise to at least think about getting a pixie cut; just to show her how much I look like a boy with boobs.) Not too bad I guess, I have no idea how far back I am supposed to go on this. Within the week of doing this I had to ask Kookie how far back. He just said until I reached a dead end. Such help we students get from our teachers at Brickfield. No wonder we are only number 14 in the school system in New York. So Jack, J.G, Angel, and I went to the library to see if we could use their computers. They have that free family site that charges you for every freaking family member they help you find. Being mugged in the streets is less of a pain then that site. I got to the year 1862 to a redhead girl with the weirdest name ever. It was Freya James. What, was Elenore taken by almost every girl in her town? I know what you are thinking. I shouldn't make fun of her name. I'm sure she'd make fun of me if she was alive. In the long run, I found out that the family name James died out in the 1980's when Roseanne James married Jethro Gregery Lights, the father of one Jethro George Lights. It's cool that we were once family. (We did our family trees together where I ended mine, J.G picked up with his.) It turns out that Angel's old family goes back to the old Salem Witch days. She even had a family member during Freya's time, Ceilia Swan. Pretty cool, I wonder if they were friends or even knew each other. Jack didn't get much really other than they were either in the armed forces or pastors since the dawn of time. I'm sure he loves that. At least he wasn't part of mass murders or anything like that. Had to tell him that there were worse families out there about twenty times over until he got it. While I did research on the rest of my family, I didn't get any further back than that Freya girl. A sketch of her and some guy who must be her husband in the newspaper in 1863. I don't know who he is. The name on it has faded out but he looks really good, I mean for someone in that time. I wonder what they would say about Jack and I in a hundred and fifty years. For all I know, they might think we are gross looking and beyond out of date. I just hope my so many times great grandkids think I'm a dork of some kind. My kid sister came in my room and looked at my computer and the photo of Freya. "Who is that girl? Kind of pretty, I mean for a black and white picture. I bet she was a knock out in her day." I rolled my eyes at her, only Maddie would think that about someone. "I bet if I bought a corset it would help my huge gut. I need to drop like 20 pounds." I gave her a huff of a laugh like yeah right. "Like you need to drop weight, you need to gain weight, try a cheeseburger and fries or better yet drop it, then you can fly away like Mary Popins. Then I can turn your room into my lounge with a big sofa and tv." Maddie left my room and slammed the door to her room. "I'M KIDDING MADDIE!!" I yell a little too loud through the wall because Klaus starts barking. My brother Matt jr walked by, leaned into my room and said "Not cool sis, funny but not cool." I shut the door, went to my bed and flopped down in a laying down position with my hands reaching for my pillows. With a big yawn I fell asleep only to be woken up by Klausy licking my face. "Mmm Jack, if that is how you kiss now I need to retrain you." I opened my eyes and saw the dog give me the sideways look like, are you crazy? I yelled and jumped out of bed and Klaus yelped and ran for it. He stayed away from me for almost a week. The damn dog must think I'm nuts. I got out of bed wondering why there was a blanket on me and the door was open; my dad or mom must have done it when I was out for however long it was. It was going pretty good for the month of May but every so often my pain in the ass cuz Jesse would go tick tock, he even texted it to me a couple times. I get it, time is running out for me to spill my guts. You think my aunt would be mad at me if I put him up for adoption and just kept the dog? Or are they a package thing? At one point, Jack asked what is up with the tick tock thing he kept doing. I told Jack, "I have no idea, maybe the stress of the big city has finally gotten to Jesse or he is just reminding me to get my head into the books for finals. Too bad for me, I have this amazing guy I can't keep my eyes off of. Oh well, I guess grade 12 at Brickfield won't be that bad." Jack gave a little chuckle and started towards the door. I grabbed his hand and pulled him back. "I thought I should go so you can study, last time I checked I need to hit the books or I'll be joining you for grade 12 again." I stood up and put my arms around his neck and kissed him trying to get his mind off those evil books. "Hmm Hello, the father of the girl you are kissing has come in the room Jackson." We broke apart, blushing for being caught. "Sorry Mr. Rosemen, I was just leaving, I have to hit the books for finals soon. Goodbye." Jack took my arms off his neck and really left that time. "For the future Meredith Anne, no father wants to see his daughter in the kitchen with a boy kissing unless they are married and in their own house." I rolled my eyes and went to the living room to get my bag of books that was about to bust any day now. On Friday, I was wandering the halls on my free hour, not wanting to study until my head goes pop. I rounded the corner and heard someone crying in the classroom. I poked my head into the room trying not to be spotted. It was a girl with light blue dress and hair in a messy bun on top of her head. Wearing those little ankle boots some girls like. The girl looked up and saw me before I could pull my head back. She was so pretty just sitting there crying but then for all I know it's a trap to get me to talk to her. Every freaking time I think I'm out she pulls me right back in. I haven't talked to her since the day after prom. "Meredith is that you?" Damn, I forgot to make a run for it. Why didn't I run instead of standing here like an idiot? "No, it's Mr. Blaste you have detention Miss. Graceson for not being in class and that dress is way too short." I tried to do my guy voice thinking it will fool her but we both know my luck sucks when it comes to my life. She comes out of the classroom and taps my shoulder. "Ok either you were trying to do a deep male voice or you have to worst case of lost voice I have ever heard in my life." I turned around and saw the tears still going down her face. "I'll try to do better next time thanks for the tip." Arianna walked back into the classroom and sat on the desk as before. I went in after dragging my 50 pound bag, collecting all the dust and crap that the janitor hasn't picked up yet. I know it's almost at the end of the year but come on janitor Bud, get to work. Or at least get the other janitor to do it; he might have a heart problem but that Chet Hunter is a hard worker. I sat at one of the desks crossing my legs, almost falling over trying to get my left leg to cross over. "So what got you crying in school? Did someone trip you or something?" She looked up at me and said "It was Starla Scrubbs, she just outed me. Saw me writing in my diary about how I like a girl. Starla grabbed it and read out loud to her cheerleader pack. I ran here. She still has it." I jumped the best I could out of the desk and hit my foot on my bag. (Did I pack bricks in my bag instead of books?) "Damn it! Did you say the name of the girl? WELL DID YOU?!!" I yelled a little too loudly because a teacher said shhh from one class over. Arianna broke into tears once again nodding her head. "Great, just great, now I have to fix your screw up. Thanks a lot." I stormed out of the room leaving my bag in the room with one of my biggest mistakes. On the way to deal with Scrubbs I start to think, almost feeling sorry for Arianna. (It's not her fault that Scrubbs did what she did. The witch does it to everyone, tears them down until she can walk over them.) While on my way to the bitch of Brickfield my sister catches me and pulls me back asking what is wrong . "Where are you going sister of mine, you look like you are going to go on a killing rampage." I don't know why I even stopped for Maddie for some reason I did when I could be tracking down Scrubbs. "It's Scrubbs, who else would I want to throw off the tallest building in New York? She has something that isn't her's." Now unless you know where she is, move Madiline Elizabeth." I try to start running down the hall to find her but Maddie still has a hold on me. (How does she do that? She is smaller than I am.) "If it's Arianna Graceson's book, I have it, Scrubbs and her friends were making copies of it but I took it from them. They won't be saying anything about it don't worry. I told them if they say anything about this book I'll tell the school about their secrets." Just then, Arianna came up behind us trying to get air back into her lungs. Maddie put the book and copies into her hands. "Thank you, at least one Rosemen is nice." My sister gave a little huff of a laugh like it's everyday she stands up for her big sister. "Next time you'll keep your personal stuff at home. And my sister has been nice but you keep pushing yourself onto her. If and when Meredith comes out she'll do it." My sister and I walk back to the classroom to get my stuff. "Thank you Maddie, I owe you one, hell I owe you ten." For a pain in the neck of a sibling she isn't that bad. I'm half glad that dad stopped Matt jr and I from mailing her off all those years ago."Just let me be your maid of honor when you get married to whoever and have run of the clothes. Not sure if I would be able to be seen in public if Dad wore his pink plaid suit. So who else knows other than me?" I had to think for a moment putting my arm around Maddie's neck. "Jesse, Klaus, oh and J.G." My baby sister looked at me in distaste, shocked. "You told the dog before you told your sister?" "Hey to be fair I wasn't sure how you would take it and Klaus isn't going to tell anyone other than other dogs. So what kind of things you know about Scrubbs and the cheerleaders?" Maddie gave a giggle stopping herself from rolling her eyes at me. "Maybe I'll tell Mr. Klausy then tell you." That was a great day for the Rosemen sisters, sure it only lasted about five minutes but it's better than us trying to knock each other down. Don't worry, we were back to normal by the next day. On Sunday after church we all got home around two. We always go out to lunch after at some place mom and dad pick. This time I got to pick it and I picked Rossi Family Style eats. It's a good little family place where everyone gets what they want within reason. Again my brother has skipped church for some reason, he said that the gas station wanted him to train some person on the cashier job. How hard is it, you ring them up, take the money, make change and have a nice day. Wow, I just did his job in like five seconds, maybe I should work there. My father is getting ticked off at him being the oldest of the kids. He doesn't set a good example. Matt jr is a great big brother yeah he isn't the brightest, but still a big supporter of people. There are worse brothers out there I'm sure. Just so I wouldn't feel like the outcast, he dyed his hair a light brown from his very blond. I don't know what he has done for Maddie, maybe he let her use him as a pincushion when she is making something for the greater good of fashion. In the following days everything seemed to be going a little too good, like a bomb was going to go off and you just didn't know when it would blow up. On Wednesday after school, Jesse and I get home talking about the "food" they tried to give to the kids at Brickfield. Some is fine but if you ever want a salad from the lunch lady eww, let's just say you would have a better chance at getting food from the dumpster out back. When I pulled up we saw a truck that looked like my truck's great grandfather on the street. And my truck is from the 1990's, so you can just imagine how old this truck is. Really it should be in truck heaven or a vault under the biggest museum in D.C. As we walked in, Jesse stopped dead right in front of the living room, dropping his bag. There sitting on our very clean tan sofa was James Burdatte looking gross as ever. (Great, now I'm going to have to pay to get the sofa cleaned. Or mom will freak out.) "What are you doing here Jimmy? Better question, how on earth did you get into the house? What, you have a talent for breaking into homes to go with your record?" He stood up and walked towards us stopping when he saw Klaus come downstairs to say hi to us at the door. The second he saw Jimmy he showed his teeth in a less than friendly way. "Hey Johnny, how was school today, learn anything?" Jesse got Klaus to be nice and sit behind us and looked up at the 23 percent of his DNA and said "My name is Jesse not Johnny and how did you get in here? Tell us or I'll have my dog not be so friendly to you." Jimmy took two steps back not sure what to say next to us then he remembered who let him in the house. "A young man in his twenties let me in, light brown hair, said he was girlie's brother. A little bit out of it." (I thought mom and dad gave Matt jr the not talk to strangers as a child. Maybe he needs a recap.) Before I could snap at him for just being in the house with no one really in the house my father came into the front door. "Hello honey, Jesse's who is your friend here? You one of their teachers or something?" I keep hold of Klaus who I feel shaking wanting to attack Jimmy. "Now dad you really think they would let someone like Jimmy Burdatte teach at Brickfield? I know it's a public school but even aren't that desperate for teachers." My father just stared at Jimmy not sure what to do then turned around and saw us and cleared his throat. "Why don't you kids go into the kitchen and get something to eat. Take Klaus with you before he bites someone, he might need to go out. I want to have a man to man talk with Mr. Burdatte." Jesse and I go into the kitchen somewhat dragging Klaus with us, in the middle of the hallway I stop, turn around and say "Mr. Burdatte, my name is Meredith, not girlie, got it?" Dad must have waited until we were in the kitchen before he "talked" to Jimmy man to man. When dad says he wants to talk man to man with someone it means they sit down and listen and not talk back. "Should we go into the living room and talk about my taking Johnny off your hands and have him live with me?" My father put his bag on the hope chest and turned around to face the man that broke his sister's heart. "No, here is the deal, Jesse isn't going to live with you ever. How can you take him from a loving home and take care of him when you can't even get his name right? My sister raised that boy everyday for sixteen years, held down three jobs and still found time to be mother and father to him!! When he was a baby I paid the courthouse to get his name changed to Rosemen so he wouldn't have to live the shame of being your son!! So no, you can't have Jesse and if you ever come near my family ever again well let's just say I won't be as nice!" Mr. Rosemen shoved Jimmy out the door and slammed it in his face then walked into the kitchen. "How much did you hear of that?" I turn around from the bar stool with my drink in my head. "All of it but what we heard was amazing. But you should have let Klaus bite him where it hurts." Jesse got off his stool and walked over to dad and hugged him. "Did you really pay for me to have my name changed? I'm sorry that I went to look for him. I just wanted to know my other half of DNA. But now it wasn't worth it." Dad gave him a sad smile to show that he understood. "It's fine Jesse Daniel. I'm just sorry you had to meet that man or ever needed to see him in the first place. I did pay for your name to be changed. I hope you weren't attached to it. "Jesse gave a huff and put his hand on dad's shoulder. "No I wasn't, why keep something that has no good meaning? That name Burdatte has nothing good to it. Thanks for helping my mom all those years." The name Jimmy Burdatte was never spoken in our house ever again.