The Hidden Life

The Hidden Life Chapter ten

Chapter Ten All Said and Done It was a week before graduation and it felt like everything was on fast forward, If only there was a pause button I could push. When half our Wednesday was over, Lamberg came on the intercom like the God she pretended to be to tell us that our school yearbooks will be in on Friday and there are enough for one per student. (Lucky us, last year we had half the yearbooks and everyone had to share. Still waiting my turn for my grade eleven yearbook.) Out of nowhere Angel came running up to me jumping up and down like a loon. Some days she reminds me of Klaus when he has to go out to use the bathroom. "I can't wait to get my yearbook. I hope they didn't screw up my senior picture because it's the last picture they will know me as. Please tell me you got your senior picture in on time." I stopped at my locker, opened it and stuck my head around the corner. "No Angel, I didn't. I just said to use the red devil for it." Angel huffed at me and started to tap her foot and crossed her arms. (Since when did my best friend turn into my mother?) Just then, Jack came up and kissed me on the cheek and asked why Angel looks like she can breathe fire. "Can you please tell your soon-to-be wife how important senior pictures are?" Jack laughed a little and wrapped his arm around my shoulders. "Sesh, you know you can't tell Meredith anything by now. I mean I learned that years ago." "Come on Angel, you know me better than that. I got my senior picture in even before they asked for it. My sister Maddie already has her pictures set up for her senior picture." Just a few days later, I was raiding my own clothes trying to find something to wear to graduation. My brother told me not to wear anything under the robe, no one needs to know. God, if Matt Jr did that when he graduated I can't imagine what the robe would say or do. Eww. My mother came in and saw the hurricane I made of my room and asked what I was doing. "Trying to find something for graduation. If I can't find anything I'm going to raid Maddie's room." My mom started picking up jeans and such and putting them on the bed. "How about we go to some dress place and buy you something new then you won't have to worry about it. What about tomorrow after school we can go, what do you think?" I grabbed the clothes off the floor and started hanging them back up. "Good call mom, if I didn't find anything in Maddie's closet I would have raided yours." My mom looked at me weird like really Meredith Anne? "What about your brother's clothes?" I gave a laugh, hanging up some jeans. "Come on mom, we both know I would rather eat a live rat then even step in Matt Jr's room. For all we know, something is living in there with him." My mother laughed, saying I was right. Maybe we should get a biohazard sign for his room. Mom left me to clean my room and it hit me why didn't I tell her right then and there? It was a perfect chance. Why must I be an idiot? Maybe I'll tell her when we are looking for something for graduation?It took a good few hours to find the right outfit for graduation; the trick is to find something nice but not so nice you don't mind covering up with the nasty robes they give you. Plus you have to make sure it's not a one time thing to wear for the price we paid for it. My sister had better be able to wear it in a couple years. Plus I could always wear it to church and dates with Jack. My friends and I got together to agree on a price on gifts for graduation, no more than ten dollars. I know most people spend more money on these things but we are four teenagers so give us a break. But knowing J.G, he'll go overboard like always sometimes I can see how his mind works with his crazy ideas. I got my graduation gown from the school, for being dark blood red and white it wasn't half bad. My brother walked by my room when I was looking at it. "You know what that color reminds me of? When you busted your lip right before you got out of grade school. Your mouth was so messed up after that." I put the gown on the bed and asked him to come in. "Thanks for bringing that up Matt Jr. Who knew I couldn't learn to do a backflip off the Light's trampoline? You should have seen how J.G's older sister Sarah was freaking out and J.G was laughing like a mad man at the fact I'm a klutz." My brother gave a laugh "Yeah, what was your cover story when you told mom and dad you fell on a rock while walking home and tripped over your own feet?'' We both laughed then "Hey, who knew they wouldn't buy that? They grounded me for a week for lying to them. Sarah just had to call mom and tell her what happened. "There is a reason I asked you to come in bro. See I'm... well I'm..." My brother held up his hand to tell me to stop. "I know already you wouldn't think our little sister wouldn't tell someone? To me it doesn't matter who you pick to like or love. But one thing if they even think about hurting you one way or the other well let's just say you aren't the only one that bites someone. To me you are still my pain in the ass kid sister." I had to give it to Matt Jr. He is amazing even for a hippie pot smoking wannabe. Well four down two to go. (Yes even after spending hours with my mother I still didn't tell her.) As he walked out my bedroom I said "Maybe we should have tried to send Maddie off in the mail back in the day after all huh?" Matt Jr rolled his eyes and just kept walking to the kitchen.As the days got closer, I told Jack about Arianna which he was cool with, he even thought it was kind of hot that his soon-to-be wife was also into girls and asked if we could go to the mall and check out girls together. I rolled my eyes at him and told him maybe if he was good. (In girl talk, that means fat chance in hell.) I might share my fries or clothes but I won't share Jack. I tried and tried to get one on one with my mother and father but every freaking time they had things to do like cooking and cleaning. (Damn them being all responsible and stuff, then again if they weren't, we wouldn't have the house almost paid off and our cars.) I had to try on my gown for graduation to see if it fit or not, I had to have Angel get mine for me only because I had to do a couple detentions before the day of graduation (It was just two of them for being late for the last few classes with Blaste and you can't have deletions before graduation. I know, I'm cutting it close.) Stop me if you read this before, the night before the last day of school I stayed up until 2:30a.m talking to Jack and a few others in I.M. Yes I know I stayed up way too late for my first day of school now the last. (If this pattern keeps up I'll never get out from under Lamberg's thumb.) I only had ten minutes to get out the door but this time around, Klaus was sitting in front of the door so I couldn't run out the door. I grabbed a ball and threw it into the living room and he took off for it. "Meredith Anne Rosemen come here please." I gave a sigh and walked into my father's office. "You know dad, if I get to school late I'm sure Lambert will try to keep my diploma for herself. Then you won't have a child in a college that is more than a party school. You know the kind of school that serves more wine coolers than textbooks." My own father rolled his eyes at me. (These people have been spending too much time with me. I think they or I need time apart.) "I wanted to say have a great last day and ask if you needed a box or something for your locker stuff. What did you think I wanted to tell you?" I sat on the edge of his desk moving his Crimson Tide desk mouse some. "Never knowing with you Dad. Maybe you were going to yell at me for being up until 2:30am on a school night.'' My father sat in his chair and shooed me off his desk. "Well last time I checked at this point there is no reason to, it's the last day of school. Plus you are nineteen so you can figure out when to go to bed by now. Go on now, get to school and clean out your locker and return your books and things.'' I was almost out the door when my father said "And Meredith, no throwing balls in the house you could break something." (Like his 50 inch TV he watches his football games on.)As I drove to the school I had to stop by the gas station for some things like smokes, boxes and oh, my first kiss of the day from Jack. I said to myself all I need is two maybe three boxes for my stuff from my locker. (Who am I kidding it's more like ten boxes and maybe a dumb truck.) As I went into the gas station a little old lady walked with hand in hand with maybe her husband. "Well isn't that cute they seem sweet together, just think that could be us say in 50 plus years." Jack said jumping the counter to get to me and grabbed me by the waist. We dipped down almost touching the floor while we kissed. "Mmm, do you greet all your shoppers like that or just the pretty ones?" I said putting my arms around his neck. "Only the five-foot-six ones with long dark hair and brown eyes with the name Meredith Rosmen. So what can I do for the best shopper this gas station ever had?" I acted like I thought about it for a second or two. "Well a couple boxes for locker clean out, a pack of New Ports and oh yeah another kiss. I mean if you can handle that." Jack let go of me, went back to his counter and grabbed a couple boxes and the New Ports for me. "So, I bet you can't wait to get out of Brickfield as fast you can Mere'." I put the New Ports in my bag and grabbed the boxes. "Oh I have been counting down the days since first grade." He chuckled and came back to the side I was at. "Oh I'm sure Lamberg has been counting down the seconds since you put your foot on the front lawn of the school." I kissed him sweetly and headed for the door. "Well in that case I better not keep the old witch waiting any longer than need be." As I drove to the last day of my pain and suffering aka Brickfield, I started to think of the last four years of hell I started to think all the way back to head start. Of how I met Angel and then J.G. Even in grade five I met a cute boy named Jack almost as cute as the man I'm planning to marry someday. (I must try to get him to let me see pictures of him as a small child. Everytime I try, he kisses me to get me to forget all about it. And boy do I forget about it. ) I kept driving along pretty much passing the school and almost headed for Canada before pulling a wide U turn. I parked in my spot and walked into the school with my boxes when I saw Scrubbs at the front door tapping her foot. "What, they finally taught you how to count now or are you waiting for someone to make a living hell on the last day?" "Oh give me a break Rosemen; Amber oh I'm sorry Mrs.Lamberg to you told me to come and get you when you parked that junker you call a truck.'' I started walking off to my locker just ignoring Scrubbs and opening it to see the picture of Jack and I. "Hello Rosemen, Mrs. Lamberg wants to talk to you like now!! Not five minutes from now she wants to talk to you now!'' I start putting my school books in one of the boxes. "Here is the deal Starla why don't you take your little minion ass to Lamberg and tell her I'll be there in about five or ten minutes with all my text books." Scrubbs marched off with her hands in fists. "Oh yeah, have Amber have coffee ready for me. I forgot to get some from Jack this morning." Starla started stomping her shoes on the way to Lamberg. (If she keeps stomping her shoes like that she is going to break a heel.)I threw the boxes to the floor, opened my locker and a leather jacket fell out of it. As I picked it up I tried not to think how sweet it was when Jack put it on me when our date went from nice and warm to cold in seconds. (We spent that date trying to keep each other warm.) I start throwing personal items in one of the boxes then I see the picture of J.G and I standing next to each other. My arms are crossed and he has one arm around my neck. That was a good day. He still had that bowl cut back then. It's odd to think that was only six years ago. Out of nowhere the devil himself came right up to me with five boxes of stuff from his own locker. "Wow, and here I thought I was the one with the rat's nest for a locker." J.G threw the boxes to the floor and doubled over trying to get air back in his lungs. "Well you would be wrong wouldn't you now? I have you beat and this is just my stuff from this past spring alone. I still have fall and winter stuff to clean out." I started pulling more stuff from my locker and looked down at his boxes. Then I took the picture I just had in my hand and put it right on top of one of his boxes. J.G grabbed it and looked at it with aww. "Good Lord, who cut my hair back then? I look awful! the blond was enough.'' I took the picture and put it in my stuff then. "Fine, I'll keep it and show your children when you have them." J.G tried to grab the picture from my hand while we were goofing around trying to play keep away. My sister Maddie came walking past us with a small group of boys carrying boxes. "Come on boys this way to my sister's truck." J.G and I stopped long enough to watch the boys walk past us. "I hope she realizes that if she puts her crap in my truck it isn't coming home. I drop it off at the city group home for children or the city dump, whatever is closer.'' J.G finally grabbed the picture from me and then put it back into my box. "Just make me a copy will you?" I gave a sigh and said sure. We finished cleaning out our lockers (his took a lot longer than mine did) and I went to see what Lamberg wanted. (It was nothing other than to tell me if I don't act right at graduation I won't get my diploma. Such an eye roll right? As if I'll do something that will stop me getting out of this hell hole.) Later on when I got home I tried to put all my locker stuff away and find my scanner/printer to make that copy for J.G. (The scanner/printer was in my brother's room. Don't ask. I'm surprised that his bed didn't eat the damn thing with everything under it. I'm more shocked it didn't try to suck me under.) Halfway through putting things away, Klaus came into my room with Jesse behind him. "So tomorrow what are you going to do?" I looked at him puzzled like he has finally gone crazy. "Well, next to putting all this crap into my brother's room and walking away, I'm planning to get my hair and nails done before graduation. But I also have to get up at the crack of ass dawn for grad practice. Lamberg had to have a practice at seven am." My cousin and his dog sat down on my bed wondering what I was talking about. "I mean what you are going to tell your mom and dad about a certain blond with blue eyes." I hung up the leather jacket in my closet, smoothing it out some. "Well since my sister told Arianna off, the girl hasn't come near me. Plus she was the only girl I ever thought of that way. It's a mute point. No reason to tell the 'rents at all." Klaus picked up my towel on his head and tried to give it to me. "Come on Meredith, you have to tell them something I mean you almost well, I don't know what you almost did but you found her good looking right?" I took the towel off Klaus's head and hung it on a hook in my closet. "Thanks Klausy and yeah I found Arianna good looking, very pretty and she did smell better then Jack most of the time and when she kissed me.... Damn it Jesse, stop that will you." "Fine, I liked her a lot but now it's over. If it will make you shut up I'll tell them after my party tomorrow ok. Now unless you want to be buried under all this you should maybe take Klaus out before dinner." Someone knocked on the door just then almost making me jump. "Enter if you want." My mother came into the room and saw the mess on the floor from my locker. Dinner is in thirty minutes and your father wants to know what you want for dinner tomorrow. I mean should we do steaks or burgers and dogs?" I grabbed one of my notebooks off the floor. "How about we keep it simple with burgers and dogs? Maybe some corn on the cob. I mean if dad tries to make anything else with the grill he could burn down the house." My mom gave a laugh, tucking my hair behind my left ear. "How did you get so smart huh kid? You are right about the simple easy dinner for tomorrow. Maybe I'll make your favorite cake tomorrow, the smores one with peanut butter with a tiny bit of a caramel drizzle on top. Your grandma used to make it for you as a small child. I swear if we didn't make you eat only one piece you would have eaten the whole thing yourself." I put the notebook on my desk and said thanks to her. Jesse and Klaus left the room right behind my mom. Before I could shut the door I heard Jesse ask does the cake come with new teeth because it sounded very rich, if not could he drink the whole thing of milk with his piece? The rest of the night was good. I texted Jack to tell him to set his alarm clock so he wouldn't be late for grad practice. "What would I do if you weren't in my life?" Jack texted back to me which made me laugh some. I texted back to him "Oh you would probably miss grad practice and probably forget your shirt before going to school after we...." Jack and I kept texting back and forth until my mom and dad went to bed around 10. Then I snuck out of the house and went to Jack's and spent the night with him. Even with the alarm clock set he and I were almost beyond late for practice. "Oh god if we are late, we can't be. I have to call home and tell them I got a ride with you so they don't freak out." I said, trying to brush the knot out of my hair from Jack playing with it half the night before he passed out. Jack and I got to the practice right after seven and of course, Scrubbs was manning the door checking off names. We got to the table holding hands and Starla looked at us like she had never seen us like we were aliens or not her classmates. (Sometimes I wish it was the ladder but then again even in space we would meet someone like Scrubbs I'm sure.) "Names please?" I started walking in and Scrubbs stopped me. "Names please?" I gave her my eye roll and said "Meredith Anne Rosemen this is Jackson Anthony McKinney now we are going in.'' Starla stopped us again. "I'm sorry to tell you, but you are late hence you are not allowed to be here or walk across the stage. So we'll mail you your diploma and have a nice life.'' I put her arm down and went past her pulling Jack with me. "Next time you stop me Scrubbs I'll be mailing you to a different earth in the multiverse. I wonder how many stamps it would take." Jack gave a laugh and said, "One last smartass remark before you leave Brickfield High School huh babe?" The graduation practice went well I mean really, we go in ABC order to get our we are done with high school paper and leave. How hard is that? I mean unless you trip over your two left feet and bust your head open while flashing everyone your personal area landing you on youtube. (If anyone puts my grad online and charges people I want 85% of the cut.) After the practice, Jack drove me home so I could shower and shave my legs and get ready to go to the hair place. I got a good trim and had them curl my hair for me. They put over two huge cans of hairspray in my hair. (I couldn't smoke the rest of the day in fear of setting my head on fire.) Let's just say it's a good thing I had fake nails on other wise I would have just nubs for fingers. After that, the countdown time started until well, graduation. Around five, I got dressed trying not to shake like someone who was going to the chair instead of her high school graduation. A knock on my door made me jump sky high. My door opened and showed my dad standing there with a card and box. "Wow, are you sure that you are my daughter because you are so grown up right now. Last time I checked she was a little thing just learning to walk." I gave my dad a smirk and said "Oh please, it was more like I was running not walking. I had to get away from my brother somehow." My dad gave a laugh at my joke and sat down in my desk chair. "You really do look grown up honey. Your mother and I got you a gift and a card. I hope you like them." I opened the card. It was a graduation card that read class of 2008. Opening the card and reading it almost made me cry. (And to make me cry is something hard to do.) "Meredith, our first born daughter, how we have watched you grow and discover the world. No matter where you go or who you turn out to be we will always love you.Love,Mom and dad." I opened the box and there was a key and a clicker in it. "If this is your way of saying that you and mom are going to change the locks on the house you could have just told me." My dad took the card from me and put it on my desk then grabbed my hand. "No, just come with me." Dad took me down to the front yard to the driveway and saw the rusty red truck. It looked like my truck's granddad. "I love it, thanks dad.'' I gave him a big hug and a huge smile. "Now this has a bit more power then your old truck, it's a 2007. Your mom and I thought you needed a new truck for college. Plus I'm sure Jackson is sick of fixing your truck over and over again." We went back into the house and got ready to go to my graduation. Halfway to the school I had to double back in due to forgetting my cap. (It fell off my head thanks to the curls in my hair.) When we got to the graduation, Arianna was there standing by the door waiting for I don't know what. "How about you guys go and get good seats and I'll give the girl your tickets and go down stairs with the rest of the grad?'' My mom gave me a side hug and said sure honey. Before I got to the table, Jack ran up to me holding his clothes and a couple ties. "You know you are supposed to wear the clothes under the gown you can't go free balling It, right?'' Jack gave a nervous little laugh and said he had some clothes on. "Can you help me please?" He held out what he had picked out. "The khakis and the light green button down, no tie. It's grad, not our wedding day. Now go and put some clothes on before someone tells you how nice your legs are. " As Jack ran to the men's room to put on something under his gown I stood there watching him laughing. (Maybe he shouldn't get dressed, he has a great butt when he runs.) I dropped the tickets on the table and head down to join the R's and the rest of the class of 2008. I did keep hearing someone call my name but I kept on going knowing who it was. I wasn't about to let Arianna ruin today for me. As I waited to go and take my seat Scrubbs walked over to me. "What do you want? To get back at me for what I said this morning?" Scrubbs went past me and saw Jack now fully dressed. "Wow, you look hot Jacks. Even in that gross light green shirt. How did you pull it off?" I stomp over trying not to break a heel. "Sorry to tell you Starla, but the only woman who gets to undress me or dress me is my Meredith." Scrubbs gave a huff then put her hands on her hips. "Well you know your darling Meredith likes both men and women? She even kissed one. What do you think about that Jack?" He put his arm around my waist and kissed the top of my head. "It's hot as hell." Lamberg came over to break up our little love fest. "Ok you three, go to your places the graduation will be starting soon. That means you three. Go on now." Jack let go of my waist and headed to the M's. "By the way babe, your head tastes of hairspray. Yuck." I gave a soft laugh at him and a kiss. "Love you." With a fast kiss from Jack he said "love you too." I won't waste your time telling you step by step of graduation. It was two hours of yapping and taking photos. And yes, someone did trip and fall on their face. (Too bad I couldn't get it on film or on my camera phone. You can guess who fell not going to say. Oh hell, it was Scrubbs.) My family wanted a picture of my friends and me in our caps and gowns then one of the families. I did take a picture of Klaus in my cap and he looked really cute. When we got home I took the cap and gown off and got ready for the BBQ. I also got three gifts for my friends. I tried to make them as close to their personalities as possible. (Took close to four hours shopping for the boys alone. Hey, it's hard to shop for a man even in the best of times.) When I got down the stairs everyone was either in the kitchen or in the back yard, all but J.G standing by the front door with a big box filled with little boxes. "You know you don't have to play all wallflower by the door, you can come into the house. We won't bite you." My long time friend gave me the biggest huff. "For your info, I was trying to figure out where to put the box. I was thinking about the coffee table but then Klaus would get to it." I grabbed the box from him and put it on the sofa. "Klaus is pretty good with personal stuff unless it has food in it. Then it's your own fault." We talk about a few things then someone yells for me in the kitchen. "Five dollars says dad wants help with the grill again. Sometimes it surprises me how he made it without my mother." As the kitchen door came to a close I looked out into the backyard. My father is trying to hit the flames with tongs like it's a wild lion or something. "Someone yelled my name? Ohhhh, s'mores cake. That looks so good." Before I could dip my finger into it my mom took it off the kitchen island and put it in the fridge. "I did, can you bring out the dishes to the table and don't forget the forks and knives? Jesse, grab the napkins and glasses." My mom said putting dishes in my arms. "What do you need me to do Mr.Rosemen?" "Just make sure Meredith puts the dishes in the right spot. Sometimes she forgets where they go." I gave a big sigh and headed for the door. (You put the dishes in the wrong place when you are six and they never let you forget it.) By the time J.G, Jesse and myself got the table done Jack showed up and sat down on a bar stool listening to my sister whine. "So when can we talk about taking all Meredith's stuff from her room and make it into my studio for when I start my own dress line?" Asked Maddie with her arms crossed. My mom grabbed the big salad bowl and some veggies from the fridge. "We won't be touching your sister's room, now grab a knife and start making a salad. The rest of our guests will be here soon." "Well at least think about it before you talk to dad." I came into the room after hearing every word. "If you even go near my door little sister, you'll be sharing a dog house with Klaus." "Nice try, Meredith. Klaus doesn't have a dog house. One way or another I'll get your room." I give her a huff of a laugh and walk over to where Jack is to put my arms around his neck. "Oh I'm sure Jack would love to build you I mean Klaus a dog house, all he needs is some scrap wood." J.G came in with my dad trying not to laugh. "Or I could build it, it wouldn't take long." Meredith Anne be nice to your sister. Just because you are now out of high school it doesn't mean I can't ground you." (Only my father can threaten grounding when clearly I'm joking with Maddie.) As we all try to get ready for the party my brother walks in the room in his boxers and a t-shirt, goes past all of us, grabs the chips and goes back to his biohazard bubble which he calls his bedroom. (He must be in a zombie mood again. He gets like that when he spends most of the night playing video games and drinking.) My father calls after him to get the floor cleaner since we are going to have guests. (What, is he going to take the dirt devil to the grass after the party? He does know we have a vacuum already named Klaus, right?)A few minutes later my brother yells into the kitchen for me to go to the door. Some girl is here for me. All I can think is great, Matt's drinking has finally got to his brain; he forgot Angel's name. I walked out of the kitchen with Maddie on my heels, still pissed off about the dog house crack. I saw her just standing there with a gift bag in her hands. "What are you doing here? You missed your exit on the way home or something? Run along now Arianna." My sister says to her with her arms folded. (A mini version of our mother if I ever saw one.) "Here is an idea, why don't you let me handle this and you can go get ready for the party. Go get ready. I'm sure you want to put ten more pounds of makeup on. Angel will be here soon." I had to turn my sister around and well I don't want to say I pushed her but I pushed her up the stairs. Maddie stomped her heels all the way to her room. (What is it with people stomping their heels?) "So, should we sit down so you can open your gift? You really have a nice house Mere'. Maybe you can show me your room again." Arianna said, trying to hold my hand. I pulled away and put both hands in my pockets so she can't get them again. "We aren't sitting down or going to my room. You need to get this through your head. I'm going to marry Jack. I admit you are cute and sweet, but my heart is with Jack. So enough is enough, got it? Now kindly leave my house and never come near me again. I take one hand out of my pocket and open the door to guide her out the door. "Good-bye Arianna, hello Angel." I say when I see my other best friend on the top stair holding a bag with three gifts inside it. "Did something just happen? What was she here? If you want to chase after her I won't tell Jack." I gave her my eye roll and said: "Oh please, she isn't worth chasing after. As for telling Jack, he would love to have that kind of sandwich. Him and two good looking girls." Angel gave me the you are crazy laugh only a best friend can get away with. The party went on as the night went on. We had to run into the house around eight because it started raining. (Even with the rain it took close to six washes to get the hair spray out. What did they use in my hair at the hair place? Hair spray or super glue?) We tried to save a lot of the food the best we could so the buns got soggy. Klaus started barking at the rain until the thunder clapped at him; never seen him run so fast. He was behind the sofa trying to hide the best he could. We were sitting around talking in the living room eating some cake. Some of the inside stories that we had (J.G, Angel and my family) Jack and Jesse never heard. J.G tells the story of how we got detention in first grade for correcting the teacher. Maddie dropped her fork, remembering something. "I'm still mad at you J.G just so you know." My long time best friend gave her the same look Klaus does when he is puzzled. "When we were kids I was planning to take a long shower before going out with friends. Went to each person in the house to make sure no one needed the bathroom before hand. Well I went in the bathroom, forgot something in my room and locked myself out.'' Maddie said, putting her plate down. J.G almost chokes on his drink remembering the rest of the story. "As I remember, you tried to blame Meredith for it saying that she had to have done it." I started laughing remembering the end of the story. "Maddie stomped her foot saying that I had to have done it because she would never lock herself out of her own room. J.G said, sure Maddie; Meredith went into your room, locked the door from the inside, climbed out the window, climbed down the house, and ran all the way back here in less than thirty seconds. Your sister is the fastest woman alive." The look on my sister's face matches the same as she did during our childhood. "By the way Jethro, your ban hasn't been lifted yet. So maybe you should eat and leave." J.G huffed and went back to eating. "Mmm, as for Meredith being the fastest woman alive, well I already knew that.'' Jack said, kissing my forehead. My father gave him the that shouldn't have come out of your mouth look. "You do know that blessing I gave a few months back Jackson? I can easily take it back. "The night went on and my family went to their rooms and my friends and I gave each other the graduation gifts. I don't want to play favorites with my friends but well the picture J.G gave me was probably the best one. The picture was of Ayden James and Freya James with their arms around each other's neck. They look about 13 or 14 years old. The four of us spent almost until midnight talking all our high school years, about how it went by so fast like the Flash on speed. (My brother was into comics before he saw his first half naked girl on late night TV.) I went to bed around one a.m and woke up only a few hours later hearing my father yelling at Klaus. I went downstairs into the kitchen and saw Klaus with frosting on his nose and around his chops. "What happened?, it looks like Klaus has been chewing on Smurfs." My dad put some water in a bowl for the dog and put it on the floor. "Well I got up and went to the bakery for some donuts for everyone and put it on the island, well you can guess what happened. You know the dog I had growing up, Cornbread loved pepperoni bites. I always carried them with me. Maybe that is why Cornbread jumped owners from your uncle Thomas to me.'' My father started making coffee. (How many times has he told me this story? maybe four hundred or does it just feel like that?) "I also stopped by the post office to check our p.o box and there was a big box with your name on it from your grandma Rosemen. I didn't peek. I promise, she even sent me a letter saying if I did she'll tell your mom to hide all the junk food in the house." I look at the box opened up already with the tape off. I gave him a look like he got caught with his hand in the cookie jar. "Ok I looked, but you can't really blame me, I mean the woman never gives anything without a deeper meaning. Dad was the same way.'' I got on the stool somewhat standing up and looked in the box. "It's her quilt. Why give this to me? It looks old. If she wanted me to wash it all she had to do was ask me to come over. Oh, a note from gam gam." I opened the note to read it and had to put it close to my eyes to see it; the woman writes super little like she is sending a note to an ant. "Dear Meredith, this quilt has been in our family for almost two hundred years, passed from mother to daughter. Yes I have a daughter, but I have a feeling that no good man my daughter is with will sell it. I thought since you found out about your family you should have this. It's a Rosemen family blanket. Your grandfather brought it over from the homeland of Germany. I know he would want his granddaughter to have it. Keep this in a safe place. Love,Gamgam Julie. P.s If your father looked in the box, hide his junk food or give it to the dog to bury out back."I got the quilt out and unfolded it to look at it. "Wow this is beautiful. Klaus don't get any furry ideas in that head of yours. It's going in my Hope Chest. Should I wrap it back up so it won't get messed up? Dad?" My dad grabbed it and looked at it. "You know how this was created Meredith? This very center square. 1808 the date is on the little corner of the corner. Our history is right here." I took it to the dining room table and spread it over the table. Dad and I looked at the dates on blankets. "Dad?" I say watching him look at the patch made by his mother. "Hello dad? Earth to dad?" My dad snapped out of the history time wrap and looked at me. "We have to talk I mean you, Mom and I have to talk." Dad almost fell over grabbing the chair to keep balance. "Oh no dad, not that kind of talk, no shotgun weddings. (He doesn't need to know that I slept with Jack.) "Oh thank God, don't think I can handle that. Not ready to be granddad just yet Meredith Anne. How about you become a doctor instead of a cop. With our family health history it would be a good idea. Think about it Dr.Rosemen sounds nice." I crossed my arms and gave him a you've got to be kidding me face. "Yeah, who ever heard of a half jewish girl becoming a doctor? What is next, Matt jr going to become a stand up comic? And Maddie a lawyer who knows?" Dad went back to the kitchen and dug through the junk drawer. "So what you want to talk about Sweetie?" As I gathered my nerve the best I could, a zombie looking Maddie came into the kitchen. Dad kept digging through the junk drawer. "Stop with the noise daddy please. The sound is like nails on a chalkboard." Dad looked at his youngest while sticking himself with a sewing needle. "Ouch! SON OF A KLAUS'S PUPPY!!" Klaus gave him a look like dad was crazy. "Really dad, you can swear in front of us. It's not like we are toddlers anymore. And before the brain eating Maddie came in we were talking.'' Maddie got the biggest coffee cup and filled it to the very top. ( How she is going to get that to her room without spilling I don't know.) "I've been told to keep my swearing down at work. So best try to keep it low here too. Maddie, next time you use my coffee cup, ask. Your mother gave me that mug when your brother was born." My brother comes into the kitchen in search of painkillers and something to wash it down with. He grabbed a fist full of pills and the gallon of milk before he threw the pills in his mouth I grabbed them from him. "Just take two dumb dumb or you will be choking." He took the two and waterfalled the milk into his mouth. "MATTHEW ALLEN ROSEMEN JR USE A GLASS!!!'' My mother yelled at him while getting a glass for him.I got some coffee for myself and took the creamer (or what is left of it) from Maddie who took it back. "Where is the breakfast at? I'm starved. Meredith ate the oreo cake pretty much single handed.'' Jesse came in, rubbing his eyes. "Oh really? You had five and half pieces yourself Jesse Daniel." My father said, digging through the fridge for the other creamer. Klaus jumped on the island going for a donut. "KLAUS EDWARD ROSEMEN!!! NO! GET OUT OF THE KITCHEN!!" My mom yelled at the dog and he looked at her then back at the donuts. She walked over, grabbed his collar and pulled him off the island. "Aunt Mary, Klaus is a dog. He doesn't have a middle name and if he did it wouldn't be Edward.'' Everyone started talking over one another like a loud buzzing sound at eight forty-five a.m before my coffee and my smoke. All I wanted to do was have five minutes with my father. Was that too much to ask? "We are going up to the cabin on the last week in June and staying until the fifth of July. We are all going this time Maddie, no getting out of it. I was thinking we can ask your mom to come Jesse Daniel." My father said trying to make plans that pretty much fell apart soon as he spoke them. "I was thinking maybe this year I can be called Madiline. I mean I'm going to be an upper classwoman. I should have more of a grown up name." My sister said trying to move with her coffee cup overflowing. They kept buzzing, getting louder as Klaus tried to go after the donuts. Matt Jr grabbed them and put them on top of the fridge. "I'm planning to play some video games today. No one is allowed in the living room for at least a good part of the day." My brother said. I stand there drumming my fingers on the table waiting for my turn to talk. Might not be lady-like but maybe I should raise my voice. (Not so loud that the state can hear, just loud enough that they can hear. No need to be on the twelve o'clock news.) "I don't think so son, I'm planning to watch some baseball nine innings of cubs vs the mets. So your zombie chasing and stealing cars will have to be put on hold. You boys can join me if you like. Maybe I should call Jackson Anthony." My dad said drinking coffee slurping it on the loud side. Then the buzzing went on and on growing even more loudly. That is it, I have had it. I'm saying no time like right now. A few more minutes passed, I drummed my fingers louder. I just couldn't take it anymore. "I'm Bi. I like both guys and girls, I mean romantically. " They froze for a little bit of time, looked at me and went back to talking. (What am I on mute or something?) "We need to clean out the coolers before the end of month if we are going to grandpa's cabin. They are very gross. I might have to toss them out and get new ones, maybe those yeti ones." My mom said trying to start up a new pot of coffee over three people almost tripping over the bar stool's leg. "Hello, did you guys not hear me? I said something importantish and you went back to talking about going to the cabin?" I said almost slamming my coffee cup to the kitchen island. "We know that already sweetie. You don't think we don't know what goes on in our own house Meredith Anne? Give us some credit." My father said grabbing a donut from the box. "Who told you guys? No, let me guess. Maddie right?" (Big freaking mouth that she has, I'm surprised the whole United States doesn't know.) As I stormed off to my room leaving my coffee behind I heard Klaus whine trying to follow me to my room. He just sat there with his head to the side not sure what to do. I stayed in my room all day long except to go to the bathroom. Heard the baseball game going on and around three o'clock, dad started snoring in his lazy boy chair. Close to dinner a knock was at my door I went to it and cracked my door to see who it was. "Okay Meredith let's talk. It wasn't Maddie who told us about you, ok? So stop trying to find boxes to ship your sister to the far off land. Open the door the rest of the way. MATTHEW ROSEMEN SR GET YOUR BUTT UP HERE!!" My mom yelled for my father. Klaus came up in his place with a note saying "The mets are tied with the cubs, be up soon." My mother gave the note an eye roll and wrote back a note. "Klaus, give this to the lazy potato in the living room. Then fetch the tv remote and bring it to me." Klaus ran downstairs, grabbed the remote and ran back up the stairs with my father yelling at him. I closed the door and locked it. (They had their chance to talk to me this morning. To be fair I should have told them about me way before now. I'm just not sure what they would do.) Mom and dad talked in the hallway, mostly my father complaining that he was missing the game. Everything was all tied up and only one inning left in the game. "We are talking to our daughter. You can watch the highlights on ESPN, that is if you don't fall asleep before then. Meredith sweetie, can we come in now?" I opened the door and let them in. Took a while for them to find a good spot to sit in my room so we can all have one of those after school specials like Degrassi next generation or 7th heaven type of deal. (I know my life isn't a tv show or anything but I'm not going to tell you what we all talked about.) An hour or so later, we opened the door to Klaus looking at the door like we were in trouble or something then gave that sideways look. "Hey Klausy, you going to help mom and I make dinner?'' I patted his head and headed down the stairs. If you are wondering what my folks and I talked about well you can figure it out. Even though it's my story and I pretty much told you pretty much everything, some things are just for me. (But if you have to know, ask my big mouth little sister Maddie I'm sure she was listening at the door with the dog. Expect her book, The Tells of the Rosemen Clan.) The rest of the night went fine. Dad found out his Mets won the game against the Cubs. My brother played his games until like three a.m. We made plans to go up to the cabin to clean it out and camp for a week. So there you have it my story, the whole truth, all of it. I know my story is one of many of the same kind but hey it's what I went through. Yeah some of it sounds odd and might have smoked too many New Ports. Did some things I somewhat regret now you can guess what those were. I stand by it all though. Life is better now. I'm In my freshman year of college and acing it all. Maddie is trying to get into the college parties to make her own mistakes. Matt Jr. and his friend moved out to L.A to become either bums or surfers. (whatever pays more.) Mom and Dad are still going strong working at the bank, investing in 401K's and all that stuff. Jesse and Klaus are fine too. Jesse has been talking about going back to West Virginia and bringing his mom here to live without Eddie. That is all we are up to now. The ups and downs of a New York family. Oh, before you ask, Jack and I are still going on strong as we ever were. Might want to save the date for well, sometime after college and police training. You might get an invite to it if you are lucky. Until next time we meet, see you around and I hope you enjoyed the story known as my life.