Forget Green Gables

La Familia

"What's up with you?" Felix asks that night over spaghetti.

I slurp up a couple of noodles. "Nothing, why?"

"You haven't said two words together. It's weird."

I shrug and spear a meatball. "Just been a busy day and I'm tired."
"How's school?" Mom asks, giving me a death glare which clearly says, 'cut that!'

"Eh," we state in unison.

"That reminds me," Felix starts, "what did you do to make Dustin Martinez hate you so much?"

I shrug. "I'd tell you if I knew."

"Who's Dustin Martinez?" our father interjects.

"That blockheaded running back. The only other freshman on varsity," I answer, grabbing myself a second helping of spaghetti.

"Oh. Why do you think he hates your sister, Felix?"

"He called her...uh..."

"Today in math he called me a know it all and knocked my calculator on the floor," I answer. "What did he call me at practice?"

"You don't want to know," Felix answers. "That's why I was late. I had to run suicides for threatening to shove his head up a part of his anatomy. "

I smile at my twin. "Thanks, Felix."

"Anytime, Little Sister."

"I'll shove your head into a part of your anatomy," I growl at my brother through a grin. "Call me your little sister one more time..."

"Oh, both of you, shut up," Our mother, Juana, snaps. "I'm going to bed."
My twin and I sit back in our chairs, wide-eyes moving from our mother's retreating form to our father, staring down at his plate.

"I'll clean up," I say, squeezing my father's hand.

"I'll help. Go watch some T.V. and unwind, Dad."

"What the hell just happened?" I ask Felix once Dad leaves the room.

"I've never seen her mood change so fast," Felix answers. "I wonder...is she taking her medication? She was down last spring, but then...the thing happened...and Dad talked her into getting her meds adjusted and she was better toward the end of July..."

I shrug. "I don't know. I sure hope so. Or this long weekend could be hell."

Danny,
I may look like I'm completely focused on what Mr. Jones is saying, but I'm really thinking about skipping class with you and making out under the oak tree on the south side of the building.
Is that too forward? I hope not.

XOXO,

Cheyanne