We Always Knew

Chapter Five

"The RV should be fixed up by 3:00 pm," the tow truck driver informed Dennis.

"Okay, thanks,"

"No problem," the man replied as he hung up.

"What'd he say?" Dee asked.

"It will be ready at three,"

She nodded.

"So, where did you go last night?"

"For a walk,"

"You walked all night?" she asked sarcastically.

"I slept somewhere else,"

"In Mac's room?"

"Yeah,"

Her face held a small smile as she nodded.

"What?" Dennis asked harshly.

"Nothing," she said feigning innocence.

Dee knew better than to provoke him. She wanted to ask her brother what was wrong. To wrap her arms around him and listen as he talked about how he was feeling but Dennis wasn't that kind of brother. As years went on he became colder, meaner, more reserved.

"I'm gonna go for another walk,"

"Okay," she said softly as he shut the door.

Instead of sitting in that creepy room by herself she went down to Charlie and Franks room.

She knocked on the door and waited but there was no answer.

"Charlie," she called through the door and knocked again.

The door slowly opened and revealed a yawning Charlie with bed head.

"What?" he asked.

"Did you just wake up?"

"Yeah,"

"It's one pm,"

"We had a late night," he mumbled as he let her in.

The room was in disarray.

Frank and Charlie genuinely had a talent for making every space they inhabited completely unlivable. Bags of chips and garbage were strewn about. Blankets and pillows littered the floor. Charlie's trash bag of clothes had ripped and the contents of it covered the floor.

"What happened in here?"

"What? Nothing happened in here,"

"Whatever," she mumbled.

Frank let out a loud, terrifying snore before going silent.

"Is he okay?"

Charlie shrugged.

"I guess so. He's got terrible sleep apnea,"

A few moments passed before he snored again.

"Is he breathing?"

"Dee, I don't know. He's fine,"

"He should see a doctor. I don't want him to like die in his sleep,"

"I've told him to see a doctor but he won't listen,"

Dee nodded realizing it was useless to try and get Frank to see a doctor. The old man no longer cared about anything including himself.

"The RV's gonna be ready at three,"

Charlie nodded as he laid back onto the bed.

Dee picked up the TV remote from the dresser and laid down next to Charlie.