Aliyah Jones has a lot on her plate. From being her grandmother's caretaker and raising her out-of-control brother Marco and disinterested sister Kiara, she doesn't know what to do. When will life finally give her a break?
Ace Bennet is a part of th...
It's been a couple of days since I found Marco at that party. And we weren't really on speaking terms at the moment.
But today I'm hoping to possibly change that.
I had just gotten back from my shift at the high school. I work as a substitute teacher sometimes, and today a teacher had a doctor's appointment and needed me to fill in for a couple of hours. I pull into the driveway and hurry into the house.
My grandmother owns the house but she's not really able to take care of herself. Leaving her for hours at a time really worries me. But our neighbor, Mrs.Wright, goes and checks on her sporadically throughout the day when I have to work, and for that I was grateful.
Walking through my front door I take in the cramped living room. My eyes drift to the older television model and our brown set of hand-me-down couches. I throw my purse on the coffee table before walking towards my grandmother's back room.
"Gran are you up?" I lightly knocked on her solid wooden door, not wanting to disturb her if she was resting.
"I'm up, just come on in." Her strong-edged voice rang through the door.
I find my grandmother lying in her worn-out bed - covered by a tan quilt. She wore a wool cardigan that seemed snug on her body. Its soft blue color complemented her light brown skin. She gets cold real easily; I can't recall a recent time that I've seen her lay in her bed without long sleeves and socks on.
"Hey, just checking in with you. Today has been moving super duper slowly - I just got back from work. And Kiara and Marco are still at the school." I sat carefully on her bed before leaning in and giving her a quick hug.
"I hope today wasn't too hard on you," Gran said moving to sit up, "I've just been laying here and watching some Wheel of fortune reruns on the TV. I got bored after a while and took me a little cat nap."
I smiled at her and her love for solving word puzzles. "Well, it sounds like you've had a pretty eventful day."
"Yeah, well a little birdie told me that you and Marco still aren't talking."
The sudden change in topics sent me on a tailspin.
Gran wasn't one to beat around the bush. She was straightforward and sharp as a nail; even in her old age. And she had no qualms about getting into other people's personal problems. The way she sees it is that if she knows about it then it's no longer personal.
But she does it with good intentions - and more often than not she helps you with your troubles and sets you on the right path. So it all levels out in the end. She gives people the wisdom that only comes with old age and experience.
"Marco and I aren't exactly speaking at the moment... unless you count him grunting when I wake him up for school in the morning. He's still mad at me for dragging him out of that party the other night. I think I cost him some street creds. And now he doesn't even want to breathe the same air as me." I think back to how he acted in the car that night and internally winced.
I should really try to smooth things over with him.
I hate making him upset - but I really am just trying to keep him safe. Although he's my brother - he's practically my son. I raised him and he's my responsibility.
I know for certain that my sister Kiara must have told Gran about the tension between Marco and me. Kiara is the quietest person I know. When she was younger she used to be so bubbly and full of vigor. But ever since our mother left she's been different; less involved. She doesn't give me too much grief - but at times I feel this space between us.
This distance that I can't seem to lessen.
She barely talks to me but is constantly sitting and chatting with Gran. They have a strong relationship. I call them gossip buddies; sometimes peaking into the room to find them sitting on the bed together airing out other people's mildly dirty laundry.
Which falls into the category of what couple had broken up at school. And what person had been caught cheating on an assignment.
"You know what they say blood is thicker than water. Back in my day..."
Not the back in my day speech, I mutter under my breath. But obviously, it wasn't quite enough.
"Aliyah, I may be old but I'm not deaf." Gran's solid eyes zeroed in on me and I flinched.
Oops.
"Sorry Gran is just that... I know I need to make things right with Marco. In fact - today I'll clean up his and Kiara's room. And... I'll even set about cooking him his favorite foods." I reach for her as I speak clasping her hand and squeezing.
Her soft, wrinkled, hand was cold to the touch but warm to the soul.
I didn't want to reward bad behavior like sneaking out and doing illegal things like underage drinking. But I also didn't want Marco to think I was nitpicking or didn't love him. And that I was just out to get him and "ruin his groove"; his words not mine.
It was a delicate situation.
A question of how hard do I push? And how strict do I be without causing him to feel the need to be sneaky?
I let out a long breath. I was getting grey hairs at twenty-four years old.
I help Gran get out of bed and move her to the bathroom. It's getting harder and harder for her to move on her own. After that, I set about going to clean the room that Kiara and Marco share. The house has three rooms, so they share one and me and Gran have our own.
I hope this worked a little towards Marco and me getting back on speaking terms. While cleaning up behind them was a job I'm usually always stuck doing, when Marco does something like sneak out I'll usually make him clean up his own room.
But this time I decided against that approach. I just want peace and calm.
And if that means being agreeable and appeasing Marco this time - I'll do it.
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