The Goldman Estate

Chapter 3

my boy - Billie Eilish
TW: Alcoholism Mentions

Jinx Wattson, Outside Emmy Love's House

It was around 6:30 when we finished our homework. Luckily we finished just in time for dinner. Emmy's family let me stay over to eat. Her family feels more like family than my own. By the time it hit 8:00, I decided to head home. The sun had already set and the street lights were on, casting a golden glow on the street. It was a super easy walk. Just go out the door, look both ways, walk across the street, then boom I'm home.

When I opened the door mom and step-dad were asleep on the couch with the tv left on. The house smelled like alcohol. I hated that smell. All it ever reminded me of was the old memories of my family and those memories were not good ones. I saw my brother, Riley, waiting at the table. He had a small grin on his face as if he were waiting for the moment I got home. I waltzed over to him.

"Hey, are you okay?" I asked him, bending down to eye level. Riley opened his mouth, but before he could say anything I heard his stomach rumble. He looked down at his stomach in embarrassment. I chuckled and stood up.

I tried to start a conversation as I made him grilled cheese. Riley used to be very talkative, I mean that's normal for a young kid but after dad left two years ago, when Riley was three, he stopped talking as much. Sometimes I forget what his voice sounds like. I miss those days when the air was filled with the smell of fresh flowers and dew freshly sprinkled on the earth. My only goal in life is to get him out of his shell before he dies. Kind of violent I know, but a reasonable goal to have.

I flipped the sandwich onto a plate and handed it to my brother. He started devouring it. It was gone not even a minute later. He handed the plate to me and went off to his room. I washed his plate. It was very easy, there was basically nothing left on it. I put the plate away and started to get his lunch packed for tomorrow. This task was more difficult than the last. We didn't have much in our fridge, not too surprising. Mom spends all her money on alcohol and cigarettes. Then, complains about how we don't have enough money to pay bills.

I sighed, finishing the ham and swiss sandwich and packing it into his lunch box. I walked back to my brother's room, tucking him in and saying goodnight. I walked to my room, opening the small book I had on my bedside table. I tried to read but my mind just couldn't forget Artemis. I didn't want to stay up all night thinking of them again. Eventually I fell asleep.