Different sides

Introduction

I'm sitting on the roof of dads car. Yes I know, it's a odd place for one to think, but I can't bear being inside. It's the same house but it feels different. Awkward. Uncomfortable. Oh well. I grasp my jacket firmly and pull it tighter around me. Winter afternoons are always freezing, and it seems to be forever impossible to make out any individual cloud. So your forced to assume it will rain.

For a split second I think I can hear the sound of mum yelling and Caitlin screaming. Caitlin, Caitlin, Caitlin. She looks the same but is acting strangely different. Her attitude is changing unexpectedly and its happening more often. It's scary. I try not to think about it and focus my mind on the dark figure I can see in the hallway. "Ben! Wait please!" Mum yells after him. He ignores her and walks down the front lawn without showing any interest in me.

Dad stands still with his hand gripped on the car door handle. Breathing heavily, not going in or going out. Just standing there. A un-pleased look plastered across his face. "Dad?" I say looking down at his head, trying harder to see the look in his eyes. "Oh hey Riley" he answers, sounding happier than he looked. I had a feeling he knew I was in the roof all along. "Mum and Caitlin are just going through a rough patch. That's all" he tells me watching me slide down the window and stand next to him. He did not sound reassuring at all.
"Really?" I ask
"Really."

I looked away. Because I knew he was lying. And I knew why Caitlin was screaming. Because mum was angry with Dad, and Caitlin tried to interfere. Mum hates it when she interrupts.
"Are you and Mummy going to let Cady go live on the street?" I ask all babyish. I know it's stupid but I want dad to feel better. Even a little bit. Dad smiles and looks down into my eyes "No, but if you want to feel free."