Dinner has been ate and mom is sending us all to bed. I'm pretty exhausted so I don't argue about it. While I'm braiding my hair and changing into my pajamas, dad is reading Megan and Dylan a bedtime story. It's been really wierd having dad here but a good weird. You can practically taste the tension between dad and step-douche. They are both jealous of each other for the complete opposite reasons. They are also trying to hide it but it is so obvious. Dad hasn't said how long he is staying for but I hope it's forever. Mom doesn't seem too happy he is back but I don't really care. As I climb into bed, my door opens and dad walks in.
"Hey bug. You ready for bed?" He asks sitting on the edge of my bed.
"Yeah." I reply.
"So I actually wanted to talk to you about some stuff. I'm sorry that I left before. Megan and Dylan don't seem to remember too much but I know you do. I'm so sorry I left like I did. I did want to say goodbye but I knew that if I did it would of made leaving so much harder. I just hope you can forgive me." Dad says sounding really sad. I mean, I guess I kinda understand why he left suddenly and I guess I can forgive him for it. Everyone deserves a second chance.
"Its ok dad. I've already forgiven you." I say hugging him tightly. He kissed the side of my head as he stands up.
"Ok Soph. You gotta get to sleep. You got school in the morning." He says walking towards the door. "Sleep tight baby doll." He says walking out and closing the door. That night I slept the best I have since dad left cause I knew exactly where he is and that he's safe.
"Soph. Come on you gotta get up." A voice I recognise disturbs my sleep. I slowly open my eyes and see my mom standing in my doorway. I make a noise resembling an ok. Climbing out of bed, I grab the clothes I wanted to wear today and went into the bathroom. After showering, drying my hair and styling it I think i look pretty good today:
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Smelling something good, I head towards the kitchen where everyone but my mom is. I sit at the table next to Megan as dad puts what looks like a cinnamon infront of me.
"Morning baby. Eat that and we can get going." Dad says.
"You know Dusty, it tastes exactly like Cinnabon! In fact, same shape, same swirl, same frosting." Step-douche says from the island with his mouth full.
"Your just jealous that the only thing you can cook comes in less than 3 steps." I say looking straight at him.
"Hey. Its too early for the attitude Sophia please." Mom says walking into the kitchen adjusting her earring. It's true. Step-douche is not the best cook compared to my dad.
"Good morning Sar-bear! Hey listen guys. Brad and I had a talk last night about the importance of family. And now that everyone's here, I wanted ti say a few words ok?" Dad says. What the heck? It is too early for a lesson like this. Dad kneels down between Megand and Dylan and looks at all three of us. "Hey kids, you know, families can be ever growing and changing. And sometimes someone new knocks on the door of your heart and you're not sure if you have room in there for one more. But there's someone here now that I hope you guys can learn to love. Okay?" What in the world? Who is je speaking about? Dad whistles and the pitter patter of feet us heard entering the kitchen. I look to see a really old, crusty looking dog come into the kitchen. The thing looks half way to death. What is it doing in our kitchen?
"A doggy! Yay!" Megan and Dylan run over to the thing and start touching the thing. They definitely are gonna have some sort of disease after touching it.
"You bought a dog home?" Mom says in disbelief.
"Yeah you seemed really into it while I was teeing it up." Dad says in disbelief that we are shocked.
"No I thought you were talking about me." Step-douche says annoyed.
"Oh but your not a dog Brad." Dad says in the same tone as before.
"No! Look, last night, when we talked..." Step-douche starts in a whisper voice as if I'm not sat right beside him.
"Oh, yeah. Well that's got to happen organically." Dad says smiling. Wait what dis they talk about last night?
"Dusty how old is that thing?" Mom asks disgusted.
"I'd guess he's around 15. I named him tumor." Dad says proud of himself.
"15 seconds away from death more like. It looks like one strong gust of wind and he'll crumble." I say making eye contact with it. Its so creepy as it has one eye that is completely white.
"Hey don't be mean about your new dog. Tumor is in his prime." Dad says knocking my shoulder a little bit.
"Mommy, can we keep tumor please?" Megan begs.
"Oh I'm gonna leave this one with Brad." Mom says patting his chest.
"Do you want to catch some sort of disease? That thing probably has every type of bacteria ever in its fur." I say to my little siblings.
""Well maybe we should just get a puppy instead. And Soph is right. It looks really dirty." Step-douche says. Oh no. I don't want him to agree with me. Dammit. We gotta keep the dog.
"Actually tumor doesn't seem too bad of a dog to keep." I say walking over and hesitantly petting his head. Great. Now I gotta bleach my hand.
"See Brad. Even Soph is starting to like him. What are they going to learn from a puppy? An old dog like Tumor here's been out in the world. Living free. Fighting for survival and seeing things we can only dream of. Just look at the wisdom in those cloudy eyes." Dad says.
"Fine. He can live out his few remaining weeks here with us." Step-douche says trying to avoid an argument.
"Uuuh. The dog is taking a sh-" I start moving away from the dog.
"Do not finish that word." Mom and step-douche say. I wasn't actually gonna say it 🙂 (I totally was)
"We'll clean it up. We don't mind." Dylan says as he and Megan run to find stuff to clean it up. Yeah no. I ain't doing that. I walk upstairs to my room so I can pack my school bag. I don't care if I'm the eldest. I'm not cleaning up dog poop of a dog I'm sure has diseases.
"Soph. Come on we gotta get you guys to school!" Mom calls upstairs.
I finish getting everything I need but just before I can leave my room, screams are heard from downstairs and the loud rumbling of a motorcycle? What the heck is going on? I open my door just as a motorcycle with my dork of a step father zooms past my room. I run towards a loud crash noise down the hall only to see Step-douche is literally in the wall. No I'm not exaggerating. He is actually in the wall. This is the best day ever. I walk into the bathroom to where his face and top half is hanging out from. Mom and the others all run in to see the exact same thing.
"Brad, are you all righ" Mom asks. Well obviously not.
"No, I'm not all right. I'm in the wall. I'm scared." Step-douche says sounding as if he is crying.
"Ah. This is defo going on Instagram." I say taking a picture of him.
"Sophia. Please delete that photo." He begs. OK maybe I will....not!
"Jeez, Brad, I thought you said you could ride." Dad says in disbelief.
"I can ride, okay. Would you get a shirt on?" Step-douche acts like that is the most important thing to worry about right now.
"I think if you could ride, you wouldn't be stuck in a wall right now, Brad." Dad has a point. Not even Step-douche could deny that.
"Yeah. I'm sorry to say it, but he's right. You almost killed the kids!" Mom says mad. Hmm she's never been mad at him before. Nice.
"Let's not beat up on Brad here. Okay? He was showboating for the kids a little bit, and things got out of hand. Let's all just be grateful nobody got hurt. Okay?" Dad says calmly. "Kids, listen up. This is a good lesson on why you never wanna lie about your ability to do things you clearly can't do, okay, huh?" Dad says looking at me and my siblings. "Now Brad, just stay still. I'll get you out." Dad says before punching the wall making it collapse with step-douche. Dam I wish I had caught that on camera. That would be an awsome thing to show my friends.
