Middle Child Syndrome- Ian Gallagher

family values

After I finished packing, I ate dinner and passed out on my bed at 9 because I was so tired. Every time I wasn't doing anything or taking a break, my parents yelled at me to keep it moving.

I woke up around 7, feeling a lot better and rested. Given my parents wouldn't be up for another hour, I decided to get up and make coffee. Persephone and I always woke up early at like 7-8, my parents around 8-8:30 on the days they didn't have work, and Troy? On a good day, probably not until eleven. 

When the coffee finished brewing, I poured myself a cup and sat outside, appreciating the quiet morning. 

Persephone opened the door and sat next to me.

"Good morning."

"Good morning," I said, "How'd you sleep?"

"I slept fantastic," she said, "Especially since I didn't get woken up by snoring."

I rolled my eyes and nudged her playfully as she laughed. A car parked across the street from us. It looked like a couple because the girl walked out and kissed the guy before he drove off. She turned around and looked at us.

"You the new neighbors?"

"Yes, we are!" I said, standing up and walking down my porch stairs.

"I'm Fiona," she said with a smile.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Athena."

"And I'm Persephone," Persephone introduced herself.

"We met Lip, Ian, Debbie, and Carl yesterday," I said, "Are they your siblings?"

"Yep," she said, "Plus a two-year-old."

My eyes widened, "Wow."

"Do you want to come inside? The kids would love to say hi," Fiona said.

"Sure!"

We walked across the street and went into the house. It was a humble but comfy environment. Fiona walked into the kitchen and turned the fan on, breathing a sigh of relief. Lip came downstairs, his face bloody and bruised.

"Whoa, what happened to you?"

"One of my fighters pussied out on me. I had to fill in."

"Looks like the pussy had the right idea," Fiona said, "Get some ice on that eye."

Lip turned around and looked at me, "Oh, hi, Athena."

"Hey," I smiled.

"I'm here too," Persephone said, making me smack her arm, but Lip just laughed.

Debbie came downstairs with a clipboard, "We're out of mac and cheese. I can make PB & J's, but I'm going to need more bread. Persephone! Athena! Hi!"

"Morning, Debbie," I said. 

Debbie poured herself some coffee as she listed off some kids' names.

"Whoa, half a cup!" Fi said.

"I'm exhausted!" Debbie said, "Liam had me up half the night banging his head. I need my own room."

"And I want a pony for Christmas," Fiona said.

"He's a boy! He should be with the boys."

"There's three of us in that room," Lip said, turning to me.

"I'm a girl!" Debbie said, "I'm going to be a woman soon. I need privacy to undergo the upcoming traumatic transformation."

"It's not that traumatic, Debs," Lip laughed. 

"Yea, how would you know?" I said.

"Video in fifth grade," he answered as Ian came downstairs.

"What are we talking about?" Ian said.

"Moving Liam into our room."

"No fuckin' way," Ian said.

Lip left through the back, and Debbie went to answer the door at the front.

"So, do you guys work a daycare here?" I said to Ian.

"Yeah, Debs runs it," he said, "I don't know how she does it. What are you up to today?"

I sighed, "Looking for a job. If I'll even be successful."

"Oh, wow," Ian said, "You're in luck. My boss is desperately in search of new employees. I'm sure he'll take you."

"Really?!" I said, "Where do you work?"

"A convenience store called Kash n Grab," Ian said, "I have to leave in about half an hour. Will you be ready by then?"

I nodded, "Sure. Let me get changed."

While Persephone stayed to help Debbie with daycare, I ran across the street and changed into a black shirt and jean shorts. As I put my sneakers on, I texted my parents to let them know where I was. Since last summer, if I was going anywhere that wasn't school or work, I had to text them to let them know where I was, or they'd go ballistic. 

Ian and I met outside of his house and started walking. 

"So, tell me about yourself," Ian said, "Why'd you move to Chicago?"

"Dad wanted a change," I said, "He's a construction worker, so it wasn't hard for him to transfer. And then my mom just goes along with whatever he says and lets him make all the decisions, so yeah. We're here."

"I wish I could go to California," Ian said, "I've never even left the state."

"It's so pretty there," I said wistfully, "I'm gonna miss it so much."

Ian nodded sympathetically.

"So, like, is Fiona the head of the house? Because she seems to be in charge over there."

Ian chuckled, "Well, yeah she is. You were gonna find this out sooner or later, but basically, our mom's a bipolar drug addict who split on us years ago, and our dad's an alcoholic who spends the money we don't have at the bar all the time. So, that leaves Fiona. She dropped out of high school to take care of us all. I don't know how she does it."

"Jesus," I said, "I'm sorry."

In a fucked way, hearing these types of stories gave me comfort in the sense that I could always have it worse. 

"It's fine," he said, "We manage, and at the end of the day, all six of us know we can rely on each other. So, at least there's that."

"Yeah, that's fair," I said, "Tell me more about you and your siblings then."

"Fiona works at a nightclub and sleeps during the day, Lip is probably one of the smartest people you'll ever meet, at school at least."

"What do you mean?" I said, pushing my hair out of my face.

"Ok. Assuming we had the money for it, he could go to Columbia or Yale or wherever, but he doesn't want to and would rather play house with the neighborhood whore."

"Ohhhhhh," I said, nodding.

"Yea. Debbie's a sweet kid who loves taking care of babies and old people. Carl- well, we're just working on not getting him kicked out of school or sent to juvie."

I laughed but caught myself quickly, "I'm sorry. That's not funny."

"Nah, it is funny," Ian chuckled, "Tell me about your siblings."

"Well, Troy is a bum who only cares about food, weed, and blondes. He's also dumb as fuck, but I love him. He's a good kid."

"Oh, he and Lip would get along great."

I laughed, "Yeah, and then there's Persephone. She's really smart, but she's always been a quiet kid with not many friends. Maybe she'll make friends here. Who knows?"

We reached the convenience store, and as he unlocked the door, he looked at me, "Fair warning. Linda's a tight ass, so just do what she says, and you'll be fine."

I nodded before we went inside, mentally prepping myself.