Never Have I Ever|| z.m

Phone Calls

"So do you like dinosaurs?" I asked as I made the triceratops march along the carpet towards Winston's tyrannosaurus-rex. He shrugged.

"They're okay I guess. I'd rather play with.." He paused and stared at the carpet like he didn't want to say what was on his mind. I poked him with the triceratops.

"Come on, you can tell me. I am your big sister after all." It felt weird saying that out loud but I couldn't deny that he was my brother. He was just a kid. I could deny having a father all I wanted but if this six or seven year odd kid said he wanted me to be his older sister, I couldn't deny him that.

"I want to play with those small little animal playhouses." I thought for a bit.

"The My Littlest Pet Shop toys?" I questioned. It was more of a girl oriented toy I guess but boys could play with it too if they wanted. Winston nodded.

"Daddy says it's a girl toy though. He won't let me have it." He held up the dinosaurs. "He bought me these instead but they hurt sometimes." He poked the triceratops horn with his finger and pulled it back, making a face.

"I still have my old toys from it. I could give them to you if you'd like." His face lit up.

"You would do that?" He questioned, standing up excitedly.

"Yeah, why not. They haven't been played with in years." Winston started to hug me which was weird because I haven't hugged someone this small before and also because we were in my fathers house and this was my half-brother and it was all around weird.

"Thank you, thank you! You're the best sister ever." He cried out. I smiled a little and hugged him back lightly.

"Thanks, I guess." He was smiling when he pulled back. "So hey, tell me about dad. What's he like?" Winston frowned and sat back down.

"I don't know." He murmured.

"What do you mean you don't know?" I questioned. I glanced at the open door behind us then back at Winston, standing, I walked towards the door and glanced down the hallway. My dad was nowhere in sight and neither was the nanny. As quietly as I could, I closed and locked the door. "Hey, it's okay. You know you can talk to me right? If he's doing something.."

"Daddy is scary." He whispered. Glancing up at the locked door nervously.

"Scary how?" I questioned.

"He yells at mommy and me." Winston shrugged.

"Often?" He shrugged again. "What does he get angry about?"

"Silly stuff. Like mommy not washing dishes right away or me leaving my toys around." That sounded like stuff he used to get angry at me for.

"Does he ever hit you or mommy?" I question lightly. Winston shakes his head. "Are you sure?"

"Yes. Daddy doesn't hit us. Mommy wouldn't allow it. She yells back at him when he yells. They're scary like that." He murmured. "He usually apologizes by buying mommy flowers and giving me presents."

"Does he yell often?" Winston shrugs. "Every week? Every month?" He ponders the question.

"Every month maybe." The door knob started jiggling.

"Emma!" A voice called on. I walked to the door and opened it. My dad stood there glaring at me. "Why was the door locked." I shrugged.

"The wind closed it shut." I said pointing at the open window, the curtains fluttering lightly at the sides. "I didn't know it was locked." It didn't look like he believed me. Winston was still on the floor playing with his dinosaurs.