L. Trinity Michaels. Op. 17

Chapter 3

"The Christmas special was awful. I promise you didn't miss anything." Gabby glances at me, uncertain and then settles her vision back at the road.

"But Doctor Who Christmas specials always have character development or something like that." She shakes her head. "Which one is your street again? I can never remember."

I point to the correct street. "Raymond Drive. You can tell because that house there - " I point to the first house on my street. " - totally looks like it would belong to someone named Raymond."

She laughs as she pulls onto Raymond Drive. "That house belongs to Freddy Johnson, but whatever. Are you sure nothing important happened?" She parks in my driveway.

"Yes! The Doctor only did The-Doctor-in-Christmas-Special-y things like saving random girls from random psychopa-" I see a familiar car parked next to Gabby's. "I have to go. I'll text you later." I open my car door and step out.

"Ok? I'll see you later, I guess." Gabby looks very confused. I thank her for the ride, close the car door and walk up to the porch. Gabby backs her car out of the driveway and drives away.

I don't see mom or dad in the living room or in the kitchen as I open the front door. I don't here any yelling either, which is a good sign. Usually they can't make it 5 minutes in the same room before they start arguing. My dad didn't call ahead of time as far as I know, which makes the situation worse.

He is supposed to call. It gives my mom time to prepare herself to see him. Not makeup-prepare, though. Mentally prepare. It breaks her heart to see him the way he is now - mean and nasty, sloppy, not caring about anyone but himself. In fact, it breaks her so much she can't care for Elizabeth and I afterward, and sometimes she can't even care for herself.

She says he was a smart and kind man before Elizabeth and I were born. She says he even helped her in her pregnancy. But after we were born he became a completely different person. Mom says it's like being a parent changed him. Not into something better though, like usual. I don't think he was ready to be a parent. I think he was so unready that he took the change in his life as a disaster instead of a miracle, like most parents would say. I don't understand why he didn't prepare himself when he had the time. He had nine months. Nine months! I think that's long enough to prepare yourself to be a father, to be someone who would support their family instead of break them. But, I don't know. Maybe I'm being unreasonable.

I quietly walk up the stairs, my bag on my shoulder. I see Elizabeth in her room sitting on her bed on her phone. I stand in the doorway until she hangs up. She looks more annoyed than I've seen her in a long time.

I match her annoyance, walk over and sit next to her. "What is he doing here?"

She sighs. "He says he forgot a box in the basement so Mom let him go look for it."

"And thirteen years later he remembers? He moved out when we were four, Elizabeth. I don't think he needs whatever it is so badly after thirteen years, if there even is anything there."

"I know! I agree with you. I just think mom wanted to avoid a fight."

"If he's stealing something, it's not going to avoid a f-" I heard muffled yelling. Elizabeth and I looked at each other but kept quiet, trying to listen.

We hear Mom questioning him. "What do you think you're doing?"

"This is my stuff!"

"Oh, really? Because the box says right there that it's my mom's china!"

"What!? Uggghhh! Samantha, I just need money for rent!"

"That is not my problem, Richard."

"You're really not going to help me out? I thought you loved me!"