Secret Singing Superstar

Fifty-eight ~ ♫♪♫

"WHAT?!" both Claire and Leanne shrieked at once. 

"He's your - what?" Claire spluttered. "I thought you were an only child!"

"So did I," said Caitlin, looking strangely calm for someone who'd just discovered that she had a sibling when she thought she had none for fourteen years. 

"How?!" Leanne stammered.

Caitlin sighed. "He's eighteen - four years older than me. Before I was born, my parents sent him to England to live with my grandparents, so he could get a better education and all that."

Claire could not see the reason why a couple would give up their child and let him be raised in another country by somebody else. "Why did they do that?"

"I don't know," said Caitlin. "But let's just say that I was very angry about it...although Sean was a thousand times more angrier. You see, my parents had been visiting him once every year, so he was fine with that. He understood that the education level here was low and he was being given a chance to succeed in life, even though he hardly ever saw his parents. The thing is: he never knew he had a little sister." A few tears escaped from Caitlin's eyes as she said this. "A - and h - he was s - so an - angry..."

Leanne got up and hugged Caitlin. Claire awkwardly patted her on the back, not sure what to do or what to say. 

"Oh, Caitlin..." Leanne smiled at her affectionately. "It'll be okay."

"No, it won't," Caitlin said miserably. "He's coming here tomorrow. He's really determined to meet me, but...I'm scared. I've never had a brother in my whole life. Then suddenly I do have one. How do I cope with that?"

"You'll cope eventually. Of course it'll take some time, but...you'll warm up to him. He's your brother."

"What I don't understand is why your parents didn't tell you," said Claire thoughtfully.

"Me too," said Caitlin, sounding quite defeated, which was very unlike her. "I should be mad at them like Sean - I mean my brother - is, but...I don't know. I just can't conjure up any anger. I'm not angry. I just feel..."

"Numb?" Leanne asked. 

Caitlin nodded. "How did you know?"

"I've felt that way many times before."

There was silence. 

"You should really do something to get to know your brother better," Claire suggested, thinking to break it before ht atmosphere got really awkward. Then she smirked. "And I know just the thing."

"You do?" Caitlin looked surprised that Claire had an idea that could suit her and her brother.

Claire nodded. "Lasertag."

Leanne's face broke out into a smile. "Perfect."

Caitlin beamed at them. "Thanks, guys. I owe you one."

* * * * * * * * *

The next morning, Caitlin woke up at 5:00 am. Her stomach was jittery and full of nerves. She tiptoed out of her room and noticed that her parents were already gone - gone to pick up Sean from the airport. She hadn't wanted to come because she was lazy...and because she was too scared to meet him. Staying at home meant that she had some time to prepare.

With immense difficulty, she dragged herself out of bed and off to get dressed. She put on something simple; she and her friends had plans to take Sean out today, so she didn't want to wear something that wasn't right for the occasion.