Maid for the family

Going away

Penny peeked out of her window and smiled. Caleb had ordered her to "Go away" today. She'd been stricken at first, thinking that he'd grown tired of her. She hadn't meant to spill peas on his head yesterday! It just sort of happened.

Damien had looked up and admonished Caleb, saying "That makes it sound like you're firing her. Tell her what you really mean."

He had sighed and briefly stated, "You get the weekends off. You don't have to cook, clean or stick around here if you don't want."

Tyler had wrapped an arm around her shoulder and encouraged her to go with him to the mall. Brian and he were going later that morning.

"But I don't have any money!" She had said. Caleb rolled his eyes and bopped her on the head. "You have been working all week. You have money. Plus, you need more clothes. Whatever you pick out today we'll just take out of your wages. Now go away."

She had smiled and ran up stairs to get ready. She hadn't stopped smiling since then. She was going shopping! She hadn't been to a mall since her mom got sick. Her schedule had been too busy and their money too limited to waste on normal teenage experiences.

It was a beautiful day outside. She heard a rap on her door and she ran to answer it. Brian was leaning on the frame, grinning. "Are you ready? We're going."

"Yes!" She ran after him, giving Caleb and Damien brief hugs before running out the door. She'd been so excited about going to the mall that she didn't even think about if she should be hugging them. She was just too happy to care!

She jumped in the back seat and was nearly bursting with excitement.

"Ease up there, shaky! Why are you twitching so much?" Tyler asked from the driver's seat. He blasted music and started driving down their long driveway.

"I haven't been to a mall since I was fifteen. I'm excited to be out and doing something. Plus it's such a beautiful day! Did you hear the birds singing?"

"Why haven't you been to the mall? Isn't that what all teenage girls do?"

Penny bit her lip and softly said, "Mom got breast cancer when I was fifteen. She didn't have insurance and she was denied government aid. We didn't have much money." She felt self conscious and focused on her hands. She didn't like talking about that part of her life. She didn't want to make anyone feel bad.

"When did your mom die?" Tyler asked softly. He must have noticed her sudden lack of excitement.

"About a month before I came here. She finally got accepted into hospice and she died shortly after."

"Shit, I'm sorry. I didn't realize it was so recent."

The car ride was silent for the rest of the ride. Brian got out of the car first and grabbed Penny's hand. Tyler walked around and put an arm around her neck. She smiled at their show of support.

"Let's have fun at the mall," they said.

They dragged her to the first girly shop they could find and threw clothes at her.

Brian threw slutty colorful clothes at her, while Tyler selected slutty emo clothes.

"Guys, I can't wear these! That one doesn't have enough fabric to be a shirt, let alone a dress! This one wouldn't fit a 6 year old and that one is see through!"

Tyler laughed and shoved her in the dressing room. "Just try them on already!" She thought about resisting, but who could say no to that face? He was all dark and brooding until he smiled. That grin could light up a whole room. He was light hearted and playful, contrary to his whole emo look.

She tried on a dress that was definitely not her style. It was too tight and showed too much skin. It was an outfit that belonged in a porno. What were the guys thinking?

She could hear Brian demanding she come out to model the clothing. She ignored him and tried on a different outfit. She had just got everything in place when he popped his head in the dressing room.

"Oh that's cute! I like that one," he said right before she screamed and hit him.

"Out! Out! Out! You pervert!" She cried while hitting him. He laughed and stepped out.

Penny could hear him talking to Tyler outside. She frowned and crossed her arms. No way was she taking off any clothes until she heard them walk away.

"She's adorable! She's wearing the mini plaid skirt that shows off her legs and a bubblegum belly shirt that makes her boobs pop out."

"Ooh, I want to see!" Tyler popped his head in and grinned. "You look good, cupcake."

She had her arms crossed over her chest- hiding her boobs- and a frown on her red face. She couldn't believe they said that! She glared at Tyler and yelled at him to get out and give her privacy.

He chuckled and told her that if she'd just model the clothes for them they wouldn't have to pop in to see. She grumbled that she would model the clothes, but that if they dared pop in again that she would kill them. They were still laughing while she tried on the next outfit.

She modeled each one for them, before insisting they leave the store without the clothes. Their next stop was the coffee shop where they got triple shot mochas and continued on their way.

They spent a long time at the GameStop where the boys bought themselves several new games. Then, they went to another clothes shop where Penny selected a modest skirt, a blouse and a pair of shoes. By the end of the shopping trip they were all laughing and having a good time.

She was sitting in the front passenger seat on the way home, Brian had insisted. She was flipping through the radio stations when she was hit with a sudden thought.

"What do you guys do for work? It must be a great job to be able to afford the mansion."

"Oh that's the family house- we don't really have to afford it. All the bills get paid by Sean," Brian said.

"Who's Sean?"

"Sean is my uncle," Tyler said shortly. She glanced at his face and was confused to see him look so tense. His hands were gripping the wheel so tightly that his fingers were turning white. What kind of man was he that it made Tyler react like that? Didn't most people like their uncles?

She let it go, knowing that it would upset Tyler to talk about it more. She would wait and let him tell her more if and when he wanted to.

When they got home she kissed both boys on the cheeks and told them thank you for taking her with them. Then she ran inside and thanked the other two boys. The shopping trip was just what she needed. She was so happy that these guys had found her that one morning in her tent. They were really the best. She couldn't imagine her life without any of them.