The Boy From Oklahoma

Alana

Briefly edited.

My day started off like any other. I got up, took a shower and got ready for school. By the time I got downstairs, my day started to take a turn for the worst.

"Kids, come in here for a minute please," my mother calls from the living room. I head into the living room, meeting my brother Kade coming from the other direction. He sends me a grin and shrugs his shoulders, which makes me think that he must've done something wrong once again. I walk into the living room behind him, glancing over at my parents.

My mother is sitting there, looking especially haughty in her new pantsuit. Her hands with perfectly manicured nails are folded neatly in her lap. I look up to study her facial expression: it doesn't look good. Her lips are pressed in a thin line, and her perfectly plucked eyebrows are pulled together. Her short, straight dark hair is neatly brushed and styled. Nothing about my mother is ever out of place. It's almost as if her attire is too scared of her to be disorderly.

I then turn my attention to my father. It's hard to believe that my parents ended up together, because they are complete opposites. My father is wearing an old T-shirt and faded jeans. Unlike my mother, he has a soft smile on his face, and a mischievous glint in his eyes. My father is the joker of the family, and has a better relationship with us kids than his own wife. His slightly curly light brown hair falls down onto his forehead as he lifts his head to look at me.

"Have a seat," he says in an amiable tone. I sit down on the expensive couch across from him and glance at Kade questioningly. Kade looks at me, but doesn't react.

"Bailey!" my mother calls in her sharp tone, making me jump.

"Yeah, Mum?" she asks, appearing in the doorway a few moments later.

"Take a seat," she responds, barely glancing her youngest daughter's way.

Bailey glances toward me with her eyebrows pulled together as she walks into the room, sitting down on the floor in front of me. I run my fingers through her hair gently.

"We would like to have a discussion with the three of you," Mother says.

"Yes. Now, I know what you're all thinking: this must be about Kade, right? Well, not this time," Dad says with a smile. Bailey tilts her head back to look up at me and we both smile.

"This is concerning your summer. I know that school gets out in a few days, and you're all excited about that, but we have some news for you," Mother continues, ignoring Dad.

"What is it?" Bailey asks curiously.

"Your father and I have spoken with my sister who lives out in Oklahoma. She has offered to let the three of you stay with her this summer. We both feel that it would benefit you to learn some discipline while you're there. Especially you, Kade. I do not expect to get any more calls about your terrible behavior," she says.

I instantly start to form an argument in my mind, but Kade beats me to it. "There is no way in hell that I am going to Oklahoma for the whole summer," he says.

"Do not use bad language in my house. You are going, and you do not have a choice about that," she responds with a hard tone.

"I'm not going," he repeats, standing up.

"You are," Dad says, staring at him.

Kade clenches his fists and stomps away, knocking down a vase as he goes. Bailey and I sit quietly, trying not to look at him.

"Anyway," Mother says, rolling her eyes. "You'll be leaving to board the plane in two days, so I suggest you start packing." She then gets up gracefully and walks away.