Or I'll Kill You

Or I'll Kill You Ch. 6

Six

"Someone has to work," I told everyone. Everyone was crowded in the living room the next day. The fridge was packed with food this morning, but by now it was all gone. "We don't have the money to keep refilling the fridge like last night." People murmured things.

"Who's going to work?" Ian asked.

"I think it should be the man in each family," I said, "And the wives stay home to take care of the children."

"And if the wives are husbandless?" Ida said.

"Then the eldest child works," I said, "Boy or girl."

People groaned, while some let out sighs of relief. "What if we don't want to work?" Jasmine snapped.

"Then your family won't have money, which means you won't get your share of the food," I told her.

"And if we don't have families?" Ginger asked, "Does that mean we have to work."

"Ginger, we consider you Joyce's kid," Jesse said, and Ginger let out a deep sigh of relief.

"Well she had a point," Mace said, "I have no one."

"Mace, you're old enough to work," I huffed.

Mace scrunched his nose, and then sighed. "That means you work, Maeve," Jasmine hissed.

"And?" I asked, "It was my idea, don't you think I know I have to work?"

"No, Jesse should work," Paisley protested.

"No I will," I told her, "But Jesse can work if he wants."

Afton came down the stairs with a big yawn. "What's going on?" He yawned, as he stretched.

"Dear, did you just wake up?" Daye asked.

"Yup," Afton said.

We all looked at him. Even the new guy was awake by now. Who died and made Afton king? Who does he think he is, coming down whenever he wants when I called a family meeting?

"I have a question," Matthew said, raising his hand. When I nodded, he said, "Are we going to be enrolled in school?"

Everyone was silent. We didn't really think of that. Wouldn't it be weird if a big group of people, who lived in the neighborhood, had a huge group of kids who didn't go to school? We couldn't all be homeschooled. "Um," I muttered.

"I like that idea," Daye said, "So we pay for our food, and our child or children's enrollment."

This caused another burst of low murmurs. "Don't you agree, Maeve? Jesse?" Daye said, as she cocked her head to the side.

I looked over at Jesse. "I guess," I muttered, and people started to cheer. Leila looked worried though. She had five kids she had to enroll and feed just on her son's salary, assuming he got a good paying job, or even got a job. I walked over to her, and put my arm around her back. "We'll help each other out," I whispered, giving her a small smile.

Leila gave me a smile back, her plump cheeks rising just below her eyes. Leila was a rather plump woman, not fat, just plump. She was what I thought of when I thought of coming home from a long day. She was warm and friendly and her kids were always put first, always. She always wore warm colors too, like purple or blue. Her blue eyes sparkled every time she was happy, and her brown hair was always pulled into a ratty bun.

"Thank you," She whispered.

I nodded, and got up. I moved across the room towards Otto. "How's it going buddy?" I asked him, ruffling his near blond hair.