If there is one thing I hate, it is seeing my little sister so depressed. I thought about what had just happened. As we ate, she told me about her day at school. Ava, sweet, proud little Ava told me all about how the kids bullied her, called her anorexic (she's really skinny, but they're only ten!) and throwing pencils at her in class. She showed me her sketch that she'd made in art. Ava was a master of charcoal pencil sketches, well beyond her years. I dreaded what she'd show, because each picture, no matter how artistic, was still a sign of how deep a hole my family is digging. Today we had a dove, a black dove, caught in a net. Her hopes were too tangled in ordeals no ten year old should have to face.
I had to leave, as much as I hated both what I was walking away from and what I was going to. A party in the South Bronx, where Zoey, a girl named Heather, and I were supposed to "entertain" the male guests. When I arrived, I found it was a co-ed party. This came as a bit of a surprise because I was more for bachelor parties. These were just high schoolers. And... No... There.
Arianna was in the corner, a cigar in one hand and a beer in the other. She was laughing and stumbling and looked more than just a little tipsy. It was so dark in here, and her beer goggles were on, but nonetheless I prayed she wouldn't see me doing this despicable thing. Of course I couldn't even have that one, small solace. Arianna staggered her way over and held me at arm's length. "Autie!" she tittered. "What're you doin' here?" I shrugged her off me. One, I was ashamed of myself, two, I couldn't stand to see my responsible older sister as drunk as a gutter rat. "Ari, let go," I muttered.
"No. What are you doing here?" she begged. I sighed. "Working," and she tilted her head to squint at me. "Like, for a trick?" I rolled my eyes, which isn't something I commonly do with my sister. "No, Arianna, with the moon men. Now let go, Jay is watching and if I do a good job tonight, I get a fifty dollar bonus. Fifty dollars, do you know how many meals that will buy?" and I tugged myself away. I was met almost immediately by a guy, but Arianna intercepted us with the grace of a three legged bear and spilled the guy's beer all over the three of us. "No, you don't get to touch her. Autumn is not a whore, she is my baby sister and I love her!" Ari was shouting and Jay turned his head. No, no, no... But sadly, oh yes. "No one here gets her tonight! None of you pervs!" and she dragged me away by the wrist, knocking over a side table and spilling countless drinks.
Jay had a dangerous look on his face. It said "I'm going to kill you," and that's literal. I was screwed.
