My Other Half

Waffles

Alas, our weekend of typical typical-ness had come to a quick close. Monday rolled around the corner like the ominous cumulonimbus does pre-thunderstorm. My alarm blared at 5:30, forcing my grumbling ass out of bed to not only prepare for the day, but to help everyone else do so too.

I had to help Aaliyah out of the bottom bunk of our bed and into her wheelchair. I then proceeded to wheel her into the bathroom to help her safely on and off the toilet. Later, I heaved her onto the bed to help her dress herself. Finally, I rolled her to the kitchen to give her her meds and make breakfast.

Aaliyah appreciated me her helping me so much, she willfully assisted in the breakfast process too. However, I was partially convinced she just liked to annoy the shit out of me by brutally mixing the condiments. In ways you'd never possibly imagine.

I had the plates lined up along the edge, with a whole selection of condiments for L'Eggo my Eggo-ing; butter, blueberries, whipped cream, chocolate syrup, Nutella, maple syrup, and strawberries. We had access to those delicious pleasures thanks to the meager amount of money Johnathan threw at me when he sent me out shopping, and the fifteen bucks I made working a few hours at Mr. Howell's tiny bookstore on Main Street.

We didn't have to get Jake up for school for another hour and a half, so we had plenty of time to eat our waffles with all the good stuff on them. Jake liked his plain, so we didn't gave to worry about him. It was that fat slob Johnathan we wanted to keep all the tasty toppings from.

I liked to change it up every once in awhile. A smear of Nutella sprinkled with strawberries was most popular. Whipped cream speckled with blueberries, drizzled in chocolate syrup was another favorite. I could also go for the classic butter and syrup as well.

My sister, however, was a complete weirdo when it came to waffles. The art of waffle making is supposed to be simple and graceful. Squirting the whipped cream on the waffle into a perfect snowy mountain is supposed to be the equivalent of seven perfect pirouettes onstage. This meant nothing to Aaliyah. I swear I could almost hear the waffle crying at its inevitable fate as it drowned in overwhelming globs of Nutella, cream, smashed fruit, and maple and chocolate syrup.

"Jeez Liyah, go easy on that." I marveled at what looked like a first-grade finger painting as I sprinkled blueberries on my waffle.

"Yolo." she said as she folded the waffle into a disgusting mushy sandwich. She wheeled to the table and started to eat it.

"Ewwww," I sat next to her, attempting to look away. "You're disgusting."

"You're boring." she stated matter-of-factly.

"I'd rather be boring than have the appetite of a f*cking gremlin."

"Don't knock it till you try it, Si," she smiled mischievously up at me with chocolate and waffle-covered teeth. "Wanna bite?" she shoved the monstrosity in my face.

"Agggg! No!" I laughed as I tried pushing the dripping mush away. Aaliyah eventually ended up wheeling around, chasing me with it in her hands. I mock screamed and pretended to faint on the couch, and she placed it on my lap in a paper plate. "Dear God, why?" I moaned as Aaliyah giggled endlessly, squirming and holding her sides in her chair.

"What the hell is this damn mess?" we heard an all-too-familiar voice boom from the hallway.

Aaliyah abruptly stopped laughing and sat limply in her chair, like a puppet at rest.

"Shit..." I whispered under my breath. I hid the waffle behind me.

"You two girls make enough noise to raise the f*cking dead. I'm pissed because you woke me up, and I'm gonna be even more f*cking pissed if you wake your brother up, who is-by the way- f*cking sleeping in the next room. And you left a f*cking mess everywhere; look at this counter! Look at all this shit!" with one strong sweep of his arm, Johnathan knocked everything off the counter. The plates broke into sharp pieces, the jars fell with loud bangs, bowls spilled fruit, and silverware clanged to the floor. It was now hundred times more a mess than we had left it.

"And why the hell is there f*cking chocolate on the floor?" he pointed to the trail Aaliyah and I had left when she chased me with the waffle. "What are you, a f*cking retarded three-year-old? You eat your f*cking shit breakfast at the table, Aaliyah. You f*cking fat ass cripple." Johnathan grabbed an untouched plate from the counter and smashed it in Aaliyah's direction. I saw her flinch.

Tears clouded Aaliyah's eyes and streaked her cheeks. Her head sank downward as it heaved with heavy, silent sobs. My heart sank at that instant. I hated seeing her cry, because she never cried in front of me and Jake. She was always the strong one that helped us stay positive, and usually let everything Johnathan said bounce back off her. I felt crushed watching her cry, like all hope was lost. Like Johnathan had finally won. He could say and do whatever and we could move on with our miserable lives, but there would always be a time where he could f*cking crush us.

"Cry, bitch, cry." Johnathan knelt down and mocked Aaliyah right in her face. "Cry because you'll never be out of that f*cking wheelchair and you'll evolve into a retarded piece of shit who never learned how do anything, has fat f*cking legs that don't even work, and is bald at f*cking fourteen!"

I wanted to jump on him and beat him until he couldn't breathe. Beat him until blood clouded his vision and his throat swelled, suffocating him. I wanted him to die so he could go to f*cking hell-where he belongs. But I couldn't. I just sat there, mouth agape and mind a blank slate.

"You," he pointed to Aaliyah. "Are going to clean this f*cking mess until it's f*cking spotless."

Aaliyah gulped and nodded.

"And you," he pointed to me. "Are going to stay here and help her. And you're not going anywhere until it's clean. Don't try to pull school bullshit. School is going to wait for this room to be f*cking spotless. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, Sir." I nodded.

"Get off your asses and get to work-oh wait. I forgot that not all of us can get off our asses.." he laughed until he began to cough nonstop-probably from all the cigarettes he chain-smokes.

He left me and Aaliyah in silence to clean the glass, fruit, chocolate stains, and waffle crumbs.

----

Sorry that took so long; I took a week-long break.

Writer's block hits ya hard, man.

As always, thanks for reading. Drop a comment and vote if you want. I'm always open to criticism and questions ;)

I'll be back soon!!! Bye!!!