The Closet Downstairs

The Old Man

     Literally. A castle stood in front of me in it's magnificent glory, staring down at me. I gulp, as if it were looking at me and the hideous car behind me, judging the fanatic intruders about to destroy its gorgeous halls.
     "They live in a castle?" Melissa shrieks.
     "Ya and everything you say echoes through the courtyard so shut up," I snap. Melissa folds her arms and sticks her tongue out at me.
     Tyler climbs out of the car and helps Robby down too. "You don't need to be so tart little sis."
      I glare at him. Tyler isn't even a year older than me. But he still thinks he can boss everyone around. He's so annoying!
     "How are my angels?" Mom comes around the car and pinches Robby's cheeks. Robby beams, his face glowing with embarrassment and recognition. If Mom had done that to me, I would have batted her hand away.
     "Glad to see you talking to us, Mom," I say casually. Mom gets a hurt look on her face and Tyler glares at me. I am astonished by the responses I get. I was playing around; I didn't mean to hurt anyone's feelings. I always seem to do that. I joke about something and everyone takes it so seriously. Tyler always glares at me like he's disappointed but furious at the same time. He's always trying to be like Dad when Dad's not there. I reluctantly apologize. "I didn't mean it like that. Just trying to make conversation that's all."
     Mom pulls out her makeup kit and rummages through it for awhile. She finally finds the lip stick. She smears it all over her lips. Her chin also gets a nice red streak. I gape as she misses her upper lip and creates a red mustache. You would think she'd be able to put on lip stick by now.
     "Mom you've got something...on your..." Tyler draws a circle around his lips with his finger. I roll my eyes. I turn back to the giant house at the sound of a slamming door. I watch an old man slowly come down the stairs, using his cane to pat the ground in front of him. He's blind. He stares blankly in front of him, ever so slowly coming down the stairs. I watch him, unimpressed. He lives here?
     "Hello?" The man croaks out. He sounds like a dying goat, even though I have no idea what that sounds like.
     "Hi!" My mom exclaims, almost running to the man. I slap my had to my forehead. I don't know her. She's not my mother. "My name is Gertrude McConnell. I came with my four children - we are staying over the weekend." The old man continues to nod, the grey wisps of hair left on his head bobbing up and down with his head. Mom turns her back to the man, gesturing towards us. "These are my children. Tyler is 17."
     Tyler smiles in a kind way. "Pleased to meet you sir. I hope we don't bother you while we are here."
     The old man shakes his head quickly.
     "Rhiana is 16." I look up from the dusty ground below me and smile weakly, even though he can't see me. He gives a weak raspy cough. It sounds fake. He's probably faking the whole thing. Suddenly I see my Mom nod her head to the man. I realize I haven't answered.
     "Um," I start, unsure what to say to a fake blind man. He can probably see us. He's probably thinking we are all insane. Well he's wrong about me. I clear my throat. "Rhiana. I hope the place is well kept. If not, it could probably store some servants of some kind." The man looks curiously in my direction, his eyes still blank.
     "What the heck was that?" Tyler hisses at me. I merely send him a shrug.
     "Melissa is 12." Mom continues as if I hadn't said anything.
     "I'm so excited to stay here over the weekend!" Melissa squeals.
     "I'm excited to get out of here," I lie. The man steps over to me, completely ignoring my Mom's introduction of her favorite child. He reaches out a bony hand and strokes my hair. I freeze. What does he think he's doing? I grab his wrist and push it back towards his chest. The man stumbles back a bit as if I shoved him. He starts back toward the house, using his cane, and climbs up the stairs. Mom follows the man gently taking his left arm and helping him up the stairs. Melissa takes his right arm and does the same. Robby skips up the stairs. I begin to follow, but Tyler yanks me back - hard.
     "Rhiana, you'd better control yourself." I scowl at him. "No I'm serious," he continues. "I may not be Dad, but when he's not here, I feel that looking over the family is my responsibility."
     "That's good Ty. The family needs you. Mom needs help. But, I'm not ballistic like the rest of them. I don't need any help from anyone. I'm independent." I give his shoulder a light punch. "See you in there?" With that, I jog up the stairs and into the house.
     I enter a giant room. It has nothing in it. My footsteps echo across the marble floor. I frown. Who has this big of a room and decides to put nothing in it? I mean, there's a mirror to my right, and a desk to my left with an old candlestick on it. But other than that, there was nothing. I look up and see my family helping the man up the marble staircase. It is a gorgeous staircase. The railing is made of gold, or so it seems and the stairs are marble too. I pretend it is made of ugly stone.
     I catch up to the group. No one turns to look up. So, I walk to the front of the group and turn to face them, walking backwards down the hall.
    "Just tell me where my room is and I'll be out of your way," I tell the old man. He nods and lifts another bony hand. I look to where he's pointing and find it's the second room down the hall. I walk quickly down the hallway, into the room, and slam the door.
     Mom said I wouldn't be needing to bring anything because Aunt Frieda had everything. Judging by the front room, I was glad I brought a few things. I had my I-pod, a bag of trail mix, and a pocket knife in my back pocket. You never know when you might need one, my Dad always says. I look around the room I'm in. There is a small twin sized bed in the back of the room and a long mirror hanging from the wall right behind the door. My footsteps echo off the walls again. Does she own anything? I slump down on the bed. Ooh this is a comfortable bed. I stretch myself out and my head finds the pillow. I'm gone before I can think how comfortable the pillow is.