Look Up At The Sky

Chapter 4

Mmh, food. I opened my eyes, looking up on the sofa not seeing Lilly. A bit of panic had started taken form but it was gone just as fast as it had come. Walking in to the kitchen I saw Lilly sitting with a bowl of what looked like cereals with Pete in front of her. She was laughing.

I missed hearing her laugh. They soon noticed I was there and Lilly came running towards me with the biggest smile on her face. She took my hand, dragging me to the kitchen table. She was really happy now. Lilly started pouring cereal in to a bowl – she loves it - I guess I'm having cereal for breakfast. I thought smiling.

We ate in peace, talking a lot, laughing a lot. Just having a good time really. I was so glad that we got this time to just be us. The fact that I didn't have school today didn't make anything worse either.

“I have to pee.” Lilly said, out of nowhere looking at me. Before I had the chance to answer Pete said. 

“The bathroom is the door on the left, remember?” he asked her. She nodded and left. I looked at him, wondering what just had happened. “She woke up needing to go, I didn't want to wake you so I help her. You don't mind do you?” He then added. 

“What? No, be my guest. Thank you.” 

“It's nice having some company. It get's quite lonely here sometimes.” He said. It was quite, not an awkward silence but a pleasant one. It's nice. 

“My dad took care of us the first year. But then on the one year anniversary, something changed. He started drinking more and I had to take care of us. I was twelve by then.” I said out of no where. 'Pete' looked a bit taken a back, not prepared for what I had just said.

“I've been thinking.” He said, looking at me. I gave him a sign to keep going. “You've had to grow up really fast and.. Maybe you should think of..” He stopped.

“Think of what?” I asked, almost knowing what he was about to say.

“Your dad's a alcoholic.” He said carefully. “He needs help. He needs to take care of you and your sister, not the other way around. You need to think about Lilly. She..”

“He's tried. He's been to AA meetings and in for rehab. He just can't do it, okey? He's been through a lot and he knows he..” I cut him off, starting to feel a little irritated with him. He didn't know everything about me or my family. Who was he telling me anything about this. 

“Do you think what I do is easy? I have tried getting him sober. I've hidden money from him so he couldn't buy alcohol but his as called friends buys it for him. They're just as irresponsible as he is, but I can't exactly tell him not to see them can I? I'm not his mom. I'm not in charge of him. I've tried to get him in to rehab more than once but even the employers there can't deal with him. They kicked him out because they thought he's too much work. We can't afford getting him in to a big, fancy, amazing rehabilitation centre. We just don't have the money.” I said, noticing my voice getting louder. 

“I've never said it was easy. I can help you. All of you. The point isn't wether I think you've tried helping him get sober or not. The point is that you shouldn't have the responsibility to do it. Like you told me last night. You take care of him and you sister. Cooking food, fixing and cleaning around the house, working two jobs, dealing with your economy and still going to school full time, remaining good grades. You have been since you were twelve. You've taken care of them for so long, but who's been taken care of you? Isn't it about time someone did?” He said, dead serious. Lilly was now back from the bathroom.

“Lilly, can you go into the living room and watch some TV?” I asked her “I'm just talking to 'Pete' for a bit. It's okey, I'll join you in a few minutes.” I said reassuring and she went. I waited to talk until I could hear the TV, making sure she couldn't hear us.