Becoming A Queen

Home

I comb Patrick's wild red hair. I still couldn't believe how bluntly Irish this boy was. With his bushy red hair and freckles that covered his pale skin head to toe. I truly hope this is the last of Dianes careless encounters of unprotected sex with men. How sad, that at twelve years old I already knew more about the desires of the flesh than my clueless peers.

"I have no idea how I'm ever going to get into a good college." Jet sighed, staring hopelessly at his algebra textbook.

Kayla grins, "Well it's not like you're stupid. Plus we're poor as heck so say hello to those scholarships!"

"You've got the best shot out of all of us," Penny smiles, "You'll do great in law school."

As they continue talking I glance at the clock. It was well past one a.m. Diane nor Leon have made it home. I couldn't give two shits about my birthgiver being late but Leon always made it home at a decent hour. But tonight I was exceptionally stressed, wondering what on earth could be holding him up so late. He said he's been out looking for a part time job but the shifting of his body weight from one foot to the next and how he never held my eyes for more than a few seconds worried me. My older brother and I have always been close. For him to keep secrets deeply pains me. Could Leon have a girlfriend? He is, after all, fifteen. Plus I knew my brother was handsome with his bouncing blonde curls and caramel brown eyes. I saw how girls much older than him would stare. Even a few men.

But why would Leon keep a girl secret? Could he be embarrassed of his poor family? Or his drug using mother? Or maybe he just wanted something that was his.

Regardless of his reasoning for being out so late, I needed to get the kids to bed. It was a weekend but Derek and Patrick are always difficult to put down. And I can't have Jet, at ten, developing any bad sleeping habits. Penny is the first to move though, making her way up stairs to brush her teeth.

50 minutes later with no one showing up home yet Kayla and I lay under the thin blanket we share on the futon. Leon sleeps with us most nights, saying the little kids are too restless upstairs and in case someone tries breaking in he's the first thing they meet.

"Where's Leon? Do you think he's okay?"

I bit my lip, "He's huge, Kayla. He can handle himself. He'll be fine. He's fine. He's coming home tonight. He might've landed a job and he could be working overtime." I try to believe my words. I really do but in my heart I know something is up.