Family

Chapter 4

Day 10

Jesse POV

It's been a couple days since the girls got their beds and all we have heard is complaining. Faith wants top bunk because Zoey always falls over but Zoey wants top bunk because it's cooler.

Fighting..

That's all it's been for 5 days.

I praise my parents for raising 3 kids. I don't know how the hell they did it. I'm actually writing to my parents right now telling them all about my struggles. In a bout 10 minutes, against my better judgement, I'm going to leave Keeley alone with the girls so I can send out the letter.

"Dear mother and father,

        I love you so much you have no idea. This is fuckin hell I tell you. I am so sorry that I ever fought with my siblings over what I know now is stupid and irrelevant. I'm so sorry you ever had to drive to the school because u punched some guy or fought with the teacher. I know what you went through when us kids were younger now and I regret not knowing this would happen sooner. I regret not knowing how many headaches I caused you. Zoey and Faith will not stop fighting. The best part of my day now is when I put noise cancelling headphones on. The absoulte joy in my day is walking out the door for work. The weekends is going to be hell though since Faith has no school and Keeley doesn't work. I have a big feeling some crazy shit is going to go down this weekend.

                                    Love your very sorry son"

All my feelings on one piece of paper and ready for sending. In the living room I can hear the sound of the vacuum and fighting again. I know I'm not supposed to raise my voice at the girls but this is getting ridiculous.

I walk into the living room to see my beautiful girlfriend/wife with headphones on and a vacuum in hand. She is living the dream. I go over and put my hands on her waist. Taking off her headphones moan in her ear. She laughs and runs her fingers through my hair. I love that feeling. "You're going to hate me baby." I say to her gently. She gets a suspicious look on her face like she already know what I'm about to say. She turns the vacuum off and crosses her arms like she does best.

"Why do I have the feeling that you're going to leave me all alone with 2 screaming children?" She says leaning on her left hip. She knows that she looks more intimidating that way. "That's because you darling have a fantastic instinct. I have to go to the office and I will be back in 10 minutes. You can even time me." As I say this I slowly back away and run out the door.

Next door is Kat and Bailey fighting on the porch. God when do people learn fighting solves nothing. I should know, I've had to listen to it for the last 5 days. I walk toward the next door over and I pass Dr. Bowan on the way. I wave and think 'you have no idea what I'm going through but have a nice day trying to imagine'.

On Bailey's porch window I can see Simon staring at the fighting couple like it is the most amazing hit television show in history. I wave my hand telling him to go play and put my hands up between the 2 girls.

"Hey stop it! I've had to listen to fighting girls for 5 whole freaking days. I do not need my neighbors fighting too. Now what ever this may be talk about it. If not then go on pretending nothing happened until you can because that little boy does not need to see what I have seen way too much in my own home. It will traumatize the poor boy." I take a deep breath and put my hand over my heart. God bless these stupid teenagers and I.

"What the hell happened to you? You sound like someone so experienced." Bailey says. She doesn't know the half of it. "You know what I am experienced. I know now why to never get children bunk beds. It is better to let them have the same gravitational pull. It's better to have both kids on the same page because if not all hell breaks loose. My wife/girlfriend is over there right now probably going crazy listening to a 4 year old and a 12 year old bash it out in verbal abuse toward each other. My pain level in my head is off the charts because I can't get a break. Take the peace and quiet when you can." I lash out again. I didn't mean to but God does it feel good.