He placed a white bag on the counter.
"Open it."
"Gray. What is this?"
"The basics of the modern world. You have a new iPhone 8 and case, MacBook Air, and an iPad mini. Just a few things that will keep you in touch with me and your folks and my family and friends."
"You didn't need to do this for me, Grayson."
"Too bad. You needed a phone so that you could call me in an emergency. This helps you keep in touch with the outside world. It's not like I'm keeping you here as a hostage."
"You didn't want this either, did you?"
"Who would? I mean, I could see how we'd become friends but this is not what I imagined my life being."
"My mom threatened me the other night when she told me. If I were to leave you or anything like that, she'd kill me because then the money would stop flowing into her house."
"Damn that's cold."
"Tell me about it. I walked out and biked around town until almost 11 so I could get away from her."
"Was growing up really that bad?"
"My younger siblings have it easy. I did everything in that house to prevent anything from happening to them. So when Ma And Pop would go out drinking, and come home ready to start a fight, I would lock my siblings in a large closet and take the beating. When it was over, I'd crawl over to the closet and let them out."
"You'd do that much to save them?"
"I'd die before anyone got it to hurt them."
There was a knock on the door.
"Who is it?" He yelled.
"Family." Yelled a familiar voice. Mikey. My brother.
"Let him in. It's my siblings."
Gray went to the door and opened it up. In came Mikey, Lizzy, and Allison, all dressed like they were going to a funeral.
"Who died? Oma? Opa? Tante? Onkel?" Me.
"No one, schwester. We just wanted to see you." Mikey.
"Then what's with the suit? And the pretty black dresses?" Me
"Got roped into going to service with Tomas and his familie." Allison
"What language are you all speaking?" Grayson seemed lost.
"We're German. Our grosseltern are from Deutschland and have had a huge impact on us." Mikey.
"He means our grandparents and Germany. We refer to our family in German. Our mom never lets us go see them anymore." Lizzy
"We get to next weekend. They have a cruise to go on." Allison
"And that's exactly the reason we were poor for so long. They should never have had kids." Me
"You're right. It's honestly bullshit." Mikey
"So Mutter and Vater are going on a cruise and leaving you three with Oma and Opa. Lucky ducks." Me
"Oh, der Gott no. Oma makes us eat that horrible snitchel, remember? And Opa is always reading die Deutsche Zeitung. We never go do anything." Lizzy
"But Oma always takes you shopping. Ask her to buy you a go phone and then pay it off your selves. I mean, Mikey, you work at the diner. That's good money. Use the cash, get an account with the bank and get a debt card and use that to pay it off." Me
"Mutter demands I start forking over half of my savings every month. It's not fair. Honestly." Lizzy
"One day, Karma is gonna come knocking on her door and knock her the Hell out. Der Gott isn't gonna know what to do." Me
"Damn right." Allison
"So what did you guys need?" Me
"Just needed to be sure you're okay. Jem was bragging about finding and beating the shit outta you. You look like Hell." Mikey
"That's what I told her." Grayson
"And Mutter sends a message. We were shook when we found out." Mikey
"What? Did Vater die? Did she get poisoned?"
"Worse. Pregnant." Lizzy
"That dumb bitch. Of course she would find away to make herself look good." Me
"Figured you'd hear t better from us then her. She's coming to tell you tomorrow." Allison
"She's not. If she wants to speak to me, she can write a letter. I don't want to see or hear from here again. And when that babies born I'll be sure to put her and Vater in a home." Me
"Then who's gonna take us kids?" Mikey
"Well, let's see. They'll be in a home which means I can get my own place and take the four of you in. But I have to file several charges against her first." Me
"What forty five year old, alcoholic bitch gets her self pregnant and still drink and do drugs?" Mikey.
"Perfect." I smile at my siblings. "You are an evil Genie, Mikey. You truly are a piece of work. And my younger schwesters are perfect as well."
We all smile at each other.
"Do you guys want something to eat? Drink? We can go down to Tony's and get free food."
"Nah, we need to get going. But it was great to see you, schwester."Lizzy
"Come back and see me again."
"We will." Mikey hugs me, and then Allison and Lizzy.
They leave and Gray looks at me.
"So your siblings seem cool."
"They are honestly. I feel bad for the new baby though. It's gonna have one shitty mother and an asshole of a father."
"Could you teach me German?"
"Sure. I mean it's easy."
Hey hope you guys are enjoying this story. Please also check out my other story By the Nights Wings and I'll work on His Keeper sometime this week. I like the way this story is turning out. Don't forget to vote and comment.
XOXO,
Lilith
