Latter Days

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

          "Um. Four boys and... four girls?"

          "No. Oh my goodness, I told you this just this morning in line for our schedules. It literally hasn't even been two hours!"

          "Well jeez! You expect me to retain everything you've ever told me about your life? It's not my fault you have 47 family members you've asked me to keep track of."

          "Alright, well first off, I haven't told you that much. I told you I was from Nebraska, and that I was home schooled until now. And second, I have eight siblings, not anywhere near 47. Third, it's SIX girls and TWO boys. Just remember, there's eight of them total, and the boys are twins."

          "Why should I remember these details...?"

          "Well what if one day I want you to meet my family? I don't want you going in totally ignorant to what you're getting yourself into."

          Jack and I were in art class, drawing pictures of our hands. Our teacher, Mrs. Jolly, had specifically told us to not trace our hands, but to lay our hands on the table so we could notice and appreciate the curves and shadows and really draw them. She was always a strange one, but her class was always an easy one, as she didn't grade anything. She didn't feel art should be graded because 'it is a reflection of one's mind'. I can't say I agreed with her, but I wasn't going to say anything. While we 'drew', Jack passed the time by quizzing me on his family. I'll give him this: we had officially known each other for less than two hours, and he definitely had no problem sharing his whole life. 

          "When and if that day ever comes, I will study up on your siblings beforehand so that I don't screw up my chances at making an awesome first impression," I said. I added as an afterthought, "Also, remind me not to curse in front of them."

          Jack chuckled. "I will. Your hand looks really good, by the way." I frowned down at my sheet of paper

          "Are you kidding? This sucks. I wonder if she'd notice if I just traced it instead. It's not like she's gonna take points off--"

          "You're very hard on yourself, aren't you?" he asked me innocently. 

          I thought about that. "Huh. Yeah, I guess I am. But I always have been, ever since I was little. It had always just been my mom, my dad and I, and when my dad left when I was six, my mom just took everything out on me. She made me feel hopeless, so I guess I just started to feel like I really was." It was then that I realized that I, too, was sharing too much with Jack. It may have been in his nature to feel like he had to share everything about himself with everyone around him, but it wasn't in mine.

          "That's terrible. Your mom was wrong to do that to you. It wasn't your fault, your dad leaving. It was a part of God's plan that just didn't work out."

          "Yeah. I guess. I don't really talk to my mom anymore, to be honest. It's no big deal. I'm not seeking approval from anyone." This conversation was getting real awkward, real fast, so I had to divert Jack's attention. "Hey, how old are your siblings?" I felt much more comfortable listening to him talk about himself, than the other way around. 

          He seemed to perk up when I asked. "Well I'm eighteen. I don't think I got the chance to tell you that earlier, but yeah. Kelsey's sixteen; she's a sophomore here at Hemlock. I wonder how her first day is going...." He seemed to catch himself rambling again, and continued, "Anyway, Sarah's fourteen, and she's in eighth grade. She and Annie, who's twelve, both go to Hillside Middle School. Annie's in sixth grade there. Cassie is ten and in fourth grade, Kim is eight and in second grade, Natalie is six and in first grade, and all three of them go to Lincoln Elementary."