Unemployed Hearts

Chapter 6

May 28, 2012
Summer Town Fair
How I met the real Brandon Grates?

We are driven by five genetic needs: survival, love and belonging, power, freedom, and FUN.

Billy, Brandon and I were being driven by the fifth genetic need.
We were in a country fair, not very far from dad’s clinic. Brandon was at the counter to get the tickets.
It was huge. When I first saw it from the entrance, I saw nothing but heaven. I stood still with my mouth open and eyes gaping in one direction. Children and youngsters were roaming everyone, and many of them had cute teddies with them. Sugar candies and ice creams where everywhere.
“I don’t believe this! Billy, why didn’t you bring me here earlier?” I asked, still flabbergasted with its magnificence.
“I didn’t even know about this place. It was brad’s idea.” Billy said, equally impressed with the fair’s beauty.
“Brad?” I shook my head at Billy in disbelieve. “Now you have a nickname for him. Wow! Why don’t you just call him babe or something?” I still couldn’t digest the fact how close Brandon and Billy were getting. He was MY brother for heavens sake, why couldn’t he just act like that.
“Don’t be so jealous! I won’t steal him from you. You still live with him and don’t forget I’m straight.” Billy said with a hint of mischief in his eyes and a smirk on his face. “Remember Mary Jane.”
“Ohh! Shut your stupid mouth. And yeah I know her very well. If I remember correctly, I was the one who called up her mom to allow her to attend your birthday, which was again organized by whom? Me!” I was again annoyed. Why did everyone in my family keep teasing me about Brandon? I was just helping that poor guy.
“I know that and believe me sister, I love you for that. But I really like Brandon too. He is just so cool. He’s like the brother I always wanted.” A few days ago dad said the very same thing- he’s like the son I’ve always wanted. I really had to yowl in everyone’s head that few weeks ago this guy was willing to end his life and he was the reason behind thousands of unemployed people. What a great example, isn’t he? Sense the sarcasm please.
“I never had a clue how much you people love me.” Brandon said. He handed us the tickets.

“Not me! It’s just that little creep over there.” I spat in annoyance.

He stood there beaming. “Billy, please don’t mind but your sister is a real entertainment. I just love infuriating her.” I shook my head in disgust at him. What kind of man liked irritating other people, causing them pain? And out of everyone he was doing all this to me?
“Look at her eyes. How mad they look?” Brandon said. B&B high fived.

I turned away from those fools and promised myself to totally ignore them.
I walked faster to get away from them. I really needed help. Ever since Brandon moved in with me, I was losing my temper even at the slightest of all things. I knew it was all because of him and his odd ways.
It was already evening and we had just arrived there. My main objective was to have as much fun as I could have without wasting even a single second.
I saw a shooting stall and went there. My aim was never good but even that couldn’t stop me from having fun.
I joined the queue. After a minute or two I saw B&B also joined me. (Brandon and Billy were getting inseparable day by day so I started referring to them as B&B)

“Don’t tell me you’re gonna do this?!” Billy yelped at the sight of me holding the toy gun.
“Why? Is she that bad?” ‘Brad’ was confused.
“Well, I would say let’s go somewhere else for the time being.” Billy started pulling Brandon with his arm but Brandon resisted. Though I had promised to totally ignore the B&B, I could still hear them and see them from the corner of my eyes.
“Wait. Let’s see this one.” Brandon said and stood with his arms folded near his chest.

I focused at the center point and tried to keep my hand steady. The aim was at Mickey mouse’s nose. I always loved Mickey I couldn’t shoot him. But if I didn’t do it then Brandon would have started teasing me with a whole new thing- that I was in love with Mickey mouse, which was certainly true.
I had to do this. ‘Imagine it is Aunt Jolene in front of you and shoot.’ I told to myself.
I pulled the trigger of the toy gun and opened my one eye to peep. I saw my shot had worked on the shopkeeper’s forehead that seemed to be boiling with anger.
Billy, Brandon and various other people burst into howls of laughter. This added to the list of events when I publically embarrassed myself.
“Is something wrong with your eyes?! You have to keep them open, you freak.” That bald man started yelling at me. Initially I thought only blondes had a problem with me but now even bald heads couldn’t stand me.