Vander was crying as 2-year-olds do.
Mr. Milton had to go pee. Now, this was Tanika's routine.
I need to go get Vander out of his room and put him in high chair Tanika thought. Tanika was in her Thomas the Tank jammies, all through her Fortnite jammies were hung up and for an 11-year-old, she kept things tidy enough. All though, clothes were strewed about on her purple satin sheets and her dresser was a mouse. The walls had Frozen posters everywhere and Mickey and Minnie Mouse posters.
But her mom knew that she loved K-Pop. Which was vehemently odd because Tanika never had been to Korea. Her parent's had talked about it once or twice when they were together. This was her safe place. And she loved it.
"Vander damnit shut up! I am trying to get out of bed and come grab you. And all you do is wail. I swear when mom returns I am going to tell her you're a pain in my ass. But I love you cutie and will still protect you, you're so adorable." Tanika hollered.
It was only 11:30 a.m. and Tanika scooted over to her brother's room and saw he was in a fit of tears. He was in a green onesie because that is all he could be in. The rest of his clothes had either spaghetti-os or vomit and they were in the washer, but his green eyes reflected back at his big sisters and she pouted. "If you were not so dang cute, I'd have left you in a forest somewhere. Gaggaitty gitty goo, yes you are." She said. "Momma.", verbalized Vander. "No mama is away on business and I have to take care of you and Mr. Milton." Said Tanika. Tanika had a blue Disney's Frozen tank top on to compliment her jammies. She had no shoes on as she was lazy. She yawned halfway through and said, "Vander it is time for you to wake up. Oh, good gravy you smell. I am grabbing your Spidey undies from your drawer, and those vile things are going in the washer, gross. It smells like baby food and poop. Gross."
Tanika grabbed the underwear and a clean yellow shirt and changed Vander. "No, Vander you are not to take off that underwear, how many times have I told you that Van." Tanika said.
"Okay, Van we are going downstairs and making cereal for breakfast." Said Tanika. "Breakky –mama Breakky...food," Vander shouted. "Yes, Van breakfast, that is correct." Tanika. They made their way downstairs to a bombshell of a kitchen. Lavender was in the house and the wood floors accented all of the blue brick in the house. The foyer opened up and the kitchen was massive. White tiles everywhere that led to a red island kitchen. Almost all the appliances matched as Athena was a matching freak. It was all together gorgeous. But this gorgeous kitchen had suffered the wrath of an 11-year-old genius and a 2-year-old and lest we not forget Mr. Milton. Mr. Milton was again pawing at the backside door and the sun shone in. "Damn you cat I just picked up Van and you want to go outside. Okay, Mr. Milly Billy goes outside." Said Tanika. Tanika let the cat outside. "Okay Van we are eating Cocoa Crisps, and if you don't like that I can make you a small bowl of leftover whatever the hell was that I made last night. Kay? Said Tanika. Tanika went to the pantry and whipped out a large box of Cocoa Crisps. She poured it into Vans green bowl and washed it out, her strategy was militaristic and such that she knew fewer dishes meant less of yelling from mom. "Okay, Vandeeeeeeeeee-r here you go!" She displayed the green bowl now with the cereal in it. Vander seemed happy but sometimes two year –olds get restless. "Tanny , Crispx yams "said Vander. Vander was enjoying his cereal but the kitchen was a damn mess. There were corn dogs in the freezer but the kids were running low on food. Luckily there were two freezers. And also, the pantry was stuffed full of cheesy snacks, salty crackers, four tubs of peanut butter and other items. "Vander you stay in your high chair and I will watch TV. What do I need to tonight? Tanika compartmentalized everything in her head. Do some cleaning. That can wait. Do a shower. I need to do that. Play Fortnite. Do more homework. Gahhh. Really? Feed Mr. Milton and check the water. Have Larissa Klopples come over, have Drew Draver come over. Yep, a full day. Oh and listen to Coast to Coast with that guy with a mustache.
