broken wings

chpt. 1

I was 9 years old when my dad Carlos first left my mom, I didn't quite understand why things were the way they were. I wanted to grow up and have the things my parents had, but it seemed like they weren't happy anymore. I tried getting a job, but my oldest brother Justin didn' t want that to happen, mainly because he wanted to help out, knowing that he would have to take the position of being the man of the house. I didn' t understand why he was being so hard on me, in just a couple of months he would be heading to college soon all on his own. For my mom, I couldn't see how she did it. Around us she's this eager woman, and late hours at night I would hear her crying. I would go in and check on her, but she would always tell me that everything was fine, but deep down I knew something was bothering her.
I didn't quite introduce myself, but my name is Kehaulani, but some of my friends call me kay. I'm a junior in high school, and I'm 16 years old, thanks to my beautiful mother Tameara. Ever since the whole incident where I got my head stuck between the swingset when I was little, my brother has been calling me square ever since then. I was devastated, I thought I was gonna die, but that was just little ole me exaggerating. The only way we could get my head through, was by taking every single bow from my head.

I laugh every time I think about it. It's nice to know that I have a brother like Justin, because even though he works my last nerves, he would take the time out of his day just to make sure that I'm straight. We were all we got at the end of the day, plus my mom wanted no more kids. "Two were enough" she would say.

I was just now getting up at 6:30 in the morning, all i wanted to do was crawl back into my bed, but i know if i do that Justin is gonna come right in here parading about being in school on time. I grabbed my towel from my dresser and headed straight for the shower.
[30 minutes]

I rummaged through my clothes in my closet, deciding on what to wear. So I decided on simple jeans, a black top, and some converse shoes. I put my hair into a high bun, because I never feel like doing my hair, but don't get me wrong just because I have a simple hairstyle, doesn't mean you would ever catch me tacky. I grabbed my books from my nightstand, turned the lights off and closed the door.

I jogged down the stairs, stopping in the kitchen to see my mom standing by the stove. "Goodmorning baby" she said as I walked into the kitchen.

" hey mama"
" hey mama?" She asked if I wasn't correct "goodmorning mother"
" that's better, here's your breakfast, you better start eating before your brother comes in ringing my ear off about you being on time"

" He practically does that everyday, even when we're not going anywhere" I said.
" Well that's your brother" she said.

"you gave birth to him, he's all yours ma" she chuckled.

"speaking of the devil'' I mumbled as Justin made his way into the kitchen. He looked nice, that's one thing we didn't have to worry about when it came to dressing him presentable.

" hey mama" he kissed her on the cheek
" hey son" he looked around.
" where's my breakfast woman? You know your son has to eat too right, you don't want me to die of starvation do you?" He leaned over dramatically as if he was falling over.

"Oh boy hush, check the microwave" and sure enough there was a plate right there waiting for him. I was finally done with my food, I grabbed a glass out of the cabinet and poured me a glass of orange juice.

As I was pouring, Justin annoyingly cleared his throat.
" you were thinking of me, go ahead and pour me a glass, why don't you"

" and just why would I do that?" I asked.
" because you love me duh" he got me on that one
" you're lucky I do love you, or else you wouldn't get nothing from me".