Billie Jean [h.s]

1

Saturday
Billie Jean

Saturday mornings at the Browns' house consisted of cartoons and pancakes on the velvet orange shag carpet. Cartoons only stationed on Saturday mornings and I didn't want to miss an episode. I get that I'm seventeen and like Tony screamed, " I'm too old" but it was comforting.

I rubbed my yellow, chipped finger nail polished finger tips through the soft shag carpet watching the black and white visuals running across the television screen. Daddy didn't have enough money to get a colored screen, but black and white will do.

I jabbed my fork into my soft pancakes, smiling at the sweet maple syrup filling the air. I placed the candy-coated cushion on to my tongue, shutting my eyes in delight. One thing I loved about mama's cooking is that she could put her soul into anything she made. Every bite was a sweet kiss from her.

Mama went off to work early this morning while daddy was sleeping from his night shift at the factory. Leaving Tony and I to do the chores, but when I say Tony and I, I mean me.

Tony always forces me to do everything while he's being a casanova with his friends. Always at the park's parking lot with people like us. Being in the girls faces and smoking cigarettes. I tried smoking once with my best friend Robin and Tony caught me in the mist. He smacked me so hard I lost my hearing for a week. He didn't tell mama because unlike me, he wasn't no snitch. Tony could be cruel, but who big brother wasn't. I know he loves me, he just gotta funny way of showing it.

Like when I broke the mama's favorite glass vase when I was thirteen and he took the fall for it or when someone bullied me and he'd fight them for me. Even though Tony was just a year older, he still was overprotective of me and sometimes I believe that's the reason a boy doesn't like me for long. No one could satisfy Tony.

Not even my brother's best friend, Keith Powers, geez he was so dreamy. I always had a small crush on him, but what's a crush when you're really not suppose to have a boyfriend. If anyone thought my brother was strict, they should meet my daddy.

The sound of tapping knocked me from my train of thought. I looked down at the carpet to see where it was coming from. I was staring at a pair of worn out white socks. My eyes gazed up a pair of denim jeans and finally seeing my brother towering over me.

"You're in the way Tony." I groaned rolling my eyes as he stood in front of the screen.

" Do me a solid and get out the house. Here's a few bucks to go by you a soda or something." Tony sighs pulling something from his back pocket.

" Hmm, being nice all of a sudden I see." I state in a matter of fact tone as he rolls his eyes.

" Don't make me regret it Billie Jean." he warns handing over the dollars as I snatched it from with a laugh.

"Do I pay you back?" I asked trying to see if this was just a trick. It's always some trick to his madness, he's never this kind. Especially when it comes to his hard earned cash from cutting grass or cleaning out gutters.

"No, just because." Tony sighs shrugging his shoulders as I stand to my feet.

"Mhmm." I hum still not convinced that this was just a sweet offer.

I took my plate into the kitchen, scraping the left overs in the trash and then dipping the utensil and plate into the sink hoping Tony takes the kitchen to clean. I rinsed my hands from the sticky substance of syrup and then ran up the stairs to my room, to change into some better clothes.