Death by a father

Cristian

   Cristian was sure that it wasn't a dream and that Carmen was lying to him. How unfair! They had promised never to lie to each other after the whole Thanksgiving pie incident. But, maybe she was right. Maybe it was all just a bad dream. Cristian had woken up at his normal time, not really late, like he would have if he was up until four in the morning.

    Cristian had been really really mad at his sister, but now he wasn't as angry and decided that he should go talk to her. But, Cristian knew that she had to blow off some steam first. It would do no use to try and talk to Carmen right now.

   Cristian waited. He could hear Carmen's music. She was listening to 96,00 from In The Heights. It was very loud, so Cristian knew that she was blowing off steam by punching something. Carmen was very good at fighting. She could beat their older brother, who is 17. When she wrestles their younger brother, she lets him win and goes for Cristian when the do team wrestling, Cristian and Adam against Tallulah and Carmen. Cristian asked her how she knew all this and she just shrugged and said, "I don't know, I just can" It didn't help and Cristian wanted answers.

   Cristian walked down the hall to the kitchen where he found his sister reylina was in the freezer, pulling out a tub of ice cream. She had a spoon in her hand. Cristian would have felt very happy for himself, but he felt bad for being mad at Carmen. Carmen was probably right. He probably had just had a bad dream. Those had been happening a lot more often. 

   "Cristian!" Reylina wispered.

   "What?" Cristian responded

   "If you don't tell anyone, I will pay you ten dollars"

   "Tell someone about what?"

   "The ice cream. I need it. It is a healing food. I am really stressed and the ice cream is really helping."

   "Okay, I won't tell anyone, but you need to pay me know. Or as soon as possible. If I don't have the money by the end of the day, I will tell mom tomorrow."

   "Okay. Deal"

   "Okay."

   Mom had been wondering why every day there was a little less ice cream. Cristian now knew that Reylina was eating it. And that Reylina was stressed. Reylina has never been stressed before, and Cristian thought that it was odd, seeing her like this. Reylina turned and said, "Cristian, I know that you have to tell Carmen everything, so you can tell her. Just don't tell her that I am giving you money. But, I trust that Carmen will not tell anyone about how stressed I am and how the ice cream is disappearing."

   "Okay"

   Cristian went to the drawer where the silverware was and grabbed a spoon. He then grabbed a spoonful of ice cream and ate ti. When he finished, he went back upstairs to see if Carmen was ready to talk. Her music was softer. You could hear what was being said when you were going up the stairs, but not when you were in the kitchen. Cristian assumed that she wasn't ready and decided to see if Ryan wanted to play pool.

   Cristian went downstairs and knocked on Ryan's door. Ryan opened the door and said, "I don't know why you are here, but if you aren't busy, do you want to play a game of pool. I could use a break from schoolwork."

   "I came down here to see if you wanted to play some pool. Carmen isn't in a mood." Cristian explained.

   "Wow. Great minds think alike."

   "Yeah. But do you have any idea why Carmen is so upset, was it something I did?"

  "Did you do something that would upset her?"

   "I don't know, she can be hard to talk to, or understand"

   "Or even read."

   They started laughing. Cristian thought that it was a good thing that they were able to laugh. Cristian knew that he really needed it and Ryan looked like he had really needed it.

   "Wait, what if she heard us?"

   "I doubt it. Thanks, by the way. I needed a good laugh. Online learning is so stressful."

   "Yeah."

   "Oh!"

   "What? Do you know why Carmen is so mad?"

   "No, but I think I do."