All The Things I've Yet to Do

Chapter Two

I walk in the house, Mango in hand and call out, “Anyone home?”

When there is no answer, I put the cage down and let him get a feel for the house. Instead of going on to explore like I thought he would, he circles around my legs, nudging me with his head.

“Looks like it’s just us for now,” I tell him, giving him a scratch on the bum.

He follows me into the kitchen, where I think of what to eat for lunch. I pull out my phone and begin to scroll through UberEats, but scoff after seeing that my $9 order has come up to over $20 after delivery and taxes. We really should have just stopped for food on the way home.

I also need to hurry up and learn to drive, because if I had a car, I could easily just run out and pick something up myself. It was now after 2pm, and my parents wouldn’t be home until around 4.

A few days ago, I had gone out and gotten all of the necessary things for my new pet, such as food and water bowls, a bed, and a litter box. I kept them in my room so that my parents wouldn’t see them and ask questions. I hop up from my spot at the kitchen table and grab them, deciding that I clearly couldn’t hide him forever. When I reach downstairs, I call Mango, who begins to trail behind me as I lead him to the basement.

I find a spot for the litter box and pour some litter into it. Then, I pick him up and place him inside. “This is where you gotta poop, okay?” I say.

Suddenly, I remember the videos I saw of cats using the toilet like a human and I make a mental note to add “potty training” to my to-do list. When that’s done, we go back upstairs, back to the kitchen, where I proceed to fling open all of the cupboards.

I groan in annoyance and retrieve my phone to type out a quick text to the group chat:

We haven’t even been home more than two weeks and you guys really left me already?

Eli is the first to reply:
Miss us already?

I think about my response before hitting send:

No, but I’m starving and I want someone to bring me food.

A few minutes pass without a reply, and I sigh. Two hours wouldn’t be so bad, right? I can wait until my parents return home with groceries.

I spend the next half an hour or so watching TV, when I hear a knock on my front door. Pausing my show, I go to open the door. When I open it, I am greeted by three smiling boys. A matching grin finds its way onto my face and I move to the side to allow them into the house.

“Hey guys!” I greet as they file into the house.

“Hey!” says a high voice. “I’m here too!”

I watch as Ariel squeezes her way through the guys. “You’re so tiny compared to them! I really didn’t see you!”

She rolls her eyes. “Story of my damn life.”

Ariel and Adrian are the youngest of five siblings, four of them being boys. When I first went over to Ariel’s house for a dinner where they were all present, I was overwhelmed by the amount of chaotic energy in the house. Even their parents share the same goofy personality that the kids had. They truly are a crazy family, but they’ve always treated me like I’m one of them. This included the older ones picking on me like I was their little sister as well.

The group walks over and finds seats in my living room. I furrow my eyebrows. “So, not like I’m not happy to see y’all… but why are you empty handed?”

Eli raises one dark eyebrow. “When did I ever say I was bringing anything?”

I whip a red throw cushion at him, which he dodges, causing it to hit Justin straight in his face.  He glares at me, and if we weren’t already friends, I would think he hated me. Justin has one of those personalities that first comes off as quiet and antisocial. The first time we hung out at school, I definitely thought he didn’t like me, but after a while, I realized that it just took him a while to get used to you.