Being a Gallgher isn't easy, especially not for Ian's twin Alyssa Gallagher who lives on the southside with her many sibling and alcoholic father who drops in and out whenever he pleases.
Then there's the emotionless asshole who Alyssa just can't s...
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I stared at the backs of Fiona, Carl and Debbie's heads as they sat at the table in front of us, I then glanced to the right to see Frank at another table on his own, fingers laced as he stared up at the judge.
Fiona was trying to get custody of us today but Frank was strangely good at manipulating situations. And for some reason, he was trying extra hard to keep us as his own.
Judge Aufseeser, looked down at my siblings beside Fiona, "Your brother Ian testified about your father's months-long absence," he stated and I quickly looked at Ian at my side, "Did his disappearance make you sad?" he asked Carl.
"I don't know," Carl shrugged. "Were you glad when he came back?" Judge Aufseeser questioned, tilting his round head. "He got me into camp," Carl told him. "Camp?"
"My first time," Carl added, the judge smiled. "Have a good time at camp?" I saw Carl nod, "Yeah!" I looked over at Frank who was smiling at Carl. Aufseeser sighed, "Happy when he came back?"
"I guess," Carl nodded again. The judge turned his gaze to Debbie, "What about you, Deborah?" he asked, "Were you glad when your father came back?"
"I was glad he wasn't dead," Debbie said quietly. "You miss him while he was gone?" Aufseeser inquired, I glanced at Frank who was watching Debbie with hopeful eyes.
"Uh, very much," Debs answered. The judge smiled softly, "Did he get you into camp?" Debbie shook her head, "I spent the summer at the pool, daddy helped me learn," she informed.
"How to swim?" Debbie shrugged slightly, "Sort of...it was a hard summer," she told the judge, "Wouldn't have made it through without him, Fiona helped me too," she explained.
Judge Aufseeser nodded and turned to Frank, "Mr Gallagher, you have very special children," he told our father. "That's why I had to leave, your honour," Frank threw his arms up and the judge's brow furrowed.
"I couldn't stand to see them live through my battles with addiction any longer," Frank bowed his head as he lied, "It was my fight...not theirs." The judge frowned at Frank, "So you left?" he pressed.
"To get help!" Frank urged dramatically, "Sometimes the hardest part is admitting you need it and I didn't wanna come home until I was clean and sober," Frank sighed, "A father they could be proud of."
"It isn't easy," Frank continued and reached into his pocket, "But every day I still have one of these is a good day," he held up an AA chip that I could guess was most likely stolen.
Frank couldn't stomach going to AA unless money was involved.
"You're not buying this are you?" Fiona asked the judge, trying to suppress the scoff that she wanted to let out. "Miss Gallagher..." Fiona sat forward, "Have you seen his record?" she questioned.
