The Trials and Tribulations of a so-called Trouble Teen

Chapter 8 - Semi-Automatic Lonely Boy

Wait, what time is it? 6am? I want to sleep but I can't seem to get anymore. I've a really bad eczema flair up and I can't stop itching. Argh! There's also a few pages of my homework that I somehow missed. Fuck it, I'll get up. My dad will be up soon, actually everyone will be up soon, but my dad is often the first one up. Hey, wouldn't it be nice to make pancakes for everyone? I have a lot of time to kill before school anyway, why not?

//

G: [walks into kitchen] Good mor- Evin? Wait, why are you... awake?

E: [sips mocha] I'm hungry.

G: What are you drinking?

E: Mocha.

G: [sighs] Hija, you know that - never mind. Why is your arm covered in plasters?

E: Because I'm itchy.

G: Where's your cream?

E: I don't know.

G: [walks to cupboard and takes out] Show me your arm.

E: What if I don't want to?

G: Evin - I'm not taking any nonsense from you. Now, show me your arm so I can put the itchy stopper on.

E: [walks away]

G: Evin! [redirects into kitchen] Why don't you want me to put it on? [looks at arm] Were you biting?

E: Yeah... but I have no memory of it.

G: [hugs] You're just feeling nervous, I know what it's like. [rubs hair] Did you have any nightmares last night?

E: No, I... [unintelligble Portuguese]

G: Why don't we sit down, get this cream on and then have your pancakes. Would you like that?

E: I would.

G: Let's go then.

I did in fact have a nightmare last night. My mother had come back and she was being really mean and aggressive. She grabbed my dad, called him all sorts of names, told him that his parenting was wrong, and beat him to the point he was bleeding. Seeing my dad hurt makes me feel so sick. I just want him to be happy and safe, especially because he's the only parent who bothered to take care of Val and me.

G: I won't lie Evin, you make a good pancake. How'd you learn to perfect them so much?

E: I had my food tech final on a healthy breakfast, so I learned.

G: That's the assignment you got really high in, isn't it?

E: Yeah.

G: I can definitely see why.

E: ¿Papá?

G: Yes, my darling?

E: What do you, you know, do in the mornings anyway?

G: Well, I'd grab some coffee and toast, start some work, get you ready, bring you to school and then I'd go to the office. Why? What has you asking?

E: I never really know what you're up to. [stims] And I don't think it's fair that you know what I'm doing but I don't know what you're doing.

G: You already know what I'm doing all the time - working and regretting being a CEO. I don't trust anyone else though.

E: Can I still come by later?

G: Of course, you can! I'm going home about half 2 so I'm home for Val.

E: Can you give me a lift later on so I can meet up with Maya at a quarter to 4?