another gallagher

chapter 13

when we get to sheila's we see lip sitting on the steps smoking a cigarette. "hey you guys ok?" lip ask us and i shake my head no "there was a shooting, mickey and kash" ian tells lip "holy shit mickey shot kash" lip says "kash shot mickey" i tell lip "what?" lip says confused and i grab the cigarette from him "in the leg hes fine, we just wanted to get out of there before the cops showed up" i tell him "whats going on with mom?" ian asks lip "well you know how dads a total fucking asshole" lip asks "yeah" me and ian both say back "well turns out hes a good one" lip says "the fuck does that mean?" i ask "let's go inside and you guys can see what im talking about" lip tells ian and I trowing his cig to the side standing up. i look at ian who shakes his  head and rises to his feet, i follow my brothers and we head into the house

as soon as we open the door and walk in, all i hear is monica yelling "ugh i can't believe you sucked me back in here for money" monica says to frank "i did no such thing, but since your in town why don't you sign up for this little things and ill cut you in" frank says "fuck you frank" monica says sitting down on sheila's couch. "wait you brought her back here" lip asks "you.. you knew where she was the whole time" lip says his voice sounding hurt so i walk up behind him and grab his hand. "oh isabelle" monica says to me and i dont say anything back just pull lip to stand by ian who was still by the door "ok this little reunion was bound to happen sooner or later, anyway. we were thinking about coming around to talk to you" some lady says "whos that?" i ask lip and ian "thats moms girlfriend" ian tells me. "no no, not now" monica says to her "yes now, we wanna take liam to live with us" monica's girlfriend says to us "what" fiona gets up saying "over my dead body" frank tells monica and her girlfriend "who the fuck you think you are?" i yell at this lady saying she wants to take my little brother stepping towards her "you better watch your mouth girl" she tells me coming closer "bob stop" monica yells and now i know this bitches name. Bob rolls her eyes at me and looks back at frank "how about Moni sign whatever the hell it is you need, and we get liam"  says to frank "done" frank tells her sitting back down "no fucking way you can't have liam" fiona tells them "why the hell not, he isnt even franks" monica says back "fact is liam is black, all you white folks scooping up black babies "scooping up?" i say "yes, like fashion accessories have a rude awakening coming. There will be a backlash if people dont stop underestimating the cultural importance of a black parent raising a black baby. liam needs me and hes coming with us" bob says "no out of the fucking question roberta" lip tells her and im holding onto ian who is starting to tear. "roberta and i want to start a family of our own" monica says to us "why dont you finish this one first" i tell her "taking liam?" debbie says "yes" bob answers "NO" we all say back. "no nobody's taking anyone anywhere" lip speaks out

 Fiona turns to monica "you dont get to abandon your kids and then show up one day to take your pick of the litter" fiona tells monica "thats not fair your mothers made mistake but shes here now that got to count for something" frank says "shut up frank this isnt about you, this is about you. this is about what you didnt do, this is about what I did. and you know what I did a fucking great job" Fiona tells Monica "debbies class president she's on the debate team going to nationals. Lip he's top of his class he set the curve. Isabelle is the captain of her track team and just won the finals for volleyball this past season. Ian was promoted in ROTC and he tested outta English. And Carl made something blow up for his science fair. And you know what they did it all no thanks to you because you weren't here" Fiona tells Monica, on the verge of crying "and I appreciate that Fiona but Liam belongs with me" Monica tells her "he doesn't even know who you are" Fiona screams back "im his mother" Monica replies "you were my mother to" Fiona yells now crying. "maybe i'll never be able to make things right with you, but theres still time with liam" monica says to fiona "and debbie and carl, i am so sorry if i hurt you. please i love you so much, please let me be your mommy again" monica says getting on her knees in front of carl and debbie. then they hug her and i walk closer to ian hugging him because hes crying now when i hear fiona say "you know what? you're right. you are their mother. and your here now, so im done. im done with the school and the bills and the clinics. im done, there all yours now mom. good luck" and she takes the house keys out of her jacket tossing them on the couch, leaving sheilas house.

"what the hell monica" lip yells at her "you really think you can take care of everyone by yourself?" i ask her and a small smile comes across her lips "if fiona can do it, i believe i can to" she answers and i roll my eyes and look at ian,debs, and carl. "come on guys, lets go home" i say and the kids follow me out. 

when we get back to our house we all walk in and debbie and carl sit on the couch. "hey guys pajamas and bed. let's go upstairs" i tell them, and they walk up the stairs. liam was asleep and monicas fucking girlfriend was carrying him, she never put him down yet. i walk to the fridge and grab a beer, lip and ian following me "want one?" i ask them, and they nod. when we open them bob walks into the kitchen saying "hey no drinking, go to bed. Now" "fuck off" lip tells her, and we take another sip "its our beer" i say to her  "and our house" lip adds "you kids are pushing my last buttons" walking closer to ian and i stand between her and ian "dont even fucking think about touching him" i tell her and feel ian grab my arm "guys come on" lip tell us, and we walk upstairs to our room closing the door. "fuck" ian says grabbing a pack of smokes and sitting on his bed. "i cant believe she came back" i say leaning up against the door "fuck her, she'll be gone soon" lip says. "wait so tell me again, kash shot mickey" lip asks "yeah, fucking crazy night" i tell him "this is our life" ian says, and we all laugh a little.

we all lie down and try to sleep. a couple of of of hours later we hear monica and her girlfriend "so how long you plan on us staying here playing house?" roberta asks "did you see those kids' faces? did you see the way they looked at me? monica tells bob "im not supporting six kids, we get the DNA test results tomorrow and it'll prove liam isnt franks. That way if the shithead changes his mind, he can't take liam back" bob tells monica "quiet their sleeping" monica says "we are going to make a great family. im going to take care of you and liam like frank never could" bob tells monica "im going to bed" monica says back "possession is nine-tenths of the law" bob says laughing.

we all sit up on our beds and lip lights a cigarette. "lip" i say to him gesturing for him to give me the cigarette. he hands it to me and i sit back down on my bed. and lip lays back down, ian was already asleep or pretending he was and i think lip went back to be to. so i put the cigarette out and go to bed.