He's My Brother's Best Friend

ndow from where I lay on my be

r because I don't want to go

and smiling all this while, chuckles. I turn to give him a cold glare.

re always flocking around him. This I know bec

nts are separated, but we spend the holidays

baby Jesus to forgive your s

for yourself, pig

softly scolds me. "Jesus wou

ig

ain. Another

to church on Christmas Eve. When I'm back, we

, she exi

fles my hair. I fight

says "See you

o him, but not this time. If I had known that that was the last time I wo

lived a thousand miles away with separate p

ion with Christianity. She always talked about heaven and it being perfect. I hope she is the

am not going to get it but it is persistent. It then turns into

d wear my flip-flops.

the least expected per

w can I help you?" I asked.

but is this Mrs. Hopki

. I don't like the sou

abelle Hopkins ,

er?" I ask. Panic was in my voic

brother, I presume, have been in an a

nothing. As if he hasn't just crashed my world.

iousness draining out of me and I felt the policeman's

***

me. My handsome father. Ben got his looks from him

s, he rushes to my side

le as tears fa

u hear me? Everything is going to be f

ts and continues to soothe me.

fferent parts of the country, or the fact that he cheated on my mother w

was refused, she chose to forgiv

ave the day. H

on a sofa in the backyard and cried. Her body shaking as sobs

chipped in Bible verses here and there. And told her to hold tight to God's no-divorce policy. So when dad

spent as little as she could. Saving up the rest. Because of her miser habit, I wore the cheapest of clothes and the crappiest gadg

wn to him, dad wouldn't go back to the house. He insists we stay in a hotel. I agree a

e to a boutique and buys me ne

t died, but when it dawned on me that

*

Mom 's sister Aunt Michelle is here, her friends, some of Ben'

ffins in the cemetery and th

good woman and I know

urmur and nod

s' body, a man told them that he was no longer

oreen and her son might not be with us now, but the

to look at dad, with his dark shades. A

nd his name is in fact James, but he nev

claims, but he says he doe

things that pulled him

and looked around. He then sits down at the dining table. I didn't know what

s and taps on the dinin

le, I can see the tears he was fighting b

happened to your Mom

dy's. Some things just... happen.

me things like the death

guess none of us kn

h me. I mean, if that's oka

year-old live by herself? He knows I do

are the only one who would t

her. That's if you want to. I want you to come live wit

hesitate to smack you no matter your age. That aside she h

smiles and nods. I could see the exciteme

long, he

o happen to the

t do you want to do

p the money for yourself. N

lot of money. I won't be needing

nt to do? Are you

. It held so many memories. Not all of them

father calls me

k and look

ve you d

ha

t to Aunt Mic

" He asks, Some

ght after the birth of her last twins. She works really hard at the end of the day for very little.

the house and there would be e

how much of a genius I am. I co

and smooth

***

. The pink wallpapers

acked and my important

look at it and

d. I pick up her Bible and bring it close to my nose. It s

ge that she wasn't going to burst through the door, telling me

Michelle and dad are sitt

ns to me, I can't recognize her. My Aunt has been crying. Her eyes are red

u set?" She a

r and dad. I was kind of

s at me

s it?"

ars his

She thinks you should have it instead

ce turns red and she pulls me into

She sobs, "You are suc

ipes my face and that was when I realiz

cousins appreciate your kind gesture. It's

pulls dad in

s. But no worries, I and t

ho were hard to control, turning

g to miss M