16 year old, Raine Marcella stood under the large black umbrella as the rain fell harder and harder. In front of her was two caskets, one was for her mother and the other was for her father. She watched as the two most important people in her life were raised down into their final resting place. From the side, everyone of her siblings could be heard crying as they cling to each other and wail.
As for Raine, she was numb. How could she cry at a time like this? She was the oldest of 8 children. How could she cry and mourn for her parents when they now all looked up to her and relied on her. She had to be strong and endure for everyone's sake.
"Come, may darlings." Grandma Maggie said as she wiped the corner of her eyes. "It's time to go back home."
What is home? Raine thought as she gathered all of her siblings together. One by one they left their parents behind and entered several different cars to go back to their old home.
Raine leaned against the seat with her eyes closed. Her thoughts on the secret conversation her Grandma had with her.
"What are we supposed to do now?" Raine said softly to Grandma Maggie.
"You'll all live with me for now on." She said. "We'll have to sell this house. We can't afford it. At my house, although there are only 4 rooms, for the 9 of us, we can make it work. We have to."
"The boys can share the biggest room, while the other two rooms can be split up by the girls." Raine said. "Grandma you can keep your room to yourself, you'll need your own privacy and personal space."
"What about you?"
"I can just sleep on the couch." Raine told her.
"Are you sure."
"Of course. I'm the oldest, I'll be working most of the time and won't be home to really need a bed."
"Work? What about school?"
"I'll drop out and find work. Grandma, I know you can't afford to raise all of us with just your savings and the small amount you get from the government." Raine told her.
"But your parents had life insurance, couldn't that money help raise all of you?"
"It's not enough. According to mom and dad's lawyer, with all the debt mom and dad had and with their funeral, we barely have enough to survive for 2 years."
"Your education is important."
"I know, but for now, the only person who can drop out is me. I'm the oldest. I can find work and help support the others. All they need to do is go to school. Once they all graduated, I'll go back to school and finish my education."
"Promise?" Grandma Maggie sighed.
"Promise."
~~~~~
18 year old Raine could only stand by the door and sigh as her sisters fight with one another.
"It's your fault, not mine!" Kay shouted at Hayley.
"How is it my fault?!?" Hayley shouted back as they were held back by their younger sisters.
Kay, 16 years old and Hayley, 15 years old stared at each other with hatred as Raven, 12 years old and Vera, 11 years old, each held on to one sister around their waist to stop them from fighting each other.
"I told you to watch the stove while I quickly spoke on the phone." Kay said as she tried to push Raven out of the way.
"Quickly? As in an hour? I told you I could only watch the stove for five minutes. Yet you took your own sweet time to talk to Clyde and forgot to keep an eye on the dinner that Raine asked you to make?" Hayley retorted back.
"And you couldn't of told me you were leaving before you left, so I could go back to cooking?"
"I'm not your keeper. You said that you would only speak with Clyde quickly, while I told you that my ride was coming in 5 minutes to pick me up and that's how long I could only watch over the food. It's not my fault you were distracted and burnt all the food for dinner. When Raine comes home, she'll be so mad at you."
"Shut up!" Kay shouted. "It's not my fault that dinner is ruined."
"The both of you need to shut up!" Raine said as she closed the door behind her. She had just gotten off of her 12 hour shift at the grocery store and came home to take a quick shower and change before going to another 8 hour shift as a maid at a the Maze Hotel.
Everyone in the room became quiet as they stared at the haggered girl.
"The both of you need to clean up the mess in the kitchen and cook dinner again." Raine told them as she pulled her work uniform and a clean towel out of the dresser drawer. "Stop arguing and start working. I don't have time to deal with you guys right now. You both are old enough to know what to do already, why do I have to tell you guys."
Raine walked up to Raven and Vera and looked down at them.
"And you girls, did you guys do your homework yet?"
"No." Both girls answered honestly.
"Go. Do your homework. Dinner will be ready when you're done with homework. Right Kay and Hayley?"
Kay glared at Raine for a moment before she ignored everyone and entered the kitchen to clean up the mess.
"I'll clean while you cook." Kay finally said as she reached the sink.
Hayley kept her eyes to the ground as she finally entered the kitchen to begin cooking. With the two older girls cooking and the two younger girls doing their homework, Raine finally took a hot quick shower and changed into her uniform.
When she came out, she saw her three brothers, Leo, 17 years old. Gavin, 14 years old and Luke, 13 years old come through the door with their soccer uniforms on.
"Raine." Leo said as he smiled at her.
Raine worked so much that they hardly saw her. While Rain worked, Leo was the caretaker and disciplinarian. Grandma Maggie also worked part time to help feed them and pay the bills.
"Gotta go to work." Raine told Leo.
"I'll drop you off at work." Leo said. "We can talk on the way."
"Okay." Raine agreed. "Gavin and Luke, make sure you both do your homework!"
"Yes, Raine." They both answered as they went into their room.
"Kay and Hayley, make sure to check over their homework." Leo said as he opened the door for Raine. "When I get home, I'll check over the both of your homework as well!"
Kay and Hayley both grumbled under their breaths as they continued to cook and clean.
Once inside of the car Leo was the first to speak.
"Once I graduate, I'll find a job as well." Leo suggested. "Then it won't be so hard on you and Grandma."
"No. Don't. Go to college and graduate." Raine told him. "This family can only afford one drop out. Besides, Mom and Dad would be ferrious to know that you didn't go to college."
"What about you?"
"Who says I'm not going to college. Once everyone graduates from high school and college, I can get my GED and attend college then." Raine told him.
"I just want to help you and Grandma out."
"You are." Raine said as she stared at him. "While I was working, you took care of everyone in that house. You taught them how to clean and cook. You made sure their homework was done. If they had any issues with friends, you were there to advise them. You help so much, you just don't know how much I appreciate you and how I couldn't of done this without you."
"Thanks, Raine." Leo said solemnly.
The car became quiet again as they both fell into their own thoughts.