The next morning, Mom made eggs, bacon, sausage, and even FRENCH TOAST. She doesn't usually make french toast, but she does it when she's feeling particularly happy. As I think about it, I'm not even sure it's for me.
Yesterday was so odd. My mind didn't want to dwell on it. What I wanted was for everything to calm down and go back to normal. The normal has not been established because Shu is living with us until his parents straighten out some issues. I think my parents made some improbable arrangements with each other. I don't know how he did it, but he settled himself or so my father pointed him to my brother's room.
The room of my stray brother was given to Shu by my father. My brother Tay has not been seen for several days. He rarely returns home. Most of the time, he hangs out at his friend's house or his blood brother's hut. On my way to lunch with friends around campus, I often see him smoking behind the teachers-only area in the back of the school. In less than a week, the summer session will start again. I just hope he's ready. He's a second-year student just like me, but he's supposed to be in his third or fourth year. His school days are a blur since he's been all over the place. Last time I caught him getting into a fight at the liquor store, one of Dad's favorite places to shop when his down. Grandma who came down - when she comes down, she doesn't play. She forced small kids to throw black stones at Tay while standing on hot rocks, she scolded him with hot stones for everything he did. I wanted to laugh so much, but I knew she would make me pick out weeds in the heat of the sun in the field.
As for Shu, he did not mind staying in the room. From his expression, it appeared that he wanted to inquire about the room. It was as if he was acting as a detective, asking various questions about the family. Where is everyone? Or What does everyone like? It irritated me to see him here. The house hasn't been quiet.
Mo and Mookie, who are five and ten, have been pestering Shu about who he is a lot. They teased him about possibly being someone I like. Despite knowing little about the boy, I said nothing. In the end, I did what I needed to do around the house and ignored the situation. Initially, Shu appeared to blush, then shrugged it off and said we were just classmates in the same class. They both thought something was up until Ma had shot them away to do their chores. Whenever Shu offered to help me with anything, I said, "I'm fine, I don't need anything.". This has been my way of life since I was a child."
When I lived at home, Ma assigned everyone chores to do, even Dad. My issue was that Tay's work was always done by someone else when he wasn't around. Whenever he came home, the trash would still be outside. The piled up trash reminded him he had chores. He would pretend not to notice it and runoff. Mookie was pissed when she had to do it. She's sneaky if you don't watch her. She told me next time she goes over to Grandma's house she is going to spill the beans on him. I laughed at the thought. Tay never is going to catch a break.
The last thing I had to do was to go to the washroom — bathroom which sometimes we have different names for, I don't know we are kind of from the countryside. They have different names for different stuff Mookie is called the knee baby which is closes to the baby. Then —
I screamed while covering my face. "Why didn't you lock the door!" I slam the door to the bathroom.
"I'm so sorry. Forgive me Kiya." Shu was seen getting out of the shower as soon as I had walked in. I could have sworn no one was supposed to be in there at that time. On the other hand, I keep forgetting that we have a guest and didn't explain anything to him.
"When you are done? Can you please clear the area and place your clothes in the bin next to the sink please." My face was red and I was burning up. I place my back to the door and began breathing heavily. I wish I had never seen that. I can't get the image out of my head.
I was screaming in my head — shaking it violently.
"Ma," I ran into the kitchen.
I had seen Dad sitting in his chair across from the kitchen in the living room. He was looking through today's paper. My parents seem to be old fashion all the way around.
"Pops have you seen Ma?"
"Nope."
That was a quick response.
"When you —"
Dad cut me off pointing to the coffee table and a white sheet was laying there. "Dear had made instructions for the guest."
I stomped my way to the table and picked up the sheet.
"GET TO KNOW SHU!!"
"Pa, is Mommy serious?" I turned around to look in his direction, but he had already vanished. "Where did he disappear to?"
CLICK.
The front door locks.
That's when I realized there was something wrong with them. They have never kept silent about anything and I wanted to know what was up with that. In addition, why do I need to be acquainted with Shu when I already know him from when we were -- I have no idea. Seeing Shu standing by the front door of his room, I sighed and turned around. Immediately covering my face, I walked to my room.
"I'm so sorry about what happened earlier, Kiya," Shu said while rubbing his head with embarrassment all over his face.
"No, I didn't mean to walk in on you. I should have knocked." Stumbling to hide my annoyance, I glanced at the papers.