Playground Adventures Home Chaos

Trigger Warning

Emily and I walk to the nearby park. Its an easy walk, though I feel eyes following us. I opened the pocket knife that is in my front pocket. Just in case.

Hell if we look like we're from money though. Most of these slum urchins are better dressed. I stay closer to traffic, letting Emily walk to the side. Its a hot day as usual, only the breeze is gentle and cooling.

We here some men call out to us. We look briefly, but hurry along our way. We aren't stopping till we reach the park. It's just ahead now. Over some train tracks.

It's actually a nice park. Sure, there's graffiti everywhere, but theres actual greenery as well. I hear a river flowing.

The river is our first stop. we approach it eagerly and watch ot flow for a few minutes. There's garbage everywhere but it looks refreshing.

Next we head for the swingset. Emily and I love to swing. When we near it the black kids that were playing on it flee. Weird. But we don't care. We're talking bout her school days and what she has done with friends recently.

She's always got something to talk about. Unlike me, she's outgoing and well loved. She can get along with an alligator, given time. She has our parents dark hair and our dads blue eyes. She's a little chunky, but taller than me by nearly 6 inches.

The gods are unfair.

We go to the slides next. I stay close to Emily. I don't want anyone dangerous approaching. The kids, again, flee from the area as long as we approach. It disappoints Emily, who wants to make friends.

I ignore the behavior. Its not on me to be concerned bout it. We're there for nearly 3 hours before Emily wants to go back home. Fine by me. I'm done being around people anyways.

Once home, I take down what we'll have for dinner tonight. Checking if anyone needed anything, I get mom a refill of tea. Emily gets her own drink and starts picking out movies from our vast collection to watch in our room.

That done, I grab my sketchbook out of my backpack and head outside. I find a shaded location and start sketching random characters. I'm considering calling Laya or Tanya. For a moment I allow myself to remember the last words between myself and Tanaira...

"....Kill yourself or drop out and become a prostitue...." I shake my head hoping to clear those thoughts. She'd claimed that her foster sister had typed all that bile to me... I don't believe her. I'd been depressed and hopeless when Tanaira had pressed me for the truth when I'd said things are ok.

I was known for my blunt personality and unyielding honesty in our group. I was the one you asked if you wanted to know if that dress made you look fat, or if a haircut was stupid or not. Sometimes, you get more than you'd hoped for.

I shrug to myself. I haven't talked to her in a while. I miss her in a way. But I won't let her close again.

I check my watch, its gotten close to dinner time. I get up and head to the house to start getting busy, knowing if I don't do it it won't get done. In addition to getting in trouble.

Mom's on the phone when I get inside. She sounds super excited. I inquire, "Whats up?" while preparing the pan and such for the meal. She waves at me dismissively, she'll tell me when she's off the phone.

I listened as I worked, gaining no insight into the discussion. Then I hear it. HIS name; Brett. My blood runs cold as fury nips at the back of my brain. I fight the feeling trying to focus on my task.

He's coming down to visit, apparently. His girlfriend had his baby. Emily and Mom are excited. First grandchild. First nephew.

I just feel cold inside. I don't want to meet the child. I don't want to meet the woman. And I never want to see Brett. I don't even want to think of him.

Brett is my half brother. We have different fathers. He's 8 years older than me. I hate him. He used to chase Emily and I with baseball bats. Tickle Emily until she peed herself, until Emily was 10 when she got more control over it. Honestly, the list goes on. And one particular thing occured that was far worse than all of his tormenting.

It would be so great if I could just kill him. Unfortunately, Council Law dictates those of the Night cannot take revenge on our host families. Worst. Law. Ever.

I think of Genie, from Aladin,'s words. "Phenomenal cosmic power! Itty bitty living space." It's so apt.

Anyways, when mom gets off the phone, she explains what Brett said and all that. He's coming to visit next weekend. He has a girlfriend and they've apparently had a baby. I listen without comment until dinner is ready. Then I serve everyone.

I try to eat, initially. I give it up quickly though. Give the plate to my dad and go to my room to lay down.

I'm trying to not think. I'm trying to not remember. But the images flash before my eyes. The memories play on loop. At some point I dozed off, until Emily came to bed anyways. Then I was awake for a little while before going back to sleep. I don't even bother going out at midnight. I just stay in bed...

When morning comes I dont even want to get up. So I simply don't. It's 1 p.m. by the time my mom calls for me.

She wants tea made. Of course. Not wondering what I've been doing. Why would she? Ha. Stupid joke.

I make it and seclude myself in our shared room. Emily is playing games on her Playstation now. Great. Guess I'll go outside.

Even in the sunlight on this hot day I'm still seeing flashes of that time. It wasn't even the first time it happened... But it was the last.

Sitting against a tree, I think about telling my mother.. But what good would that do? She'd never believe me. And if she did... it'd destroy her. He is her favorite child.

I start thinking bout the person he had a baby with. What would happen if she knew? I can't imagine. I'm sure everyone thinks its my fault.

He's 5'8", and around 250 lbs. I've never been able to escape him or fight him off..

Speaking of the baby... what does it look like? What gender was it? Oh gods... what if it was a girl?? I need to go ask now. If its a girl, I need to confess my secret right away. I have to save her if I can. Dad would kill him, right? I mean he almost killed me, and I'm his daughter by birth.

I finally push thoughts of the incident away as I run up to the house. I try to bring it up casually. Would she notice my panic..?

"Hey, Mom? Was Brett's kid a niece or nephew?" I ask after getting her attention.

"A nephew," she says, "My first grandson!"

I breath a sigh of relief and said "Ah. Hopefully he'll be smarter than his father."

My mom purses her lips a bit, giving me a stern look. She decides to ignore my comment and turns back to her computer.

I head back outside. Glad there isn't a chance of what happened to me happening to my own niece. As long as they don't have any more kids, anyways.

I go back to my spot under the tree. Staring blankly at nothing. The thoughts are out of my head for now.

I'm building up anxiety towards the visit. I hate meeting new people. I don't think I'll like his girlfriend. Oh. Will I hate the baby? What if I hate the baby? It's not the child's fault what happened...

What shall I do?