The Shocking News

"Hey someone's knocking at the door can someone open the door please" Zach yelled from the living room as he was finishing up paperwork. Caleb ran out of the kitchen towards the front door.

"Caleb walk before you fall or knock something over" Zach scolded the 14-year-old.

"Sorry" Caleb muttered before opening the door. There stood a man with greasy long hair and a beard "can I help you?" Caleb asked politely

"Ya is this the Ripley home? I'm looking for Glen or Zach" the man spoke gruffly. Caleb stepped back a little scared of this stranger and the way he looked.

"Caleb everything okay" Zach suddenly came up behind Caleb making him jump. Zach put a hand on his shoulder as he looked at who was at the door. Caleb got scared when he saw his brother's expression tighten and his eyes went dark. If he had a superpower it would be to shoot fire from his eyes when he was mad. Caleb took a couple of steps back as Zach addressed the stranger

"What the fuck do you want?" He seethed. The stranger seemed unfazed by the man's anger. Caleb ran to the kitchen

"Somethings wrong... Zach is pissed" Caleb spoke breathlessly

"Language" Thomas scolded as he and Brett followed Caleb to the living room. Thomas stopped in his tracks when he saw the stranger, he turned pale white as Zach rushed over to him.

"Boys" Zach spoke sharply to get all three's attention

"Go back into the kitchen and stay there until I come to get you" he ordered as he rubbed Thomas's arm.

"It's going to be okay don't be scared" Zach whispered to Thomas, only Caleb and Brett heard him. Thomas nodded and headed back to the kitchen.

Brett and Caleb were frozen in place out of fear. They had no idea who this was but by their brothers' reactions, this wasn't a good person.

"Caleb, Brett kitchen NOW" Zach raised his voice. He felt bad for doing it, but he needed to get their attention before this man spoke in front of them.

Caleb and Brett stood on the other side of the kitchen door trying to hear what was being said. Thomas sat for a couple of minutes looking horrified before the twins gave up concluding they couldn't hear anything and they were worried about Thomas, they went to see if he were okay.

"Thomas, who was that man? Were scared" Brett asked shakily. It was enough to snap Thomas out of it. He didn't want the boys to be worried.

"It's okay Zach will take care of it" Thomas assured them without explaining any further. The boys sat around the table for 30 minutes not saying anything. The kitchen door swung open, and Zach appeared. Thomas jumped from his seat and bombarded Zach with questions

"What did he want? How did he find us? Does she know where we are?"

Zach held his hand up "Thomas calm down I'll explain in a few minutes" Glen walked in the room

"Explain what? Who was that coming down the driveway when I pulled in?" Glen had his own questions.

Zach rolled his eyes "you two with a thousand questions chill for a minute. Brett and Caleb go upstairs and take your showers and get ready for bed. Glen and I will be up shortly to tuck you in" Zach instructed.

Brett snorted in anger "were not 2 Zach we don't need to be tucked in"

"Ya," Caleb chimed in "plus we want to know what's going on" Zach took a step towards the protesting14-year-olds.

"You will do as you're told or both of you can go to bed with sore bottoms" Caleb and Brett bowed their heads

"Yes sir," they said together. They left the room dejected by Zach's anger towards them.

"A little harsh don't you think?'' Glen asked Zach with a raised eyebrow.

Thomas always got nervous when Glen and Zach would argue so he always tried to diffuse the situation as fast as he could. Luckily the two rarely fought

"Zach, why was Steve here?" Glen took a step back and blinked in shock

"That was Steve leaving here? How...." Zach put his hand up to stop Glen's questions.

"I know what everyone wants to know. Steve found us because I arrested him six months ago and apparently he went back to the precinct a few days ago and followed me home. I'm really sorry I didn't say anything about arresting him because I didn't want you guys to worry. I was really careful on my way home for a couple of weeks but then figured if he didn't pop up by then he wasn't worried about us and would stay away. Besides, he doesn't drink, he doesn't do drugs anymore he was only arrested because he's homeless and was asleep in front of a store and they called the police on him." Zach went on to explain

"He said he was sorry for everything he did to us back then. I didn't believe him until he showed up here today. We have a bigger problem Steve followed me because he said he thought we should know Rhonda's back in town. She's been here for a while. I guess she was married to an old rich guy and when he died she got all his money. Steve said she came up to him on the street and flashed her money around"

Glen interrupted "what do we give a shit about Rhonda and her money?" Glen spat

"It's not about the money Glen, Steve told me our mother has another child. Steve has seen her with this child several times. He followed her home and said she is still doing the same thing she did when we lived with her."

Glen sat down and buried his face in his hands. "Another brother she doesn't take care of? How old is he?" Glen asked looking up with tears in his eyes

"Her name is Claire and she's 12 years old" Thomas and Glen stared at Zach in shock

"A GIRL!" Brett and Caleb shouted as they came tumbling into the kitchen. Zach grabbed Caleb and swatted his bottom he reached for Brett, but he jumped back and right into Glen who pushed him to Zach, and he got a searing smack as well.

"I told you two to go get showers and get ready for bed! I'm going to whip your behinds until you can't sit!!" Zach shouted at the two, now-crying teenagers

"We're sorry we just were worried about what was going on. You and Thomas knew who that man was, and we were scared. Please Z we didn't mean to disobey you" Caleb pleaded for his behind as well as Brett's.

"He's right Zach since when do we keep secrets from each other? I know you like to protect the twins, but this is their problem too" Thomas reasoned with his big brother. Zach seemed to calm down

"However, it doesn't excuse you two for disobeying Zach or eavesdropping on our conversation. Both of you will get a spanking before bed" Glen injected, making both boys whimper but neither of them protested.

"Who was that man?" Brett braved to ask.

"He was mom's boyfriend at the time we left home. We thought he was your father, but mother denied it '' Zach explained

"Oh" was the only reply from the boys.

"So do we go meet this sister?" Caleb asked excitedly. He had always wanted a little sister. Now he has one he wants to meet her.

"Not so fast. Zach and I need to discuss something. I'm not sure it's a good idea to let Rhonda know where we live." Glen reasoned as Brett and Caleb protested

"She's our sister she needs us, we can't turn our back on her" Thomas was getting agitated

"Glen it's not her fault our mother is a mess. Don't be selfish. It's not like you have to raise her alone'' Thomas spat.

Glen looked surprised and hurt by Thomas' attack, Zach had heard enough "that's it not another word!! Since when do any of you have the right to argue with Glen? You should know he's not going to just leave her there if she's in danger. We do need to discuss how to handle it. Brett and Caleb go take your showers and so help me if you don't obey your backside will pay even more than it will after your spankings. I want both of you in the corner until Glen and I come up there."

The boys hurried out of the room, so Zach turned his attention to Thomas "we are all aware that our mother is a mess, and after all Glen has done for us that was a cruel statement to make. You had no right saying that to him. How long has it been since your last spanking? Do you need a reminder in respect? Thomas Edward Ripley?"

Zach stood with just inches between him and his brother. Thomas gulped and looked down at his shoes like they were the most interesting things in the world. Zach lifted his chin.

"Apologize to Glen then go make sure the boys are obeying my instructions. You and I will talk later"

At this point, Glen was sitting at the table with his head laying on the table and his arms wrapped around his head. Thomas approached him and touched his shoulder "Glen I'm really sorry I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. I was just in shock and wanted to do something fast to save Claire" Glen looked up at Thomas with tears in his eyes. Thomas threw his arms around his oldest brother.

"I'm so sorry, please forgive me" he began crying. Glen pulled him onto his lap

"It's okay Thomas I'm not crying over what you said. I mean it did hurt but I know where it was coming from. I'm just really upset she had another child and we didn't know about her. I can't believe I didn't even think that she would go and get pregnant again. Poor Claire, she's been with her for 12 years alone. We should have been there for her" Thomas sighed as he laid his head on Glen.

"Glen don't blame yourself for that. None of us considered she would just go have another kid." Zach reasoned with his older brother.

"Thomas, it's going to be okay. Please go check on the twins, then take your shower before bed so Glen and I can talk"

Thomas rolled his eyes "I'm 22 years old Zach I can make my own decisions on when to take a shower and when to go to bed" Thomas retorted bitterly.

Zach was close to the end of his patients and Glen could see that.

"Thomas, you're in enough trouble as it is for being disrespectful to me do you really think challenging Zach now is a good idea? Go do as you're told now, or you can stay here, and I will spank you then hand you over to Zach to deal out whatever spanking he sees fit too" Glen looked at Thomas with a stern face.

It dawned on Thomas that he let his mouth get away from him again. He got off Glen's lap

"yes sir, sorry Zach" Thomas practically whispered. The middle child of the family had always looked to his older brothers as surrogate fathers. He hated to disappoint either of them. Zach gave him a quick hug.

"I know this news is hard. We will get through this the same way we always have, together" Thomas gave him a smile and nodded as he headed upstairs to check on the twins.