Shout

Chapter Twenty One - I Like To Get High (Quality Ingredients)

"Nineteen, twenty, twenty one," Tommy grunted from outside of my room.

"Oh my God, you're such a freak," Avery shouted from her room.

"Get a life, Avery!" Tommy retorted.

"Says the boy who's doing knee pushups," she yelled back.

"Avery!" Tommy whined, "They are not!"

"Can you both shut up?" Shouted Margaret from what I'd assume was the top of the stairs.

"Mom, can you talk to Avery? She's being such brat," Tommy complained.

"I'm sick of the two of you!" Margaret replied.

"Avery, Tommy, don't make me come up there." Larry screamed.

"I was just working out!" Tommy said loudly.

"You got nothing to show for it, bro," Avery responded.

"This is nothing? This is nothing?" Tommy asked.

"Put your shirt down!" Avery said loudly.

"Don't let my muscle mass intimidate you." Tommy laughed as Avery scoffed.

I got out of bed and stretched my arms over my head. I never knew loud houses growing up. My home had always been sadly quiet. I wasn't allowed to run or allowed to be messy, even as a child.

This was a welcome change. I had been at Avery's for a few days and it reminded me everyday of what I'd missed all my life. This is what it felt like to be accepted by your family and feel love and support.

I changed quickly into a white long sleeved shirt and tucked it into my jeans before opening my door and going downstairs.

Margaret and Larry were in the kitchen cooking as I'd realized was per usual. Larry was wearing an apron that said I like to get high (quality ingredients).

"I'm liking the apron this morning, Larry." I greeted as I walked into the kitchen. I put some coffee beans into the coffee machine and turned it on. It almost seemed as though they had an endless supply of inscribed aprons lying around.

"Don't get me wrong. I'm not advocating for illegal substance abuse," he stated as he flipped a pancake over in the frying pan he was using, "What I am advocating for is witty wordplay."

I reached for the coffee pot and poured two cups out. I put cream and sugar in one and placed it next to Larry as he took a long sip with one hand as he flipped another pancake with the other.

"You always make it better than Margaret," Larry grinned, "if you tell her I said that I'll vehemently deny it."

"I'm not telling a soul."

"Whatever it is, you can trust me," Tommy stated confidently coming up behind us.

"You're adopted." Avery said as she walked into the kitchen.

"Yeah right." Tommy said crossing his arms at her.

"Where do you think your brown hair comes from? We're all blonde."

"Shut up," Tommy replied.

Tommy grabbed a piece of toast from next to Larry before Larry swatted his hand away. "Can you wait like a normal person?"

"Where's mom? She always lets me eat before food is ready." Tommy stated glumly.

"I never do," Margaret replied walking into the kitchen as well. "Read the apron. I'm not kidding today." Her black apron had the words No bitchen' in the kitchen scrawled across the front.