Belong

Chapter 3

Chapter 3:

I unlock the front door of my house, using the house key I had to dig out of the front pocket of my backpack. I've finally made it home from school after what felt like walking for an eternity, but was actually only about ten minutes. I was busy dwelling on what happened earlier, thinking about everything I did wrong, causing the walk to feel longer. I unlock the door and push it open, entering the house.

I toss my backpack onto the couch on my way to the kitchen to gab a drink from the fridge. Before opening the fridge, I notice a note stuck to the front with a fruit shaped magnet. I pull out a can of cola and open it, taking a sip before reading the note.

Virgil,

I took Damien to soccer practice and we will be back in a couple of hours. Could you please load the dishwasher and start it please? Also, I left a load of laundry in the washing machine, please start it for me, I'll switch it to the dryer once I get home. Thank you.

I love you, Sweetie,

Mom

Taking another drink of my soda, I throw the note into the trash and start on the chores. Most teenagers would get an attitude about doing chores for their parents, but I rally don't mind. My mom does so much for my little brother and I, so it's the least I could do to load the dishwasher or start the washer. I pull my headphones over my ears, turn my music list on shuffle, and get to work. I smile at the first song to play, Why Do You Feel So Down? by Declan McKenna. I know it's not as 'emo' as most people would expect a song I liked to be, but I really do like it. 

*******

An hour later, I've loaded, started, and unloaded the dishwasher, I've washed and dried the laundry, and I've swept and mopped the kitchen and vacuumed the living room. At the moment, I'm finishing up folding the laundry. Once that's done and I've put it away, I decide I can relax and watch a bit of television. Flipping through the channels, I find they're having a Doctor Who marathon and decide that's a good choice. I turn it on, lay down on the couch, and start watching.

'Ooh, the tenth Doctor, my favorite!'

 I must have fallen asleep at some point during the Doctor Who marathon, because the next thing I know, I'm being awoken by the sound of the front door opening, meaning Mom and Damien must be home. My hunch is confirmed when my mom walks into the living room, yelling at my brother.

"Damien, you better not track up my floors with mud! Go straight up to the bathroom and take a shower!" She shouts at a muddy eight year old boy as he runs past the living room and up the stairs. She then turns to me. "Hi, Sweetie. How was your day?"

"It was okay, Mom. How was yours?" I reply as she walks over to me, placing a motherly kiss on my forehead.

"It was fine, Sweetie. Thank you for cleaning up. Did you load the dishwasher?"

"Yeah. I also went ahead and folded and put away the laundry and put the dishes away." I smile, handing her the remote to choose what to watch.

"Aw, thank you, Virgie! You didn't have to do that." 

"It was really no problem, Mom." I kiss her cheek and stand up, heading towards the kitchen. "What should we have for dinner?"

"How does pizza sound?" She asks, kicking her feet up on the coffee table. She's honestly like a teenager sometimes, but she's still the best mom I could ask for.

"Sounds perfect. The usual?" I grab the phone, already dialing the number for the local pizza place. She nods just as they pick up. "Hello?.. Yes, I'd like to place an order for a large pepperoni and mushroom pizza, a large bacon and pineapple pizza, and an order of bread sticks... Yes, that's all... Thank you, bye."

Just then, Damien comes running down the stairs and darts past me. I snatch him up mid-run and throw him over my shoulder. He yelps at the sudden movement and starts giggling.

"V, put me down!" I chuckle spinning him around while on my shoulder and drop him into the recliner nearby.

"Hey Punk, no 'hello' for your favorite brother?" I joke, ruffling his wet hair, most likely from the shower Mom yelled at him about.

"You're my only brother, V." He says with an eye roll, before smirking. "Yet, you still manage not to be my favorite."

"Gasp! You wound me, D." I pretend to wipe a tear from under my eye dramatically. Shaking my head in mock shame, I finish with "I guess I get to eat your pizza, since I'm not trying to the place as bestest bother."

"No! Mom, tell him he can't!"

"Sorry, Pal, but my hands are tied." She shrugs, acting nonchalant, but I can see the smile she's trying to hide. Damien's eyes go wide and he lunges at me, clinging to me like a money as I catch him.

"Please don't eat my food, I'm sorry! You're the bestest brother ever!" I laugh, along with Mom, and assure him I won't eat his food. 

Soon, the pizza arrives, Mom pays for it, and we all sit in living room to watch television while we eat. In this family, on takeout nights, we always sit around the television and watch a Disney movie. It seems silly, but we've always done it and it's a great way to bond as a family. We each take tuns choosing the Disney movie we watch, and tonight is Damien's turn to choose.

"What movie are watching tonight, Damien?" Mom asks, taking a bite of her slice of pizza, bacon and pineapple, and picking up the remote to choose a movie to watch.

"Big Hero 6!" He shouts excitedly. I chuckle and Mom puts the movie on.

"Good choice, Bro."