After I finished my shift, I remembered that I owed the family some dinner so I hit the shops before stumbling upon a creamery.
"Two orders of Pistachios with Cherries on top please."
I left the creamery ecstatic to show my family my earnings and what I did with them. It's been rough for everyone, but I know ice cream will always fix a few broken hearts.
I came home to see Keighr kicked back on the couch with my Mum's arms around him. For once the kid actually looked happy and that happiness made its way to me of course.
"HONEY! I'M HOME!"
My Ma jolted up and let my brother go before rushing to me and giving me the biggest bear hug a mother could ever give.
"I'm so... sorry. I'm so so sorry Cal. You've done nothing more than fill in his gaps and I'll forever be grateful for you I just have so much on my mind and it doesn't help that my job demands so much and-"
"Ma... relax. It's okay. Everything's gonna be okay. Have you eaten today?"
Ma chuckled a bit.
"Ah- you see funny story. Well-"
"Keighr come set the table!"
.
"I don't know what's wrong with me I just... You understand right? You know what it's like to be angry and- and when you're angry you feel out of place. Just everything out of place."
Being the oldest teaches you a whole lot. One of those lessons will never be taught. You learn to forgive. You learn to drown out the bad and replace it with the good because you know that no one will do it for you. You know the feeling of being lost and helpless so you do everything in your power to keep your family together. It's the least you could do.
"I understand Ma. Well listen I had a long shift today so would it be too abrupt if I could get some rest? I forgive you Ma. I always will because I love you and that's all that I want you to remember from all this."
Ma's posture relaxed as she poured tea into her dainty mug. From what I recall, that tea set was a gift from our uncle. I haven't heard from him in awhile.
"If there's anything you need at all. Let me know. Just let me know."
She walked delicately back to her room. As she closed her door, she remembered to leave a crack; just enough to fit an obligatory card sent out on Holidays.
