I looked at the many houses and climbing structures before turning to Blane who was already walking around touching them and asking the attendant behind him questions. I have to get to terms with the thought of having another thing depending on him at home...I just hope the cat is well trained, can get his dirty business well maintained.
It would be best if it just went out for that kind of business and I didn't have to clean the litter everyday. But the litter was also better than the house corners.
"This one, can be used for exercising and napping."
"It could want to sleep on our bed."
"Not going to happen!"
That's one thing I am happy about. Atleast he showed he didn't like it just like me. And wasn't going to compromise on it, I wouldn't let him.
Bowls, blankets, scratchers, toys...I think this 'kid' is going to live a good life, more than many humans out there. Now I guess I know why cats are at the very top of the pyramid. He wasn't even here yet we were already it's slaves.
My mom's cats don't have that much luxury, she has a way of making them feel like they came over everyone and that she didn't really care about them.
I looked at my brother then at the bag he was carrying. I hadn't known it'd be him bringing it over. I'd thought they'd send Krattin or a designated driver. This was the first time he was stepping into my place and it felt kind of strange...mostly thinking of how I had turned his the last time I was there.
He stepped in, got his shoes off and stepped in a pair of fluffy slippers before looking around.
"I should have a boy."
"What?"
"So I could bring him here and have him turn your place inside out. Game consoles, action figures, car samples....a kid will have a field day."
"Then maybe I should hide them before your dream comes true."
These things had taken a good while to just collect. The bikes I had to go to openings...had to spend a lot of money. It's one of the reasons I really didn't want tiny things around.
Blane wasn't going to use that room as his workshop, no big deal, it's going to be my exbit room now.
He placed the bag on the table before taking a seat. Blane had gone with Nicole to look for something live for the cat to play catch with...this is the reason I didn't want to give in in the first place.
"We need to talk!"
Sounded so ominous.
"About what?"
He placed the glass of juice on the coffee table then turned to fully look at me.
"Dad, country R, Blane, his parents."
"What about it?"
"He hasn't been emancipated which means to them he's still their kid."
"Get to the point Arachner!"
"Mom still wants to meet them. According to her, you need to be the grown up and realize he's still young and needs his parents however much involved they want to be."
I sneered as I poured myself some wine. She always talked about me being the bigger person even when I was still so young. Each time I have to take the big person stand, when can I throw a tantrum?
"What if I don't want to be the grown up? Sometimes I don't want to do anything as well, let the world come to ash."
"Riley..."
"None of you know how he feels, I won't get in the way of his feelings. If he wants them gone, I'll do just that, if he wants to meet them, I'll take them. Between the two of us our parents to me aren't any better than they are."
He was silent for a while. Since I was a kid, the only people who ever said you did well were the butler and Jenny. They were the only people that maybe offhandedly or not made me feel like I had done something worthwhile in life.
My own parents just wanted me to do more and more. They wanted more done yet they never checked on the transcripts or went to parent teacher meetings until the moment they heard someone was hurt.
A good parent should have given a reaction, anything right? Mine just behaved like it was an everyday affair. Maybe that moment had been when I realized why Jennie always took off.
"Have they ever called?"
"Nope!"
"Even during thanksgiving?"
"Even then. I don't want you involved. People who don't care shouldn't be made to. It will just make them loath him. I am glad they chose to stay away. I have him all to myself."
"If he were still a minor we'd have sued."
"Yet you didn't have the heart to do that to your own parents. It feels hypocritical at best."
"Back then, I didn't know it was wrong. Mom kept saying she needed to work and I needed to get my act together and be the elder brother I was."
"Yet she held you to sleep at night reading you bedtime stories."
"You knew about that?"
"I think everyone knew....or maybe Jennie never did. But it was plain and out there. While someone never got the full dosage of milk, the other was coddled."
He tried calling my name but I just gobbled up the wine then turned to look at him.
"What about dad and country R?"
"Ril..."
"To the point or leave."
I never really want to think of my childhood sometimes. It hurt my chest too much that wine could not help me swallow it down but I had to survive, no!
"Dad was suspicious and has been asking questions."
"Shouldn't you have been living at your own place by now?"
That reduces all sorts of risks...mostly of the mouth.
"Mom convinced Paula somehow. Right now, I have no say on that. The left wing is now my home...what is the way forward?"
"If he has questions for me, tell me to ask me himself. You don't know a thing even though you think you do. I don't mind answering direct questions."
Even he kept his distance all this while. Was it why he now wanted to know stuff about me? Wasn't it too late to get nosy now? I was starting my own family...the cat hadn't even left my side till now.
"Quint's uncle is getting worse."
"I know. He's not around now and I don't want him here now. If he can have as much fun before that dog dies, the better."
I am wondering why he's taking too much time to leave. Even his own kids want him gone, they had been talking of getting him off support...even though they didn't know who was paying for it.
"The company is bankrupt, did you also know that?"
"For a while now."
Just a while of the elder son being in jail had gotten the younger ones pinching all over. At some point the company had been rising, now the fall was so fast, they even incurred losses and debt.
A black and white kitten named moon joined our family and his papa got another tattoo to welcome it. I got one as well, his name on my pec. The day he saw it, I had quite some fun. He was so excited that he let me go raw.
Him, on bliss, was the perfect time to talk about his parents. It's hard to get off the high and he'll pout but it was a discussion we needed to have.
"Why should I send myself to people who don't care."
"Think of it as doing a good deed. Like giving alms, offering prayer for the dead, that kind of thing."
"The first time I went to a holy place was when I met you, I don't think they even know what a good deed is."
"Then let's be the bigger people."
I can be the biggest person for him. Arachner was right. They are still his parents and him staying away wasn't good for him. They were his roots, you have to accept where your roots come from to really grow.
And I really want him to grow.