LAURIE.

Two.2.

Staying at home wasn't funny. I mean it, it isn't funny.

Only two days after my dismissal from the resto, the building where the bookstore was was demolished. Now I'm jobless.

Hitting the street every morning for the past two weeks job hunting yields nothing. Although mom isn't aware that I was fired from the restaurant, she knows about the demolition of the bookstore building.

It's evening time, at least the time I do get to resume duty at the resto. Lying down on my small prisoner bed, I couldn't help but think about our crumbled life, Mom's failing health, and Bryan's tuition fees. All of these are just too much for me that I felt like crying. But I wouldn't cry because only weak people cry and I have to be strong for my family.

I came down and met Mom knitting by the little hallway to the kitchen.

"Laurie, you haven't been going to the restaurant for some time now. Why's that?" She asked as she noticed my presence. She's been asking me this question for one week now.

I couldn't tell her I was fired because I knew it was going to trouble her. Mom has cancer and she can't walk, the reason I have to work two jobs differently, of which I just lost both now.

Though she's still in her early stage.

"Mom, how's your health yet? You okay?" I asked instead, hugging her from behind.

She looked at me suspiciously but answered anyway.

"I'm as good as you. So now, you haven't been going to the restaurant, why?" She asked again.

"Oh, Mom! It's not something you should work yourself up with okay? I just took a break." I said.

"A break? C'mon Laurie! How can you take a break for this long?" She asked, searching my eyes for answers.

"C'mon Laurie, talk to me. I know something's amiss." She probed further.

I sighed.

"Ok. Fine! I got fired from the restaurant Mom." I said without any guilt.

"And why? What did you do?" She gasped.

"I did nothing, mom. I was only being defensive and I got laid off."

"Defensive about what?" She asked as if waiting for me to say something foolish.

"Ahh! Mom!" My mom is a questionnaire.

"I was harassed by a man and I slapped him and Madam Maggie asked me out," I said without any remorse as the scene of that night played in my head.

How I wished I had done something more than just slapping that stranger. I would have done something like squinching his balls or punching him till he's never able to breathe again.

Yeah! I'm poor but I can never be intimidated or scared by anybody. The only person that scares me is the landlord.

That old man is a handful. Very tough.

My mom shook her head, disagreeing with what I said.

"Oh no, Laurie! You shouldn't have slapped him. You can never get away with these rich people. They are deadly." She said soberly.

"Mom! I know. But that doesn't leave room for humiliation. For goodness sake Mom, he fucking touched me… ow!" I winced when my mom smacked me on my head.

"You don't use the F word with me and you should let him get away with it. Nothing good comes from toying with those rich people. Yuuno?" My mom said angrily and fretfully.

"Mom? I should have let…" I was interrupted by the chattering of my drunk brother, Jeremy, who staggered left to right and then left again.

Jeremy is a pain in the ass, in the neck, and in every part of the human body. As much as I am being defensive and fearless, I couldn't bring myself to be that in front of Jeremy.

Not because I'm scared of him but because he's a stigma. Jeremy is a carbon copy of my dad, my nightmare. He's the senior beast while Jeremy is the junior.

I hated myself for being a chicken in front of him.

He staggered in my direction, I could stand but he quickly grabbed me. He pinned me down to the chair, choking me. He brought his face closer to mine and I could perceive alcohol from his breath.

"Looks yummy!" He said, licking his lips and staring at me as if I was some pizza or cakes.

By now, I could hardly breathe and my eyes were turning red.

"Jeremy get off me." I manage to speak between my choked breaths.

Instead, he slapped me hard on the face. Mom screamed and begged but the devil yielded not.

She shouldn't beg him. I hate it when she begs him.

Jeremy released me abruptly while I coughed and tried to catch my breath. He went over to Mom and pushed her down and that sent me flying out of my seat. I tried to kick him from behind but he caught my arm and threw me down too.

Jeremy stood laughing like he was watching a comedy skit. The deep haunted laughter reminded me of what Dad did to Mom and me. I booked in rage as the only thought in my head was to burst his balls.

As if Mom understood my feelings, she held my hands and pleaded silently with her eyes and that made me angrier. Well, I guess that's what motherly love is.

I know for a fact that I can't handle Jeremy all by myself but at least I might burst some balls. I was prepared to kick him if he tried to attack again but gracefully he left not after giving a loud belch. He staggered his way up the stairs. I'm very sure he's going to ransack my room for money like he always does but then he'll find nothing.

I helped Mom back into her wheelchair just when Jeremy charged out, leaving the house in fury. Maybe because he couldn't find any money in my room for his gambling.

I wheeled Mom back to her room and helped her lay on the bed. I quickly left before she started apologizing on Jeremy's behalf. Nonsense!

I also tucked Bryan in bed before leaving for my room.

A tear dropped from my eyes and I quickly wiped it away, hating myself for that. I wasn't going to cry because of Jeremy. Never!

I made a promise to myself never to cry or be weighed down by challenges and difficult times.

Never!

I lay down on my bed, facing the worn-out ceiling. I never really hated Jeremy but I hated Dad.

Jeremy was sweet and kind not until he visited Dad once. I wasn't scared of Jeremy or the fact that he was capable of hurting.

But I hated the fact that his features and exhibitions were just the same as those of my worst nightmare. My dad. NORMAN BIRCH.