AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Phillipo Private Academy.”
Of course, it had to be the most expensive private school in the state.
“Do you think we could go watch him play sometime? He invited me to go next Friday. I think it would be so cool. He said he’d introduce me to the rest of the guys on the team.”
“I don’t know... What time does he play?”
“At four.”
“There’s no way that I can make that.” Guilt creeps in for failing him again. “I’ll be at work..”
“Come on, Mel. Can’t you just take one shift off?”
“I can’t, and you know that. I barely make ends meet the way it is. We’re lucky the house is paid for. I don’t know how else we’d make it.”
“They’d come and take me away,” Dorian mutters, leaning back in the seat.
A lump forms in my throat.
Having my brother taken away by child services is something Ineverthought I’d have to worry about. But I never expected to be raising him, either.
“No one is going to take you away.” I reach over, grabbing his hand. “We’re going to figure this out. Mom and Dad wouldneverwant us to be separated.”
“They’re not here anymore, Mel.” His voice is flat as his gaze shifts to the window. “If they were, we wouldn’t be in this situation.”
Tears threaten, but I push them away. Crying doesn’t solve anything, and as much as I wish I could call my mom and ask her for help, I can’t. Ever again.
“We’re going to be okay.” I pat his leg. “We have everything we need and never go without. Once I finish school, things will be even better. I’ll be able to get a better job with better hours, better pay. No more having Mrs. Wellington checking on you.”
“Yeah, I could really go without our eighty-year-old neighbor peeking through the windows.” He looks over at me, and we both burst into laughter.
“She’s nice, though.” I giggle.
“I think she’s crazy. She has more cats than anyone I’ve ever met.”
“She does love her cats.” I bat away a tear, and honestly, I’m not sure if it’s from laughter or the conversation leading up to it. But it doesn’t matter.
I don’t have time to worry about it. I need to get him home and settled so I can start my next shift.
***
Can you pick up the morning shift?
I glance down at the text from the manager at Bert’s as I lean against the bar counter.
The Golden Pony isn’t a college bar. In fact, I can’t remember the last time I saw university students here at all. Most of the crowd is older, but I don’t mind. They usually tip well and don’t make rude comments.
“You good?” Lindsey, the other bartender, is older than me by a good ten years, and I think just like Fran, she’s always afraid I’m about to blow.
“Yeah, it’s just been an exhausting few days, and I just got asked to pick up a morning shift before class.” At least I haven’t seen Dr. Banks in the last three or four days, even if I’m trying my best to be ahead at his class, doing the homework for the following week while in the second class as I try and clear anydoubts I might have so I don’t have to stay alone with my professor after the classes.
“You mean that bar and grill has started serving breakfast?”
“It’s their new thing.” I sigh, typing back to accept the offer. “And it does mean extra money for me.”
She shakes her head, her dark hair bouncing on her shoulders. “It also means that you get alotless sleep, which is something you don’t get enough of as it is. You have to take care of yourself, Mel.”
“I know, I know.” But Idotake care of myself. I take care of myself by ensuring that my brother has everything he needs. Which means we can stay together. He’s the only family I have, and I refuse to lose him.
