“Get Out of Bed”

I really didn’t want to go to school today. So I just stayed in bed and pulled the covers over my head, hoping my mom wouldn’t notice. She didn’t. She was too busy getting my sisters out of bed and washed and fed.

But stupid Irene noticed. She always notices. Being the eldest, she always takes it upon herself to mother my younger sisters. And to mother me the most cos I’m the only boy left in the house. My brothers went away to war years ago and never came back.

“Francis, I see you trying to hide. I’m gonna tell mom . . . I’m gonna tell dad.”

There was extra emphasis on that second parent. Irene knew how much I wanted her to tell dad that the one son he still had around the house was a total pussy.

Ugh, fine, I’ll get out of bed. I pulled the covers down from my face and gave her my stink eyes, which she matched with her cruel, mischievous smile. I could hear my mom finally yelling for me to get up.

I could hear my dad’s voice telling me to punch them back. Mind you, he wasn’t a total barbarian. He just wanted me to stick up for myself. He told me, “Francis, I don’t want you to start the fight. But if you find yourself in one, make sure you finish it.” He probably told my brothers the same thing before they went away. I don’t remember cos I was too young. But some nights, we’ll be sitting around the table eating dinner in silence, and I’ll look at his face and I can tell he’s thinking about them and wonder when or if he’ll see them again.

I got out of bed, threw on yesterday’s clothes, and ran after my sisters as they headed out the door. My mother grabbed me and smacked a kiss on my cheek as she handed me my jacket. It looked like snow so it was gonna be a long and obnoxious walk.

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