When I was little, I used to live in Detroit. My foster Mom was Evelyn Mercer, I always loved her and she always had a bunch of kids around too, which was always great for me because it was like they were my brothers and sisters. It was a bright, sunny, summer day and I was impatient to see her adopted sons Bobby, Jeremiah, and Angel. I was just a little kid, I had light brown hair, blazing green eyes, and I tended to wear overalls a lot more then was considered good.
I never questioned about my parents because I never needed to. My mom wasn't there and neither was my dad but I didn't care since I had Evelyn to take care of me.
When I stormed home one day, I heard them upstairs playing, but I ran into the kitchen instead as I heard Evelyn had been calling me.
"Donnie!" I heard her yelling. I ran down the hallway and into the kitchen. A small, shaky boy was standing there, watching her as she placed his tiny bag down.
"This is Jack." She explained. "Do you remember him?"
I studied the other boy closely and realised that I did. I remembered him from a time before this life I was now living.
"Yes." I breathed. "I remember him. Can I show Jack the park?"
She nodded and I smiled, walking out the door with the other on my tail. Once we were there, He took my hand lightly and I pulled him to the top of the huge red slide that Bobby and I climbed up all of the time.
"Faggots." A deep voice rumbled and I looked up to see Chase Michaels staring up at me and Jack from the ground. He was the same age as Bobby and a real thug.
"Piss off." I snarled, puffing out my chest, and tilting my head back as I tried to imitate Bobby.
"No seriously." He laughed. "You're holding hands. What's up with that?"
"He's my new friend." I shouted, kicking Chase in the head. He swore and grabbed my foot, pulling me down off the play equipment.
I wrestled with him and eventually he let go. I smiled up at Jack, cowering on the platform.
"No one ever wins in a fight against me." I grinned. "Bobby taught me all this moves, and no one messes with the Michigan Mauler."
"Who?" he asked softly. I groaned.
"So much for you to learn." I teased, grabbing him and pulling him into a headlock. Jack squirmed and bucked, clawing at me until I released him. He stood, angry, as his chest heaved in and out.
"What'd you do that for?" I growled, dabbing at my cut neck. "I was only playin'"
"I don't know…my dad usta hurt me a lot…" he explained, trying to calm down.
"Oh." I murmured. "Well, Evelyn and I will take care of you." I stared into his green eyes and a spark of promise flowed.
"The fuck?" Chase asked, staring up at us. "Ya'll are fuckin' twins."
I bristled uncomfortably.
"Shut your fuckin' mouth, bitch." I hollered. "You don't know what you're talking about…what's a twin?"
"You don't know?" he jeered, striding away. "Ask you mom."
"C'mon." I grabbed Jack's unsure hand as we ran for home.
"Evelyn?" I yelled as we ran in the door. "Where are you?"
"In the living room. Please bring Jack in too." She called quietly. I knew something was wrong the minute we walked in. She was sitting on the couch, facing a man with thinning brown hair and a cold expression on his face. Next to him was Marie, the social worker. My heart thudded painfully.
"Dad?" Jack whispered, retreating into his shell. I looked over at him and felt him begin to shake a little bit. So I put my arm around his shoulders protectively.
"You must be Don." The man said, completely ignoring Jack.
"Yeah. Who the fuck are you?" I asked defiantly and his eyes lit up as he laughed.
"Cute kid." He nodded to me. "Mouth like a trooper."
"What are you doing here? Asking me all these questions?" I shouted, sensing how scared Jack was. It didn't make me sad…it made me annoyed…
"I'm gonna take you home with me to Texas." He said. "You're Don Billinsley and I'm your dad."
"No, you're not." I answered. "You're Jack's dad."
"Yeah." The man smiled. "And yours. His name is Jack Billinsley and he's your brother. Your twin."
"What's that?" I asked, sniffing unsurely. "What's a twin?"
I turned to Evelyn who was sitting ridged. Her face was pale and she looked sad.
"A twin is either of two people born to the same mother at the same time….so you are the same age and you look the same because you are identical twins." She said.
I nodded and stared at Jack, seeing for myself the similarities in our faces. We both had hair that was long, yet short at the same time. He had big green eyes, their shade matching mine and he was thin and tall, just like me.
"So what does that mean?" I asked softly.
"It means that Jack will stay here and you will come home to Odessa with me." My father told me and I felt myself begin to panic.
"What about Jack?" I begged. "Is he Comin'?"
"No." the man said firmly glaring at his son. "He's gonna stay here with her."
"But I want to, too." I wailed. "I want to stay with Evelyn."
"It ain't gonna happen." The man snorted. "We made an agreement and you're commin' with me…it's my right as your father."
"You ain't my dad." I snarled. "I hate you."
"Like hell you do." He laughed, pulling me in real close. "You ain't seen nothin' yet."
"Ma!" My wailing screams filled the air.
"Ma! Evelyn, please don't make me go!" I screamed pitifully. "I'll be good and never swear again…I'll even call you Ma like you want me too…see I am…please?"
"Donnie boy, come on now" Evelyn soothed "Hush now, take deep breaths sweetie"
Evelyn, without moving forward, held out her hands and began to shush me, trying to soothe me even as she shook with sobs.
Jack was there, standing next to her, tears dripping down his face as he watched me scream and struggle, trying to break free…
I was placed in the back of Charlie Billinsley's car and off I was driven, away from the only life I ever knew. I vowed never to forget, but children soon do…