Goodness, you wouldn't believe what I had to go through to get back to updating this! First, I lost my story notes. Then I had to re-read the story to try and remember what my notes were. Then I had to adjust to my new laptop! And of course, there's school, me trying to run a Tumblr blog to promote my stories, drawing art for new stories, etc.

But I can't complain. I like these new challenges keeping me on my toes. That way, I'm never bored! :)


A glimmer of hope shined upon our home when Mike finally put himself out on the job market. At that, Bonnie and I could both give a sigh of relief. We no longer felt the pressing obligation of our jobs and weighing out budgets every night. However, that didn't mean we would immediately drop our jobs the moment Mike got hired. We had to play things safely, after all.

Besides, Bonnie and I were starting to enjoy the environments of our work spaces. Bonnie's female coworkers were becoming like an extension of our family, which, now that I think about it, probably isn't the appropriate phrase to use since Bonnie has told me that they've developed romantic feelings for one of the women. In a way, this made me puff out my chest a bit in pride. The person everyone at school assumed was gay was only steps away from getting into a relationship with a female. This didn't necessarily make Bonnie straight, though. They've told me that they were bisexual. I couldn't help but find this amazingly ironic: someone who identifies as both a male and a female is attracted to men and women.

Over at my humble abode at Foot Locker, Charlotte and I hadn't developed a relationship past friendship, but we definitely had been intimate before. I didn't brag about it to anyone, not even Bonnie. Being my first experience, there were a lot of embarrassing moments for me. Even though Charlotte was patient and understanding, it still grazed my ego a bit. I'm just glad it was Charlotte. If I had to lose my virginity to someone, who better to lose it to than someone as honest as her? Although, if she asked me if I'd like to go again, I'd have to decline.


Although Mike hadn't returned back to the loving father he was, he had started to get his shit together. Getting a job was one thing, since it benefitted him also. However, he actually started speaking to us. Granted, no grand apology or sweet "I love you's" came from this, but it was something. Even when he dickishly told me that I needed a shower, I couldn't be mad.

He also regarded us with less repulsion than before. The way he looked at us reminded me of the stereotypical big brother in movies who slowly starts to realize how much of an asshole he was to his little brother, but his ego was in the way of admitting it. Sometimes I would catch Mike staring at us. When our gazes met, he would jolt slightly and avert his attention to something else.

I wondered if he was just used to our "disgusting" presence and no longer as annoyed as before, or if he was actually starting to see the error of his ways.


Praise the lord, Mike has got a job again. A high-paying one at that!

Mike had gotten a job as a lab technician. Even though he would be absent from home most of the time, my siblings and I still rejoiced. We saw it as a sign that things were finally getting back on track. We could finally say that the nightmare was ending.


So Mike has been looking for babysitters lately. Sure, Bonnie and I could suffice, but we weren't legal adults yet. Even if we were, we still attended high school and had jobs. So no matter what, there would always be a period of time where we weren't home to babysit Chica and Foxy.

I asked how he was going to hire a babysitter, unsettled by the idea of some stranger with the plastic disposition of a kindergarten teacher prancing around our house. Thankfully, he said he was going to just ask his cousin Jeremy since he trusts him and it would cost him nothing. I must have frowned at the former, because Mike went on to explain that the argument between him and Jeremy at the funeral was old news now. He said that Jeremy was supposed to pay for a portion of the funeral, but had a minor slip-up with his bank accounts. Already grieving, Mike had snapped at him.

It was so surreal hearing Mike be honest with me and admit to his own faults. He even said that apologized and made up with Jeremy since he was able to pay up his portion for the funeral in the end. Still, with the past year we've had, neither of us could even enjoy this moment without a tense, awkward silence. It was like a reminder that things would never go back to the way they used to be. But by all means, I was determined to at least try to change that.


Jeremy certainly wasn't the irate man I remembered from the funeral.

He was short for a grown man, only reaching up to Bonnie's height. He was also scrawny. He had scruffy, chocolate brown tussles cradling his head and dark brown eyes. His entire presence just screamed innocence and meekness. He seemed fragile, like a kid that would get bullied at school. However, that didn't mean he carried himself pitifully. It just made him more easy to approach.

"I'm so proud of you, Mike," the shorter man said, giving our father a reassuring pat on the shoulder "I knew you had it in you."

Mike gave a dry chuckle "Thanks, man," he said as he worked to button his uniform top with one hand while the other held open the door.

I watched over my homework-covered desk as Mike explained a few minor details about the quirks in our house such as the draft in the guest room and the buggy TV downstairs before he finally left the house with a final goodbye.

Jeremy turned around and strolled towards the kitchen, stopping when he noticed me in the corner. He probably wasn't expecting to see me spying from my hidden post. I didn't blame him.

"Hey there, Freddy," he greeted "Need anything?"

It was clear he had never babysat before and was trying his best not to mess up. Even that simple question sounded like he was trying to gain my approval.

"No, thanks for asking, though," I declined.

Jeremy gave a nod and a smile before continuing to walk into the kitchen.

Needless to say, it was the most relaxing day I had had in awhile.