Two Weeks Earlier

"Greg just moved out, and now we have to go back to sharing a bedroom?" Peter asked as he made Cousin Oliver's bed for when he arrived.

"At least you'll get your own room after Marcia leaves for college," Bobby told him as he looked for his right shoe. "Where's my sneaker?"

"You're not going anywhere, just walk around in your socks," Peter told him. "It's not like the floors are dirty, Alice keeps the place tidy,"

Bobby sighed as he sat down and started untying his other shoe as he heard a car pulling in. "They're here!"

The boys ran downstairs and met their sisters by the door.

"Now, remember, be very nice to your cousin," Carol told them."He's going to be very upset that his parents are dead and he's going to need friends, so be extra nice to him."

"Maybe he'll like to play football with us," Greg said. "Bobby, put your shoes on so we can play."

"I can't find my other shoe," Bobby said.

"It has to be around here somewhere, join us in the yard when you find it," Greg told him.

"Why are you losing things?" Jan asked. "I swear, you're the most forgetful boy around."

"Think he's forgetful? I forgot what I used to look like as a size 2," Alice joked as she walked by with the laundry as everyone laughed.

The door opened as Mike walked in with a suitcase, followed by a tow-headed blonde boy with glasses.

"Kids, this is your Cousin Oliver," Mike told them as the others waved hi. Bobby was the first one there to extend his hand.

"Hi, I'm Bobby," Bobby said as Oliver took his hand, but his grip hurt as he shook the hand. "Ow!"

Bobby pulled back as Oliver smiled evilly.

"Sounds like Oliver has a tight grip," Mike said. "All the real men do. Bobby, take Oliver upstairs to his bedroom then come back down for dinner, Alice should be calling it any minute."

"Yes, sir," Bobby said as he led Oliver upstairs where the boy tossed his suitcase onto Bobby's bed on the top bunk.

"Uh, that's my bed," Bobby told him.

"We'll see what Uncle Mike has to say," Oliver told him. "Remember, I'm the guest and I get what I want."

"Whatever," Bobby said as he walked away. "I have to go wash up, I'll meet you downstairs in a minute."

As Bobby walked into the bathroom, Oliver smiled to himself as he looked at the dresser with Bobby's awards and trophies.

Bobby scrubbed his hands clean and ran downstairs to where his family was already eating without him. There were only eight spaces and no room for a ninth.

"Where's my plate?" Bobby asked as looked at Oliver.

"Sorry, Bobby, in all the confusion I forgot to set an extra space," Alice said as she she shrugged,

"Bobby, you forgot to take out the trash after I asked you to," Mike told him. "No dinner until you do that."

"My shoes are upstairs, I'll just—"

"Then you should have worn them downstairs," Mike said coldly. "You have a responsibility to your duties, so you have to pay for not doing your chores when asked. Now get going."

Bobby lowered his head in shame as he headed for the kitchen. As he walked past, Oliver smiled to himself.

"Uncle Mike, I really like some of Bobby's shirts I saw in his dresser…"

Bobby dragged the bag out to the trash as his socks got water walking though the grass where it had recently rained.

As he lifted the bag into the can, he set it down just in time to the strawberry blonde boy next door doing the same. He spotted Bobby and gave a smiled that could melt ice cream.

"Forgot to take the trash out, too, huh?" the boy asked. Luke Vincent. star of the basketball team.

"Yeah," Bobby blushed as Luke looked down at Bobby's stocking feet. "I was in a rush to finish my chores. It feels… comfortable."

"Really?" Luke asked. "Might have to try it some time. I guess I should get back inside… maybe I'll see you at school tomorrow?"

"Groovy," Bobby told him as Luke started to walk away before he turned back.

"Me and the guys are going swimming this weekend, you can join us if you want," Luke said as his father yelled out his name. "Gotta go, the old man's yelling. Let me know tomorrow!"

Luke ran off as Bobby smiled. not watching where he was going as he stepped in a mud puddle.

Bobby walked back into the house barefoot, holding his wet socks as he found the table being cleared.

"Is there anything left?" Bobby asked.

"Sorry, Oliver's a big eater," Alice said as Bobby's stomach started growling. He found a spared candy bar he kept hidden for emergencies and ate that on his way to his bedroom, where he tossed his dirty socks into the hamper. He found Oliver sleeping in the top bunk, and Oliver's suitcase on his own bed.

"Where am I supposed to sleep?" Bobby asked.

Bobby woke up the next morning in the bathtub, his neck sore as he found Peter standing over him in a towel.

"Not supposed to sleep in your clothes, Bobby," Peter told him.

Next: Things Get Worse