13,000 year old Darren "Schnozmo" Cosmo woke up to the bleak silence that crept all over the house, no sign of anyone stirring awake, or his mother's beer bottles clinking. He winced as he got out of bed, grabbing his bruised, red back as he made his way towards his sister's room, gently shaking her awake.
"Chelsea, come on man, we're gonna be late..again.", Darren moaned as Chelsea grunted, turning the covers over her head. "We don't have time to be playing games right now. Get up. Besides, Cosmo'll be waking up any minute now, and you know he's not old enough to fix his own breakfast."
"Ugh I don't wanna…I'm too tired from last night.", 9,000 Chelsea groaned, though a hint of fear was laced in her tone. Darren could read her like an open book.
"Mama's not home if that's what you're wondering. I didn't hear the door alarm again after she had left last night, and I don't hear her complaining or cussing. Now come on, get up! I shouldn't have to tell you twice.", Darren said, feeling more rushed now that he heard his 3,000 year old brother Cosmo start to moan, asking for his mommy and daddy.
Caving to her growling stomach, Chelsea finally did as she was told and floated to the kitchen, where the dishes were piled up in the sink, and the counters and floors were greasy and wet, a couple of piles of ants in the corners. Aside from Darren trying to console Cosmo and get him to stop asking for his parents, the only other thing Chelsea heard was a green (much like the color of her hair) fly buzzing through the kitchen, making its way inside through a small crack in the kitchen window, where one of the panels were smashed with glass.
"Heh..you're late this time, little buddy.", Chelsea laughed, watching as the fly rested on her finger, its small face rubs the only ounce of comfort she had felt ever since Cosmo had accidentally zapped their father. Funnily enough, every time she looked at the fly, Chelsea was reminded of their father. It seemed like too much of a coincidence that the fly was the same color as his long, grassy green hair. As much as she hoped that it was him, Chelsea shook her head, trying hard not to get her hopes up. She felt like her father had no reason to come back anyways, so what was the point? "You know, I dunno why you keep coming back. There's nothing for you here. Unless you're trying to get some of our food."
The fly buzzed gently, though he didn't zoom towards one of the food stains that decorated the counters. He just stayed where he was, floating and looking at Chelsea with its black, compound eyes. After a little while, Chelsea had gotten up and flew towards the cabinets, opening it to find not food, but a restocked cabinet full of vodka and whiskey bottle. She also opened the fridge in hopes for at least some milk, only to find the carton lying on its side, some of the eggs smashed and rotten on the drawers, and several cases of beer resting neatly everywhere else.
"Yeah you can forget about any breakfast, Chelsea.", Darren said sadly, holding Cosmo before putting him down and turning the TV on, "Mama still hadn't gone to the store."
"Well, when is she? Didn't she brag about her last raise earlier?"
"Yeah but you know how she is. Her needs comes first.", Darren said, rolling his eyes, noticing the green fly coming over to Darren and resting on his shoulder, "Ah, we really need to start closing the window."
"Aw come on, Darren. I think he likes you.", Chelsea laughed as the fly gently licked Darren's face, making him cover his cheek before the fly flew off towards Cosmo, laughing as he tried to reach for it.
"Daddy! Daddy! Daddy!", Cosmo laughed, the fly trying to escape his grasp, though it seemed somewhat jovial.
"Darren, you don't think the fly is dad, do you?", Chelsea asked suddenly, watching as the fly cuddled Cosmo close, the child continuing to laugh. "I mean, I just think it's kind of strange the same fly keeps coming in and out of here."
"It might be. I dunno. To be honest, I don't really see him coming back anytime soon. I mean, why would he want to come back home to us?"
"Because he loves us?"
"I dunno, Chelsea. What is there for him to love at this point? I mean, we're not exactly the world's most perfect children."
"Someone has to, right?"
"Yeah but I guess that someone will have to be each other. You know, there's no way in hell Mama loves us, and Papa'd probably be back by now if he meant what he said."
"Him getting zapped wasn't his fault though, Darren. Mama gave Cosmo that stupid wand knowing he wasn't ready! What did she expect?"
"Well, if you want to believe that fly is Papa, then be my guest. I'm sure Cosmo thinks that fly is his father anyways. I won't squish it or keep it outside for your sake, but to be honest, I highly doubt Papa would want anything to do with us. Besides, you know how he and Mama are. I don't think a day's gone by they hadn't argued, and Mama hadn't fit Papa in the face with anything."
"Yeah, I really wish she wouldn't done that. Maybe then he might be here." Chelsea frowned, "I miss him. I remember when he used to rock us and read to us, and he'd kiss us and tell us that he loves us. Man, his cookies were really good too. If Mama left for a business trip oh man…those were the good times. Remember when Mama had to work over the holidays, and it was just us and Papa during Christmas?"
"Oh Yeah. He's a good man.", Darren smiled a bit, "Just wish he wouldn't have left."
"But what if he didn't leave? What if I'm right about the fly being him?"
"Well, until you prove it, I don't think that's dad. Green's a fairly common color for fairies anyways. That could be anyone for all we know.", Darren said, clutching his stomach as if growled louder. Damn…if only they had lunch money. Normally, Darren and Chelsea would have to work around the house in order to earn money for school food, often cleaning the bathrooms and doing Mama Cosma's laundry in hopes for a fresh $10 bill that would last them a few days at school, if they didn't get anything extra. Cosmo, on the other hand, was often fed and cared for at the daycare when Darren dropped him off at the front.
But lately, Mama Cosma (or Nora as she was called) hadn't been home much for the kids to even dream of receiving an allowance, and if she was, she had often just gotten home from the bar and screamed at them to "get your asses in bed, NOW", or had nothing to do with them, staring blankly at the TV with a beer in her hand. Eventually, the house chores had stopped being worked on, and the kitchen started to reek of garbage and moldy food.
"Alright Cosmo, let's go get you ready for school.". Darren sighed, as he turned off the TV, "Daddy'll probably still be here when you get back. Chelsea, why don't you head out without me? I'll meet you at school."
"Uh alright then..", Chelsea groaned as she went back to her room and got dressed, trying desperately to ignore her stomach growling. The fly that Cosmo had been previously playing with though buzzed over, and floated until Chelsea had gotten finished getting dressed. He flew into her face and slowly began to fly towards their parents' room, in hopes that she would follow. Chelsea followed her "fly father" into the room, where her mother's side had stained covers and alcohol bottles riddles around the floor, while their father's covers were neatly folded. The fly landed on the nightstand next to their father's side, and crawled on the top drawer, prompting for Chelsea to open it. Doing as she was told, she pulled out the drawer to find a $30 bill lying across the center, where pairs of tan and black pants rested.
"Oh, are you sure? What is dad comes back and he get's mad that we stole from him?", Chelsea asked, "Unless…wait..you knew where my parents' sleep..there's no way unless…is this yours?"
The fly buzzed happily as Chelsea smiled, putting the money in her jeans pocket, reaching her finger out towards the fly. "Aw, daddy I missed you."
"Chelsea? What's the hold up? You should be at school right now? I'm about to leave!", Darren called out.
"Alright alright, hold you're horses Nora junior! I'm going!", Chelsea yelled back before turning back to the fly, "You'll still be here right? I really missed you, and I want you back."
The fly buzzed happily as Chelsea smiled, resting and snuggling on her hand in reassurance. Chelsea smiled. "Well, ok then. I'll be back later. Love you dad. I missed you."
After he heard Chelsea take out her wand and poof to school, Darren had finally gotten Cosmo dressed and was almost finished brushing through his emerald green hair.
"Darren? Is daddy mad?", Cosmo asked, his eyes filled with an innocent sadness. Darren frowned.
"I don't think that man's even capable of getting mad. Don't worry about it. All of this is Mama's fault anyways.", Darren snarled, not wanting to talk about his parents some more, "Come on, we'll talk about this later. We don't wanna be late."