A/N: Thanks for your reviews!
Chapter 5- Fiery Fifteen – February 4, 1966 – Part 1
Johanna spun the lock on her locker, slightly chanting the combination to herself as always. "27-15-32," she kept murmuring internally as she turned the lock to the desired numbers and then popped open the door. She blew out a breath as she juggled her books; tossing her English textbook and binder inside, more than happy to forget about them until Monday…but she did have that paper to start working on, she recalled, a frown gracing her lips as she moved the binder to the bottom of the locker to be taken home so she could look over the instructions once more. Johanna mentally reviewed what other homework she had, her frown staying place as she added her algebra book to the take home pile. She never seemed to get away from that one. The bell had rang before biology homework could be given, thank God for that, Johanna mused.
She smiled a little as she tossed her biology book into the locker. God she hated biology…just as she had hated Earth Science the year before and was sure to hate whatever science came next year. She didn't know why she had to learn science when she had no desire to be a doctor…there was no way in hell she'd be one of those, or a nurse either for that matter. She also had no desire to be a biologist or any other type of scientist; so why waste her time? She wanted to be a lawyer; why couldn't she take more classes about government and laws? She also didn't need algebra to be a lawyer…she had yet to see Perry Mason working out what Z plus X minus Y equaled for a case so that was just another big waste of her time. Johanna added her history book to the pile to take home; she didn't mind history, in fact she liked it even though a lot of people seemed to complain about it. Learning dates didn't bother her; she could remember them easily for some reason, and besides, she understood the necessity in learning history…you had to learn from the past so you wouldn't make the same mistakes in the future.
History also gave her the foundations of laws and rights and that kept her interested as well. She had her heart set on being a lawyer…despite that damn Guidance Counselor smirking at her and telling her she needed a dose of reality as she tried to interest her in being a secretary or a school teacher. She'd give her a dose of reality, Johanna thought to herself as she put her Spanish book away. She'd show her…her grades were good, she'd work her ass off to get into a top school…and she would get into one, failure wasn't an option. She'd get there…she just had a few years to go and she couldn't wait to go to college…couldn't wait to get away from home. She sighed, thinking twice about leaving her Spanish book behind; she had a test Monday, she really should study…she didn't want a Spanish test taking down her average…especially when algebra was trying hard to do that. She groaned internally and put her Spanish book on the pile.
Studying for the test was going to be difficult without her mother to help her, Johanna thought as she pulled on her coat, a feeling of dread filling her stomach at the thought of going home despite the relief that the school day was over. Her mother had gone into the hospital two days before with appendicitis. They had to wait and bring her fever down before they could operate, which they did the day before and her mother would remain in the hospital for several more days…leaving her and her siblings in the care of their father.
Or more like in the care of her…her father just barked orders that she was to follow as the eldest girl of the house.
"Hey, Jo," her friend Cathy said as she opened her locker. "Happy Birthday."
She smiled; her friend was the only to say those words to her so far today. "Thanks; so far it's been a boring one."
"Yeah, I know the feeling; I almost fell asleep in algebra," Cathy remarked. "What are you doing for your birthday tonight?"
Johanna shrugged. "Probably nothing; my mom is still in the hospital."
"We could go out for pizza…maybe go skating afterwards," her friend replied. "I could invite some of the other girls."
"That would be fun," she said as she hooked her purse over her shoulder. "But I have to ask my father first and he won't be home until after five."
"Call me after you ask and let me know; my sister will drive us."
Johanna nodded. "I'll call as soon as I know…I just hope he says yes."
"I hope so too," Cathy replied. "I don't feel like sitting home tonight."
"Me neither," she said as she gathered up her books. "I have to go find Frankie so I have a ride home. I'll call you in a little while."
"Okay," Cathy said; "I'll talk to you later."
Johanna said goodbye and then hurried down the hallway to find her brother but Frankie wasn't at his locker. She frowned; usually he wasn't in a hurry to leave…except for when he was trying to get out of driving her home.
"Looking for your brother?" a voice said from behind her.
She turned, smiling at her brother's friend Joel. "Yeah; did he leave without me?"
"No, he's around the corner talking to Tanya…but you shouldn't bug him."
"Why not?"
"Because he's discussing grown up matters," Joel teased. "It's not for babies."
"I'm not a baby," Johanna retorted.
"You're fourteen," he laughed. "You're a baby."
Her chin jutted upwards. "I'm fifteen today."
"Ooh fifteen today," he laughed. "You've probably never even been kissed."
Her jaw tightened a little, it was the truth but he didn't need to know that. "Are you volunteering?" she asked.
Joel burst into laughter. "God no; but I can't wait to tell Frankie that you asked me to."
Her cheeks warmed; she was an idiot. "I didn't ask you to! You're the one who brought it up!"
"I don't kiss freshman."
"From what I hear, you don't kiss seniors either. They have better taste."
Joel smirked at her as Frankie and Tanya rounded the corner. "McKenzie; come get your baby sister."
"Tell her to get lost; that's what I do," Frankie remarked.
"Yeah, but I have to tell you how she asked me to kiss her," Joel stated.
"I did not!" Johanna exclaimed.
"She did…I think she wants me but I don't date babies."
Frankie looked at Johanna with disgust. "God, do you have to be so embarrassing? Why don't you have a crush on someone your own age? I'm sure some little freshman nerd will kiss you if you beg enough…you're not too ugly."
Her cheeks burned and his words stung. "I didn't ask him to kiss me and I don't have a crush on him. I wouldn't go out with your loser friend if he paid me!"
Tanya laughed. "Oh she wants him bad, doesn't she?"
"I think maybe she does," Frankie agreed.
"I don't!"
"She is such a baby, isn't she," Tanya said. "I can't believe they let her on the cheerleading squad."
Johanna smirked at her. "Aw, are you still mad because you didn't make it…because you couldn't turn a cartwheel to save your life."
Tanya glared at her. "Shut up you little bitch."
She smiled. "I guess the truth hurts, doesn't it? You couldn't land a single move…and yet a freshman did…five freshmen as a matter of fact."
"Frankie, you better shut your sister up," Tanya demanded. "The only reason I haven't punched her is because of you."
Johanna scoffed. "If you throw a punch like you do a cartwheel, I don't have anything to worry about."
"Shut up, Johanna," Frankie stated. "You are a big baby, you've been one all your life. What are you doing by my locker anyway?"
"Waiting to go home," she replied. "You're supposed to drive me and Colleen home."
"I'm not driving you home! I'm not picking up Colleen either. I've got plans with Tanya."
"Dad said you're supposed to drive us!"
"I don't give a damn what Dad said; start walking."
"Come on, Frankie; it's cold out!"
"It's cold out," Joel mimicked.
"Shut up, you goon," she told him.
Joel puckered up his lips and made kissy noises at her, making humiliation spread through her like wildfire.
Frankie laughed. "You'll be fine; you've got a coat."
"What about Colleen?"
"Walk to the junior high and get her," her brother retorted. "Now get lost."
"Frankie; Dad said…"
"I told you, I don't care what Dad said, I do what the hell I want," her brother stated. "I have plans so start walking, mouthy."
Joel and Tanya laughed as she glared at her brother before storming away. She couldn't wait until he left for college and she didn't have to look at his stupid face every day. Now she'd have a long cold walk home…fifteen was off to a great start, she thought sarcastically as she made her way to the school's exit.
Johanna silently cursed her brother as she made the walk to the junior high school and stood outside, shivering in the cold as she waited for her sister. As usual, Colleen took her sweet time finding the exit, making Johanna's annoyance grow.
"Where's Frankie?" Colleen demanded to know once she reached her sister's side.
"With Tanya," she answered; a slight edge to her tone.
"But he's supposed to drive us home!"
"Well he's not," Johanna snapped.
"How are we going to get home?" Colleen cried.
"The same way we always get home when the demon spawn doesn't drive us; we walk."
"But it's cold!"
"Yeah, I know; it's this thing called winter," Johanna said sarcastically. "Start walking."
Colleen pouted. "You should have made him drive us."
"I can't make him do anything, Colleen; now let's go!"
"I'm going back in school and call Dad."
"No, you're not!"
"Why not!?"
"Because he's at work; he's not going to come and get us and I'll be the one who gets yelled at."
"I'm calling him!"
"Fine," Johanna said; "Go on back in school and call him and when he says no, walk home by yourself because I'm leaving."
"Fine!" Colleen yelled as she stomped up the sidewalk. "We'll walk and I'll get frostbite and die."
"We could've already been started for home if you didn't have to stand here and whine."
Her little sister huffed. "What's for dinner?"
Johanna shot her a look. "I don't know what you're having; I'm hoping Dad will let me go out."
"He's not going to let you go," Colleen retorted. "Where do you think you're going?"
"Out for pizza with Cathy and some of the girls and then maybe skating."
"Can I come?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"Because it's for my birthday and I want to be with my friends, not babysitting you."
"You don't babysit me!"
"Um, yeah, I do," Johanna replied. "It's what I've spent the majority of my life doing. I even had to take you to cheerleading practice with me last night because Dad wouldn't let you home alone because he thinks you're too irresponsible. If I get to go out tonight, you're not going."
"Your birthday isn't even until tomorrow," Colleen spat.
"No, it's today; it's the fourth."
"Your birthday is the fifth."
Johanna felt a headache building above her eyes. "Colleen, I think I know when I was born; it's February fourth, it's always been that date just like yours is April fifth and Frankie's is June seventh."
Colleen huffed. "Dad will make you take me with you."
"Then I won't go."
"I hope he tells you no," her sister retorted. "I didn't get you a present either."
"Big surprise," Johanna replied. "How come I always use a little of my allowance to get you a gift for your birthday but you never use some of yours to get me a gift?"
"I'm not spending my allowance on you! That's my money!"
"Remember that come April; because I'm not spending my money on you either."
"I don't care; Mom gets me presents…but I bet you don't get any this year since she hasn't been feeling good and now she's in the hospital."
"Do you think I don't already know that?" Johanna asked. "I know I'm not getting anything, that's why I'm hoping to go out and you're not going so you can cry all you want but I want one night to myself without you tagging along."
"I hope he tells you no," her sister stated. "Then you'll be sorry."
Johanna rolled her eyes. "We can't do everything together all the time, Colleen; you go do things with your friends at times and I don't get mad about it."
"You could come if you wanted to but you never ask."
"Because I don't want to come; they're your friends."
"Whatever," Colleen retorted. "I'm freezing to death; I hope you're happy."
"Oh my God," Johanna muttered. "What do you want me to do about it? I can't change the weather and I can't make Frankie drive us and I'm not paying for a cab to haul your prissy ass home, so just shut up and keep walking."
"I'm telling Dad you cussed at me."
"Oh please do," she said sarcastically.
"What's your problem?" Colleen snapped.
"Gee, I don't know," Johanna said; "I'm tired…I'm cold…I'm listening to you whine. I have to do everything while Mom's in the hospital plus go to school and you sure don't help me with anything at home."
"I don't have to, I'm the baby," her sister remarked.
She rolled her eyes. "Yes, I know…but you're going to have to grow up eventually and do something."
"I don't have to listen to you, you're not Mom!"
Johanna sighed deeply; sometimes she wished she could just slap her sister and tell her a few things but she knew she'd be the next one getting slapped if she did that…after all, she had learned that lesson back when Colleen was still a biter.
A car pulled up alongside of them, the window rolled down as the driver made kissy noises at them. Johanna glanced at the driver and saw that it was Joel. "Go away," she told him.
"Now don't be like that," Joel taunted. "You shouldn't talk that way to the man you want to kiss."
"I'd rather kiss a fungus," she retorted.
He smirked at her. "With the way you act, a fungus is probably the best you can hope for."
"It's still a step up from you."
"Well since you want to be that way, maybe I'll just offer your sister a ride home…she's a lot cuter than you; you know that don't you?" he asked, his gaze moving to Colleen as he looked her up and down, a smile on his lips.
"I know," Colleen said. "I'm freezing since she didn't make Frankie drive us."
"Well come on," Joel told her; "I'll drive you anywhere you want to go, cutie."
"Great," Colleen said, heading for the door Joel was opening from the inside.
Johanna grabbed the back of her coat. "We are not getting in the car with him."
"I didn't invite you," Joel retorted. "I said I'd take her, she's cute and friendly."
"She's twelve," Johanna stated. "She's not going anywhere with you."
"I'll be thirteen in two months!" Colleen exclaimed. "I'll go if I want to!"
"You are not getting in the car with him, Colleen!" she yelled; not liking the way Joel was eyeing her little sister up. She didn't trust him in the slightest.
"Come on, Colleen," Joel said, a smile on his lips. "You don't have to listen to your mean big sister…I bet she gives you a hard time, doesn't she?"
"All the time," she said as she pulled away from Johanna.
"Well come on, I'll buy you a soda before I take you home."
Colleen smiled. "Okay!"
"No," Johanna said firmly as she grabbed a hold of Colleen's coat once more and jerked her back away from the car. "You're not going anywhere but home with me."
"You're not Mom; you don't get to tell me what to do. If I want to go with him, I will! You're just jealous because he likes me better!"
"He's seventeen, he has no business taking a twelve year old out for anything and you're not going, now let's go," she told her.
"No!"
"Is there a problem here?" A policeman asked as he made his way down the walk toward them, his car parked a few feet away.
"Yes," Johanna said; "He's trying to get my twelve year old sister to go with him and I said she's not going anywhere but home."
"I see," the officer said as he looked into the car. "And how old are you?"
"Seventeen," Joel answered.
"Don't you think she's a little young for you?"
He smirked. "I wasn't going to do anything with her."
"Uh huh," the officer said as he eyed him and then looked back to Johanna. "How old are you?"
"Fifteen."
"And still acts like a baby," Joel stated.
"She's a baby?" the cop asked; "And yet you're trying to pick up her twelve year old sister? I've got news for you; she's not the one with a problem here, you are."
"All I did was offer the girl a ride home."
"Just the twelve year old?"
"Yeah; because her sister is a bitch."
"Oh, her sister rejected you so you think you can make her mad by going after the younger one," the officer said with a nod. "That's sick."
"I don't want Johanna!" Joel exclaimed. "She's a little goody two shoes."
"Too good for you," the cop stated. "I can't tell that by looking at her and by the fact that you'd try to pick up a little girl on her way home from school. I'll make sure I'm patrolling this area around this time every day and if I ever see you trying to pick up anyone here again who clearly hasn't asked you to, you're going to be in trouble and I don't think your parents will like that phone call. Now you go on your way and I'll make sure these girls get home safely; don't let me catch you bothering them again."
"Believe me, I won't," Joel said with a smirk before pulling away from the curb.
"I can't believe you did that!" Colleen yelled at Johanna. "He liked me; I could've had a date!"
"You don't need a date!" Johanna yelled. "I didn't let you get in the car because he was probably up to no good you little idiot; how many times have Mom and Dad told you not to get in anyone's car!"
"He's Frankie's friend!"
"He has no business taking you anywhere! He's not a nice person, Colleen."
"You embarrassed me!" her sister cried, tears spilling down her cheeks. "He'll think I'm a baby now."
"You are," the officer said before Johanna could say a word. "Now, where are your parents?"
"Our father is at work," Johanna replied. "Our mother is in the hospital."
"Where does your father work?"
"He owns McKenzie-Thorton Industries," she answered.
The officer nodded. "We can do one of two things, girls; I can call your father and have him come get you…or I can take you home myself. I don't want you to walk the rest of the way in case your little friend has decided to wait somewhere."
Johanna glanced at Colleen who was still crying. "I think it would be best if we just go with you, Officer; our father might be tied up in meetings and he'd get mad if he had to stop to come get us."
"I understand," the officer stated. "Come on, we'll get you home; you do make sure the door is locked when you're home alone, don't you?"
"Yes," she answered as she tugged Colleen to the police car.
"Mom told us not to get in the car with strangers," Colleen said sarcastically as the police officer opened the door of his car for them.
"He's a police officer, Colleen; he's got a badge."
"Still a stranger," her sister said snottily.
The officer gave Johanna a smile as he pulled his identification from his pocket to show her. "For your peace of mind," he told her. "I know how little sisters can be."
Johanna looked over the identification and deemed it legitimate, not that she had any doubts, she could hear the calls from the police radio and his uniform and badge looked like the ones she was used to seeing on patrols after school. "Can you lock my sister up for awhile?" she asked.
He laughed as they got into the car. "If only I had a dollar for every time I've been asked that."
"Is that a no?"
"I'm afraid so," he replied; "And don't worry, I'll make sure to give you my card so if your father has any questions about why I took you home, he can call and I'll tell him that you did nothing wrong."
"I appreciate that," Johanna said with a sigh as she sank back against the warm seat of the car, Colleen sniffling beside her.
Johanna cringed as she heard the door open at five-fifteen that evening. She listened carefully, waiting to hear if her father slammed the door or closed it like a normal person would…her plans to go out would depend on his mood; although she had a feeling Colleen would do her best to make sure she was kept home. She cast a glance at her petulant little sister as she sat on the sofa; her gaze was on the television, but she could tell that Colleen was listening as well, waiting for the verdict of their father's mood.
The door slammed and her heart sank a little as she saw a slight smile touch Colleen's lips. The little brat had been hoping he'd be in a bad mood just so she wouldn't be allowed to go do what she wanted Johanna thought as she grabbed the newspaper from the coffee table and put it by her father's chair as he preferred it. Frank stomped into the room with his briefcase in hand, eyeing them as he did so. "Hi, Dad," Johanna said cautiously. "Did you go see Mom?"
"Yes," he snapped. "She's still dopey from the medicine. Why don't I smell dinner? What have you been doing since you got home, sitting on your ass watching that TV?"
"You didn't tell me to cook dinner," she said, keeping her tone soft.
"I shouldn't have to tell you every damn day, you should know!" he yelled; "Don't you have the sense God gave a goose! I go work all day to keep a roof over your head and clothes on your back; I expect a meal when I get home! Did you think we weren't going to have dinner tonight?! Aren't you hungry or did you already stuff your face?"
"No," she answered. "Colleen had a snack but I didn't. I was…um…"
"You were what?" Frank said with a glare.
"I was hoping I could go out and eat with my friends tonight and then go skating with them," Johanna answered. "My homework can wait until the weekend and my side of the room is clean."
"You think you're just going to go running out of here and leave us with no dinner?" he asked tartly. "What the hell are we supposed to do?"
Her foot tapped against the floor nervously. "Well…I thought maybe you could make something but I know you're tired…so could I make dinner for you and then go?" she asked hopefully.
Frank sighed as he studied her. "Where are you getting the money for it if I say you can?"
It was allowance day but Johanna didn't feel like it would be wise to mention that; besides, she still had enough left from her last allowance to cover her outing. "I've got enough money to cover it; I didn't use all of my allowance from last time."
Colleen rose from the sofa and Johanna instantly went on alert. "Today's allowance day," she remarked.
Frank glared at her. "I know; I haven't forgotten, I just wanted to see if she'd ask for it; but unlike you, she didn't."
Colleen gave him a haughty look. "Johanna got us brought home by the police!"
Frank's gaze was full of fire as he turned toward Johanna. "What did you do?!"
"Oh my God, it's not what you think," Johanna exclaimed. "I didn't do anything wrong."
"Then what is it?" he yelled.
"That little idiot," she said as she pointed to Colleen; "Was trying to get in the car with a seventeen year old boy."
"It was Joel," Colleen interrupted. "He wasn't a stranger!"
"A cop saw me trying to stop her," Johanna went on. "He asked if there was a problem and I told him that Joel was trying to get my sister in his car. He made Joel leave and he brought us home. He gave me his card so you could call and check our story if you wanted to, I put it on your desk."
Frank shook his head. "You really are stupid, Johanna! You made a mountain out of a mole hill. Joel isn't some stranger; he's your brother's friend. Why didn't you just let him drive you home? And for that matter, where is your brother?"
"Out with his girlfriend," Johanna replied. "He said he wasn't driving us, that's why we were walking. Joel was calling her cutie and telling her he'd take her out."
"He was probably joking," Frank remarked.
"No, he wasn't and I wasn't getting in the car with him. I don't like him and I don't trust him."
"So you'd rather embarrass your mother and I by allowing the police to bring you home!" her father yelled. "I bet the neighbors just loved that!"
"Oh my God, we didn't get arrested; the cop didn't even come to the door, he just made sure we got in the house safely!" Johanna stated.
"She was just mad because Joel was only going to drive me," Colleen interjected. "He was going to buy me a soda and she was jealous so she told the cops on him!"
Frank shook his head. "Is that what it was, you were jealous?"
"No! I didn't let her go because I didn't want you yelling at me for letting a twelve year old go off with a seventeen year old boy!"
"It was Joel," Frank retorted. "He wouldn't have done anything to her. You could've gotten him in a lot of trouble with the way you acted, Johanna; and I would've had to deal with his parents."
"Fine," Johanna said; "The next time she wants to get someone's car, I'll let her go. I don't care who it is; she can climb right in and go off and do what the hell she wants; I won't stop her."
Before Frank could speak; Frankie barged into the living room. "Hey, mouthy," her brother said sharply. "Who the hell do you think you are telling the cops that Joel is some kind of creep?"
"He is a creep," she retorted.
"Why? Because he wouldn't kiss you like you asked him to today?"
"What!?" Frank yelled.
"I didn't ask anyone to kiss me!" Johanna yelled.
"That's not what Joel says," her brother retorted.
"Joel's a liar!"
"So you were mad and jealous," Frank stated; "And apparently you were out trying to act like a little tramp by being bold enough to ask some boy to kiss you!" he yelled; "And I'm telling you right now; I won't stand for any daughter of mine being a tramp!"
"I didn't ask him, I swear!"
"Why would he lie!" her father bellowed.
"Because he's an ass!" Johanna yelled back. "Why else would he want to pick up a twelve year old!"
"He was just being nice because she was cold!" Frankie yelled.
"Right," she scoffed. "None of it would've happened if you had driven us home like Dad told you to this morning but I don't hear anyone bitching at you for anything!"
"Watch your mouth, young lady," Frank said sternly, jabbing a finger in her direction.
"Well why aren't you yelling at him for not doing what you told him?" Johanna cried.
"I'm sure he had a good reason," Frank remarked.
"I had plans with Tanya," Frankie stated. "She was only available right after school."
"There, he had a reason," their father said.
"He could've dropped us off first!"
"Frankie is a man," Frank stated. "He doesn't want his little sisters along for any part of a date!"
Johanna fought back tears. "I'm so glad I'm the only one in this house who gets yelled at no matter what. Colleen can get in cars after she's been told not to; Frankie doesn't have to do what he's told; a boy can lie about me and I get called a tramp."
"That's what you call a girl who throws herself at men," Frank retorted; "And you better never let me hear of you doing it again and your little plan to go out tonight is over; you're not going anywhere but into that kitchen to make dinner."
"I didn't do anything wrong!"
"The hell you haven't! You're out being brazen with boys at school; almost causing Joel trouble with the law; embarrassing me by allowing a cop to bring you home so the whole neighborhood can see and let's not forget your attitude problem. You're not going anywhere tonight; you get in that kitchen and get dinner on the table within the hour and don't even think for a minute that you're going out this weekend because you're not!"
"I have a basketball game to cheer at tomorrow!" Johanna cried. "If I'm not there, I'll get benched a game as punishment."
"I don't care!" Frank yelled. "You're needed here! You're the oldest girl, when your mother isn't here this house and your sister are your responsibility! It's starting to look like a damn pigsty around here. You're staying home this weekend and cleaning this damn house and getting the laundry done; not to mention that you have meals to cook. The bedding needs changed too so you've got plenty to do right here at home instead of shaking your ass on a basketball court to entice more boys!
Angry tears filled her eyes but she bit them back. "Oh, so I'm supposed to do everything while you all sit on your asses and do nothing right?" she retorted. "God forbid you have to make a meal or Frankie have to wash his own stinking clothes or for little precious Colleen to pick up after herself or dry a dish. I wouldn't want any of you to die from the exertion!"
Frank glared at her angrily. "Just for that, little smartass; you're grounded for a week."
Johanna scoffed. "Like I'll notice while I'm busy playing slave girl."
"You'll know it when you don't get your allowance tonight; because you just lost it!" he yelled.
"What do I need it for!?" Johanna yelled back. "I'm not allowed to go out. I'm not allowed to have a life. All I get to do is be the slave while Mom's in the hospital. I'd tell you to change my name to Cinderella but I know there's no prince coming up the driveway to rescue me!"
"You got that right," Frankie stated; "And once everyone knows what you did to Joel; you'll never have a date."
"Shut up, Frankie! This is all your fault anyway!"
"Enough!" Frank yelled. "Get in that goddamn kitchen and make dinner, Johanna; and it better be done by the time I come out of my office!"
"Fine," she snapped before turning and heading for the kitchen. She went to the fridge and grabbed out the ingredients she needed to make dinner. She could hear her father's office door closing and her brother's footsteps stomping up the stairs. Anger raced through her veins as she grabbed the phone and dialed Cathy's number. She quickly and quietly told her friend that she wouldn't be able to go out that night and hung up before she started crying. Some birthday it was, she mused as she washed her hands.
"I guess you don't think you're so much now," Colleen crowed as she came into the kitchen. "I told you that you weren't going out for your stupid birthday. You don't even get your allowance," she said gleefully.
"Get lost, Colleen," Johanna said as she opened the package of hamburger.
"Well I did tell you so…that will teach you to be mean and say I can't go with you…and ruin my chance to go on a date."
Johanna turned toward her. "Look, you stupid little girl; no seventeen year old boy is going to date a twelve year old girl; and if he does, it isn't for the reasons you think it would be but you're still too much of a baby to realize how stupid you were being today; but don't you worry, I won't ever stand in your way again."
"You're just mad because he liked me!"
"Bug, if you want him, go for it," she told her. "But you're going to end up looking like a big fool. Now get out of my sight because I'm done with you today; you just had to run your mouth before I could explain things to Dad and make it worse than it had to be."
"I don't care," her sister stated. "You deserved it!"
Johanna turned toward her and grabbed her by the neck of her shirt. "And if you don't get away from me, I'm going to shove my fist so far down your throat that my fingers will be tickling your toes; and you'll deserve that. And just so you know, come Monday, you better beg your brother to pick you up from school because if he doesn't, you'll be walking home alone because I'm not coming to get you. I'm walking home with my friends and we're not going the way you are; so you have fun walking home alone. Now you have three seconds to get out of here you little bitch," she said before shoving her away.
"I'm telling Dad you called me a bitch!" Colleen yelled.
"Please do!" Johanna yelled. "You know where to find him."
Her sister stormed away and Johanna turned back to the counter, molding the meat into hamburger patties. "Ten days now, Johanna!" she heard her father yell.
She didn't bother responding; what was the point anyway; she always lost…but if Colleen thought she was going down alone, she was in for a big surprise.
Johanna put a hamburger and potatoes on each of the three plates she had on the counter and then added a helping of macaroni and cheese to each one. She then added some steamed broccoli to each plate, knowing how much Colleen hated it…especially if it touched the things she did like to eat…and Johanna made sure it was touching the burger and the macaroni. She poured the drinks and put the plates on the table and then poured some macaroni and cheese into a bowl for herself and left it on the counter before she went and knocked on her father's office door. "Dinner's ready," she said sharply.
"It's about damn time," Frank muttered as he came out of the office. "Dinner!" he yelled up the stairs.
Frankie and Colleen hurried down the stairs and into the kitchen, taking their places at the table. "Broccoli!" Colleen yelled. "I hate broccoli; and it's touching my food!"
"Too bad," Johanna replied. "Eat what you have or starve, I really don't care."
"Only one burger?!" Frankie complained.
"There's two more on the stove keeping warm," she retorted. "When you want it, get it."
"Aren't you eating?" Frank asked as he noticed the table was only set for three.
"I'm just having a bowl of macaroni and cheese; I'll come to the table in the minute," Johanna answered. "I have to get something first; it's important."
Frank nodded and she hurried from the kitchen, bounding up the stairs and into her room. She went to Colleen's side of the room and lifted up the corner of the mattress and pulled out the note her sister had been hiding there for the past few days. She tucked it into her pocket and then made her way downstairs, grabbing her bowl from the counter and sitting down in her mother's place at the table.
"What was so important?" Frank demanded to know.
Johanna breathed deeply, settling herself to do this just right. "Well, I was thinking about what you said, about how Colleen's my responsibility while Mom is sick."
Her father nodded. "What about it?"
"Since she is my responsibility right now, I think you need to see this," she said, pulling the letter from her pocket. "This is a letter from Colleen's math teacher; she's been hiding it from you for days because he wants to see you; apparently Colleen's failing her math class and will probably have to retake it in summer school…plus she's having some other issues, like a talking problem in class…."
"You swore you wouldn't tell!" Colleen wailed.
Johanna smiled. "I lied. Oh, and Dad; her teacher mentioned that he would just call you since you didn't answer his letter and Colleen told him yesterday that he couldn't because our mother is very sick in the hospital and you don't leave her side. She told him we're staying with our Grandma in Brooklyn right now. I thought you should know since I want to be a responsible sister while Mom is away."
"I hate you!" Colleen yelled.
Johanna smiled at her. "I bask in your hatred, Colleen."
A deep scowl was etched upon Frank's face as he read the letter from Colleen's teacher. "You lying little brat!" he seethed as he looked at his youngest child. "You're grounded for the next two weeks."
"Oh, I almost forgot," Johanna said; "She signed Mom's name to her failed math test last week."
"Shut up!" Colleen screamed.
"That's three weeks!" Frank yelled. "And you can forget about signing up for spring dance classes because your ass will be sitting up in your room studying your math; and you're going to quit talking in class or I'm going to make you wish you never learned to talk in the first place. Now is there anything else I need to know before I call your teacher Monday?"
"No," Colleen spat. "Don't take my dance class away!"
"It's already gone," Frank seethed. "You've got studying to do and maybe that will be a lesson for you, you little lying brat."
"Johanna only told you because she's mad at me!"
"I'm aware of that," Frank stated; "And I don't really care; did you think you were going to get away with it forever?"
"Maybe! I'm not eating this food after broccoli touched it!"
"Then you'll have nothing," Frank stated. "Your sister isn't making you an individual meal; you eat what's on your plate or go to bed hungry and if you think I don't know you're trying to change the subject, you're wrong."
Colleen huffed and grew silent, anger written across her face as she stabbed her potatoes with her fork.
"Anything else daddy needs to know today?" Frank asked; his tone dripping in sarcasm.
Johanna swallowed a bite of her macaroni and cheese. "When I reminded Frankie that you told him he was supposed to drive us home, he said that he doesn't care what you say, he does what he wants."
Frank shot a glare down the table to his son. "Is that right?"
Frankie shifted in his chair, shrugging a little as he did so. "I'm a senior, I'm a man. I think I have a right to do what I want."
Frank's eyes narrowed at him. "Is that so? Well let me tell you something, son; while you're living under my roof, you better care about what I say because my word is law and it's my money paying for half of that car out there; so the next time I tell you to drive your sisters home, you better do it; do I make myself clear?"
Frankie ignored his father's words as he glared at his sister. "I'll get you for this, Johanna."
She shrugged nonchalantly. "Maybe you will, maybe you won't."
Frank glanced at his oldest daughter. "Well, princess; do you feel better now that you've become a snitch and ratted out your siblings?"
"No," she replied. "I'd only feel better if I could punch them both in the face."
"I'd break you in half," her brother stated.
She met his gaze. 'That's what you think."
"That's enough!" Frank stated. "I want silence for the rest of this meal and when it's over, Johanna, you get the damn dishes washed and put away and you, Colleen, get upstairs and do the math homework you haven't turned in the last few weeks according to your teacher's note."
"Fine," Colleen grumbled as she shot Johanna an angry glance.
Johanna smiled at her; that would teach her sister to mess with her.
Later that evening, Frank rose from the chair behind his desk and stretched; cringing a little as he caught sight of the time. He was supposed to call Naomi before eight and let her talk to the kids but he had forgotten in the chaos of the early evening and now it was far too late. He sighed; oh well, Naomi was probably still drowsy anyway; he'd take them to see her the next day and all would be well. He moved around the office, working the kink out of his back, his ears straining but all he heard was silence. The house had been oddly quiet for awhile now…but Frankie had gone out and wasn't expected home until midnight. Colleen had stomped off to her room as soon as dinner was over and hadn't been seen or heard since. He had heard the usual muted noise of kitchen clean up and assumed that Johanna had completed her duties but he hadn't heard or seen her either in awhile.
Another sigh slipped across his lips; God he hated being the only parent at home. It wasn't easy to take on all three of them alone…especially the girls…and truth be told, he'd rather not take them on. He was a businessman, not a nurturer…he wasn't good at dealing with teenage girls and their emotions, hormones, and attitude problems. Frankie was much easier; but then again, everything was always easier with boys and men. Still…he was the father…and that meant he had to make a trip upstairs to make sure both girls were accounted for and that they hadn't quietly maimed or killed each other…not that he thought it would be possible; Colleen was too dramatic to be quiet while being maimed but he should check anyway. Naomi would kill him if he lost one on his watch.
With that thought in mind, Frank left his office and headed upstairs, making his way to his daughters room.
Colleen glanced up at him from her math book as she sat on her bed. "Can I take a break now?" she asked. "I did three assignments."
"Prove it," he told her as he moved closer to her bed.
Colleen gave him a huffy look as she shoved her binder toward him. Frank flipped through the pages, seeing three completed assignments. "Fine, you can be done for the night," he told her. "Tomorrow when we get home from seeing your mother, you can do another three; and on Sunday you can finish up what's left and you better never let this happen again."
"I don't know why I have to learn this. I'm going to be a singer!" Colleen stated.
"You're not being a damn singer, that's childish nonsense and you need to get that stupidity out of your head," he told her. "You're going to pass your classes and go to college and make something of yourself. Look at your sister, she works her ass off in school and brings home mostly As and a B or two. She's going to get into a good college; don't you want to get into one?"
"No," she spat. "I don't want to be a nerd like Johanna."
"Your sister isn't a nerd; she's got a brain and she uses it; you've got one too, you're just afraid to switch it on; well you better get with the program, Colleen; because you are going to college, failure is not an option."
"I don't want to go to college!"
"Too bad!" he yelled. "You're going."
Colleen gave him a look of annoyance as she slammed her math book shut. "You didn't give me my allowance."
Frank smiled. "That's right, I didn't and I'm not going to; because stupid little liars don't get an allowance. You lied to your teacher about me; you're failing a class, you hid a note from your teacher, you forged your mother's name; you're not going to be seeing your allowance for a long time, Colleen; so you think about that the next time you laugh when one of your siblings loses theirs."
"That's not fair!" she cried.
"Oh I think it's more than fair," he said sternly. "You're lucky I didn't take my belt off and crack you across your ass with it like you deserve. You're grounded for the next three weeks so you have no use for an allowance. Deal with it. Now, where's your sister?"
"She says she's not walking me home from school anymore and she wouldn't help me with my homework even though I kept asking her to help me," she said bitterly. "She just took her books and went downstairs and said she wasn't coming back until I'm asleep because she's not dealing with me anymore tonight."
"Are you surprised? She's mad at you."
Colleen scoffed. "She's just mad because everyone forgot her stupid birthday."
"What!?" he yelled.
"That's why she wanted to go out tonight because it's her birthday and no one remembered."
Anger flicked across his face. "And you couldn't tell me this hours ago when we could've done something about it!?"
"Why should I?" Colleen yelled back. "She wasn't going to let me go with her and her stupid friends so I'm glad she got in trouble and didn't get to go!"
"You little twit," Frank seethed. "You knew it was her birthday and you didn't say a damn word! You were too busy flapping your gums about everything else but what you should! And just so you know since you seem to have it in your head that Joel was going to take you on a date; girls in this house aren't allowed to date until they're fifteen; the only exception is for school dances. Make sure you remember that, Colleen; now you go get ready for bed and I don't want to hear another peep out of you."
Colleen gathered up her books and got up from her bed, throwing them on the desk before turning to the dresser to get what she needed to change for the night. Seeing that his youngest child was dealt with, Frank turned and left the room to go search for his middle child.
When he reached the bottom of the stairs, he could see the light on in the kitchen and he moved toward the soft glow, stepping across the threshold as his gaze sought out his eldest girl. He found her at the kitchen table, a textbook open in front of her and her pencil hovering over her notebook as she worried her bottom lip. "Johanna," he said, as he moved closer.
"What did I do now?" she asked, her tone flat. "Did I miss a chore on tonight's list or are you here to add to tomorrow's list?"
"No," he replied, feeling slightly awkward as he stood at the head of the table. "What are you doing?"
"My homework."
"I thought you were going to leave it until the weekend?"
"I figured I better do some of it now," Johanna said tartly. "As we know, Mom won't be home this weekend and I've already been given my list of duties to complete. I've got a house to clean and laundry to do, beds to change, meals to cook; I'm not going to feel like doing algebra over the weekend."
"Algebra," Frank repeated. "You sometimes struggle with that."
"Thanks for the reminder," she said as she turned the page.
"Do you need any help?"
Johanna scoffed as she looked up at him. "Since when do you help me with my homework?"
Frank scowled. "I've helped you before."
"No, you haven't…I remember asking you to help me with my family tree assignment and you about blew a blood vessel over it. I don't think I've ever asked you since then and I never will; so don't worry, I'll figure it out on my own. I'm not Colleen; I don't just ball up the paper and throw it away."
Frank shifted on his feet. "Alright, listen…I'm sorry about not letting you go out with your friends."
"Yeah, right," she laughed.
"I am."
"Sure; you're about as sorry about that as I am about calling Colleen a little bitch and getting three more days of being grounded."
Frank gripped the back of the chair, trying to remain patient as he studied his daughter; she wasn't looking so much like a little girl these days…it was hard not to notice that the lines of her face had matured; that she had shot up a few inches and was now as tall as Naomi…that little girl softness had faded into the figure of a woman. He frowned; he still wasn't ready to think of her as a woman…she was just a girl…a girl who had gone through her milestones of bras, leg shaving and periods, but a girl none the less.
Today she was another year older…another step closer to being a full-fledged woman...and he had forgotten…and he didn't know what to say or do about it; he couldn't change what had been done and it was too late in the evening to try to throw some small celebration together.
"Why didn't you tell me it was your birthday?" Frank asked, his tone oddly quiet.
Johanna's jaw tightened as her gaze jerked toward him, fire simmering in the green depths of her eyes. "I shouldn't have to…you're my father, you should know when I was born."
Frank bit his tongue for a moment, holding her gaze for a moment as he tried to reconcile how she could look so much like Naomi with that snap of fire in her eyes…and yet at the same time, look so much like Sarah McKenzie with that lift of her chin and the tightness of her jaw. "Things haven't exactly been calm around here, Johanna," he said, keeping his tone even. "I didn't deliberately forget you."
"Yeah, sure…you never do."
"What's that supposed to mean?" he asked sharply.
"It means that I'm not even surprised that you forgot," Johanna remarked. "I'm really not; because I know that Mom is the one who has to remind you of anything that has to do with me…because you don't care about me, you never have. All I'm good for is to be your little slave girl while Mom's sick and your babysitter for Colleen because you don't want to deal with her. It wouldn't have mattered if I told you it was my birthday; you still would've screamed at me and grounded me and gave me my list of duties as your substitute housekeeper."
Frank squeezed his eyes shut and counted to ten. "It's not like that; you're the oldest girl, taking care of the house and your sister in your mother's absence is what is expected of you."
"Well then I guess I better go upstairs and make sure Colleen's tucked in since I'm her new mommy," she said sarcastically. "Maybe I'll tell her a bedtime story."
Frank smirked at her. "The one about putting your fist so far down her throat you'll be tickling her toes?"
She smiled. "That is one of my favorites."
He sighed deeply. "I'm sorry, alright; I forgot your birthday and I know, it makes me seem like a terrible father but there's nothing I can do…and you're getting too old to be upset about silly things like birthdays. One day you'll be sliding into your thirties and you won't want to acknowledge your birthday at all."
"Then we should stop acknowledging yours because you're way past thirty," Johanna remarked.
"You're awfully snarky today," he retorted. "Is it that time of the month?"
Johanna glared at him. "That's none of your business!"
"I'm your father; everything is my business!"
"My period is my business," she shot back. "It's not like you can control it like my allowance."
"Alright!" he yelled; "I don't want to discuss your personal business any more than you do!"
"You're the one who brought it up."
"I know; I'm sorry. I'm sorry I brought it up, I'm sorry I forgot what day it is and that you didn't have anything to make it special, okay? I'm sorry."
"Oh I had lots of things to make it special," she retorted. "My brother let me walk home in the freezing cold, telling me I had a coat and would be fine, and yeah, I know I'm fine, but it would be nice if once in awhile he could be yelled at for not listening to you. I got lied about by his creep of a friend. I got to be brought home by a cop because my little sister is stupid and I was stupid enough to think it was my job to protect her. I got grounded. I got my allowance taken away. I got yelled at; I got chores, tomorrow I'll be getting yelled at by my coach when I call and tell her I won't be cheering at the game. I got all the housework to do…so yeah, I got a lot of special things for my birthday; thank you so much."
"I hate when you're like this," he snapped.
"Well then why don't you do what you always do, Dad; go back to your office and pretend I don't exist," Johanna retorted; "Because let's face it; Frankie is your golden child and Colleen's the baby and I'm the one you didn't want; so just leave me alone like you always do," she said as she slammed her books shut, gathering them up from the table as she shoved her chair back from the table.
"It's not like that at all, Johanna."
"Yeah; sure," she retorted, pushing past him as he tried to step into her path.
"Where do you think you're going?" Frank asked.
"Away from you," Johanna replied. "I don't want to hear that you're sorry because you're not…you never are. I just want all of you to leave me alone for the rest of the night; is that too much to ask!"
"You're in the wrong house for wanting to be alone," he told her as he followed her to the stairs.
"Yeah; I know," she said bitterly; "But I'll just take my chances with Colleen. I need to make sure she goes to bed anyway since she's 'my responsibility'."
Frank sighed as he watched her run up the stairs. "Happy Birthday," he called after her, making her turn and give him a look that he was sure could freeze the fires of hell.
"Yeah; it's been really happy…it's going to be really hard to top next year," Johanna retorted before she whirled away, her dark hair flipping over her shoulder as she stormed away.
He blew out a breath as he stared up the stairs at the empty hallway; he had really blown this one…and of course he had to blow it with the one who held a grudge. Yeah; he'd never live this down. It wasn't a pleasing thought but Frank didn't know what else to do about it…he just wasn't any good at this…he didn't like being a single parent; Naomi needed to come home. Naomi needed to take care of this…or at least tell him how to take care of it because he didn't have a clue how to make it better or if he should even bother trying. Maybe it was best to just let it blow over on its own. Frank frowned as he continued to stare up the stairs…but then again, nothing ever seemed to blow over in his house; at least not without some type of battle preceding it. Why did it have to be Johanna? Why did it have to be his most difficult child? He forced himself away from the stairs; he knew why…it was because someone out there hated him.
…to be continued