Mom passed away in a helicopter crash at her work when I was 10. Dad blamed himself for the longest time. He blamed himself for Mom dying, he blamed himself for the house getting torched. It was a while before he was "normal" considering his wife had died. Jack and Sean were quiet most of the time, except for the times Sean yelled at Dad about him living and not her. Dad understood that he was mad, because he told us this, "Everyone expects me to have the chance of not coming home after work one night, but no one ever told you that your mom might not make it through a shift." Dad started to be extra careful on the job for a few months.
He started spending more time at home, and trying to cook for us. He usually ended up burning it, but we would get chinese. So it was basically a win-win for us. We got to spend more time with everyone else when he would be at work. Unless when Jack was able to watch us. He had to try extra hard to keep me calm, because once Dad left, I rarely listened to instructions. Jack had to call Dad at least three times a night, and if Dad ever came home from work after one of those calls, I was in trouble.
One night, I was silent but I was extremely angry at school. So I almost destroyed my entire room, while no one was paying attention. Instead of calling Dad, because Jack knew Dad wouldn't just take away my gameboy or tv, he called Grandpa. Grandpa walked in, and I immediately sat on the couch with my head down. I knew, that whatever Dad would do as a punishment, Grandpa would do too, and more.
"I'm sorry Grandpa. I didn't mean to do it. I promise! I was just mad, and I didn't mean to." I started to cry and he sat down next to me.
"Xavier, look up at me." I shook my head and climbed onto his lap. I buried my head into his big jacket and kept crying. He adjusted me to where my legs were laying across his and I was laying against his arm. "Xavier, you have to look at me so I can talk to you." I nodded, and slowly looked up to his eyes. He was smiling so I thought "How's he gonna punish me?"
Xavier, I'm not mad at you. I'm disappointed with you, but I'm not mad," He picked me up and made me stand in front of the couch, "Now, we need to clean your room before Danny gets home, or it won't be good." We both laughed and started to my room.
Jack and Sean helped clean, because they didn't want me to get into trouble. They always stuck up for me since I was the youngest. Jack was older by 8 years. By the time we finished, it looked better then what it was before I made the mess. I looked around and "dusted" my hands off to make myself look professional.
"Well. Grandpa, Jack, Sean. I think we did a pretty good job." I walked over to Grandpa and gave him a big hug. Sean and Jack walked over behind us and joined in the hug. "Thank you for helping me everyone," I turned to Jack and hugged him tighter. "And thanks for not telling Dad." He laughed and ruffled my hair.
"Anytime buddy. Us older kids gotta protect you." He fist bumped Sean then we all three did our secret handshake. We all started to laugh when Dad walked in.
"What are you guys doing in here?" We all stood up and I walked forward.
"I'm sorry Dad. I made a mess in my room, but don't worry cause Grandpa, Jack and Sean helped me clean it up." I smiled an innocent smile, and watched Dad barely crack a smile.
He walked over and picked me up, then tickled my stomach.