1991
"Rose, hurry up! I am ready to go play" I hear Chris scream up the stairs. "I cant get my shoes on right! Bubby come help pwease" I beg. I hear his loud foot steps coming up the stairs, As he rounds the corner into my room I cant help the smile that comes over my face. My big brother, my protector. His dark spikey hair and dimples just shining.
"Rose, how many times do I have to tell you? when we go outside put on the Velcro shoes I don't want to have to stop and keep tying your shoes!' He scolds. "Sorry bubby, I just want to be wike you. You tie your shoes." I say looking down as he ties my shoes. "I know blondie, come on. I bet they are already waiting on us." he says running out my door and down the stairs, stopping to kiss our mom on the cheek.
I barrel down the steps as fast as my feet will go, I see momma waiting at the bottom of the stairs with my jacket and smile. My dad works A LOT so mom takes care of Chris and I, My sister Alice is older then us she is already married. Thinking about her makes me miss my sister and Jasper. "Momma, will you ask sissy to come see me? I miss her." Mom slides my jacket on my arms and finishes zipping it. "Already ahead of you Rose. She should be here" Mom is cut off by a knock on the door. "Allie! Jazz!" I scream running to the door and flinging it open and launching myself in my sisters waiting arms.
"Hey buttercup, How are you?" Allie ask as she kisses my head. "Good! Bubba fussed cus I wanted my tie shoes. He don't wanna have to stop riding his bike to help me tie them. Then I asked momma to call cause I missed you and here you are. How does she know what to do before anyone else sissy?" I ask gasping for breath after my spill. Allie bust into a fit of laughter." Cause she is momma Rose Momma knows it all." She sets me down on my feet and walks over to Momma. "Hi Mom, how are you?" Allie ask. "Good Alice, Where is Jasper?" Mom ask closing the door. "He is throwing football with Chris" Allie replies. "Allie! Will you play bubbles with me?" I ask. "Sure thing Rose. Come on." she said. I run pass daddy on my way out.
"Woah there Rose! Slow it down." Dad says playfully as Allie closes the door behind us. I hear the screaming starting as the door latches. "Allie, why do they always fight?" I ask. "grown ups don't always get along Rose. Its normal buttercup lets play." I giggle taking her hand and walking to the field by our place. We live in a nice two story apartment with lots of neighbors and lots have kids. Next thing I know its supper time, I hear my Dad calling me in. Allie, Chris and I all have the same Mom but different dads. I am my dads only child.
We finish up dinner, Allie and Jasper leaves and momma puts me in the tub and Chris helps me. I can hear the fighting down stairs. "No Beatrice, I am not gonna leave my job just because you don't like that there are other women I work with!" Dad yells. "Well I suggest you get the fuck out Carlilse!" Mom shouts. By this time I am in my room with my pjs on, Chris didn't bother washing my hair. I think he wanted to get me to bed so I didn't hear the fighting. But I always here it laying in my bed at night. They fight every night, I cant remember I time I didn't hear fighting.
As I am watching the one show I am allowed to before bed with Chris I hear Dad Yell "You know what Bea, I have had it. I can help raise Rose without having to come home and listen to this all the time. I will be back for my stuff tomorrow!" The door slams and at the same time I hear a glass break. I jump from my bed and look out the window tears streaming down my face I try to yell for him not to go bu tno sounds come out just sobs. I watch as my dad walks away from our home, the family they created together and he don't turn around once. I feel a pair of arms scoop me up and through the tears I see my savior, my brother Chris.
I cried myself to sleep that night. I cried for my mom, for my dad, but most of all I cried because I had a bad feeling things were fixing to happen and I didn't know what to expect. As I doze off my last image is my brother carefully putting me in the bed bending down to kiss my forehead and he said "I will always protect you my lil rosebud. I love you." I mumble out " I love you turtle." And drift into a deep sleep.