On a Friday

6:20 pm

Philadelphia PA

This was one of those rare Friday nights both of Frank Reynolds children were home. Dee wasn't at a sleepover or the movies (she had a penchant for watching them herself) and Dennis wasn't at a party or whatever the shit popular kids did nowadays. Frank was never popular, but he had his own fun, more like his daughter.

This particular moment was a bad example of how Sweet Dee was more like Frank. She was reading a book that was either old or read several times by her before. Dennis had his eyes glued to the TV; some shit with screaming and boobs. This would be more acceptable if it wasn't dinner. Barbara wasn't home. She was on a spa vacation with some friends and their bat mitten instructors.

Frank Tries to Parent

"Deandra," Frank asked, his Jersey accent slurring her name a little, "Whatcha reading?"

"Deenie," Dee responded, "it's about a girl with scoliosis. She was my age when she got her brace. I read it a lot back when I first got the brace-"

"Yeah," Dennis started, "but Deenie had more friends than you and was really pretty and shit, remember?"

"Dennis don't insult your sister," even if it's true. Frank tried to think of a new subject. "Are you two doing anything tomorrow?"

"I'm going to a party," Dee said. "Dennis and I both are."

"Not as a date, right?"

Both of his kids narrowed their eyes in a what the hell are you thinking? way. They took turns speaking in their "twin" way. Part friendship, part rivals; it was like watching improv comics.

"No."

"God no."

"Why the hell would you even say something like that?"

"Dad, look at her. She's gross."

"I am not gross! You just have bad taste. If you lowered your standards, maybe you'd get laid more."

"No ones standards are low enough to go for an aluminum monster."

Frank stood up and walked upstairs, his kids battle growing more intense. He missed when they were little and didn't feel the need to beat the other at anything yet. When Dennis made Dee's "sweet" namesake, or when Dee read to Dennis. They used to be so sweet until his whore wife got an influence on them.

It was more on Dee than Dennis. Barbara was always disapproving of what Dee did, even if she usually would agree with them. She just straight up didn't like Dee. Dennis learned most of his behavior from his mother. By the time they were seven, Frank just thought Fuck it, they aren't changing.

It was different than his own family in some respects. For one, Frank's parents clearly loved him. They were serious and a little disappointed with how he came to be, but they let him know how much Frank was loved before they died. He got along with Gino in their adult years, too, until Sha'Dynasty came along and fucked up their relationship.

Since then, he just fucked a lot more women, like Bonnie or the OCD redhead. Frank was never alone when he had those women, and when Barbara was pregnant, Frank let her keep those kids. Then, when they're in their 30's, Frank can hang out with them. His "almost anything goes" parenting should make it easy to be their friend when they grew up.

Dee and Dennis had sounded like they finished their dinner. There was no clinking of dishes or intense dialogue. They left the table in favor of the couch, talking quietly, still like improv comics, with the TV still on the screaming boob show.

"So you know that kid we babysat a few weeks together?" Dee asked.

"Jackie?"

"Yeah, Jackie. Sweet kid, despite the fact she's Canadian."

"What about her?" Dennis asked. "If you're going to read her Deenie, there's no way in hell her parents will let her read Judy Blume."

"They let her see R rated shit," Dee said, "Not the point. Did it seem like she had a thing for Charlie?"

"Good lord yes!"

"OK good I'm not alone."

And the conversation just stopped there. Frank wanted to jump in with his kids conversation, but they couldn't see him eavesdropping. Oh well, fuck his kids. He'll call someone he knows. He won't force himself upon them for a few more years. It's weird now.

The first number he dialed was one he called several times in his past. Frank knew she needed somewhere to stay over the weekend, and he needed a woman better than Barbara. He got her answering machine. "Hey, it's Frank. I was thinking you could stay here tomorrow night? My kids won't be home, but I kind of think you should sleep with me. OK you have my number. Be careful, the kids could come home at any time. Bye. It's frank again." Frank hung up and sighed. He wasn't that great to her, and wondered what would have happened if he stayed with her instead of Barbara. Oh well, it wouldn't be too much different, he decided.

Next he called a local drug dealer, famous for giving hot shots to prostitutes. "Luther?" Frank asked when he picked up the phone. "Jesus you sound awful!"

"I'm not Luther," the voice said, "I'm his wife."

"Oh," Frank said, "Well, can you put him on the phone?"

"No," she said. She didn't sound like a woman. Maybe she was a tranny. Those Y chromosomes will do that.

"Why not?" Frank was getting combative now.

"Because he's in jail."

What? "What?"

"If you're looking for more drugs, Luther told me to tell you about some people under the bridge, he said you'd know what he meant."

"I'll check them out. Thanks, tranny wife."

"I'm not a tranny. I just smoke." And the tranny wife hung up.

The rest of Frank's evening went as usual. Frank took some weed, passed out, and gave just enough time for Dennis and Dee to sneak out and see Mac and Charlie. He suspected such; Dennis and Dee would've been allowed to leave, but it was more fun to watch them cover their tracks. That's one thing he'll miss when they become friends.

Besides. Frank won't have to pretend he cares about his daughters sexual activeness. It's her goddamn body and that back brace ain't doing any favors.

I think it was kind of obvious who Frank called first, but I tried to make it mysterious. I don't think Frank is as angsty as the rest of the gang, mainly because of his age. I do think he's lonely, though. I think they're all lonely. Even Dennis, but his is subconscious.

Jackie is another friend. She runs a Charlie Day Tumblr and a cat Tumblr. I wonder if she reads these.

From this point on, it focuses on the party. Next chapter is when it starts, after that PS is revealed. Warning: that chapter is probably going to be my darkest.

Also, updates might stop being as frequent. I have finals coming up. OTL