When I left Myka's, I made my way back over to my apartment, where Mom is hectically running about, trying to get ready for work. My five year old brother, Michael, is lying on the floor, quietly coloring a picture of Spiderman.

Mom comes out of her bathroom and begins to explain as she puts on earrings. "Zoe called. She's sick and can't watch him today. Just keep an eye on him and make some dinner around five. I'm working until close, so I shouldn't be back until late. Bedtime for him is—"

"Seven thirty. I know. I've done this before, Mom. I've got this." I smile to reassure her.

As she runs out the door, she shouts a few last minute directions, which I ignore, mostly because I already know what she's asking and I'm going to do it anyway. Her car door slams and the car peals out of the parking lot. I roll my eyes. She's going to destroy her car if she keeps driving like that.

"So what are we gonna do today, Chase?" Michael doesn't bother to look up from his coloring book.

I sigh. "Probably nothing."

He stops coloring and sits up, looking at me. "We could go to the playground. Or the pool. Or the park. Or the toy store!" His little six-year-old face lights up.

I laugh, "Nice try, Mikey." I pause, trying to decide. "Go get your shoes on. You can go to the playground."

"Cool!" He jumps up off the floor and runs into our room. I pick up my guitar from its stand by the door and go sit on the back patio. A moment later, Michael flashes by me and runs to the playground, which is barely ten feet from our back door. I sit and strum a little bit. After a few minutes, strumming turns to working chord progressions, and eventually I find myself playing and singing softly. Before I even know what's happening, I'm belting out Dashboard Confessional.

I finish and suddenly there's clapping. I look up to see Myka sitting on top of the monkey bars, grinning down at me as she applauds.

"Ha-ha," I joke. "Don't patronize me, sweetheart."

"Why would I be patronizing you? That was amazing!"

I laugh, "Yeah, okay, whatever." Setting my guitar down, I change the subject, "What brings you over to our neck of the woods, anyway?"

Myka shrugs. "Dad's taking a nap. I got bored just sitting around, thought I'd wander around, check out the sights."

"Yeah, the 'sights.' Suuuuuure."

Without losing her smile, she narrows her eyes and swings herself down and lightly sets her feet on the red rubber playground pad. "If these aren't the sights, then show me something worth seeing."

I'm so sorry!

School is kicking my ass. I have ten million things going on. Today I didn't go to school though, so I just got to watch Netflix and update.

Thanks for reading! I'll probably put another up today if I can.