Wilkerson Sister

Season 1 Episode 1

Krelboyne

I woke up to Malcolm's back. I had a small bed between the other two beds. It might be weird for a girl to be sleeping in a room with three brothers, but we didn't have room and I didn't care...much. I could hear Reese's left nostril wheezing like it does every morning. I yawned and rolled out of bed. I grunted. "Malcolm."

He nodded back. "Charlie." I stumbled to the bathroom, clutching my clothes. It was the same thing every school morning. I had four brothers. Francis and Reese were older by four and one year respectively. My brother Malcolm was younger by a year and Dewey was younger by six years. Even if I was older than Malcolm by a year, we were in the same grade, but different classes starting in the 5th grade. I was too late for school because of my birthday was too late in the year. Through elementary school, me and Malcolm would be doing some prank or fighting with with each other. I shoved on blue jeans and a t-shirt. I ran a hand through my shoulder length dark blond hair and rubbed my blue eyes, the same color as Malcolm's.

I heard Mom yell. "Malcolm! Reese! Charlie! Dewey! Get in here!" I ran out of the bathroom. Better not to make her wait. I was shoved by Malcolm and Reese, who were shoving each other.

I shoved them back. "Hey! Idiots!"

I knew the looks on their faces, but then Mom yelled. " Only two toaster waffles left. Two of you has to eat cereal." We all ran forward and Reese grabbed the waffles, throwing them in the toaster. Reese was obviously getting one of them. Dewey called us cheaters and I laughed at that. Dewey is the baby, he's never gonna win. I made a face as I turned. "Aw, come on."

Mom fixed me with a look. "Charlie, you know I have to do this."

I made another face, but nodded. "Yes, ma'am." Better to just agree with her. Mom said, shaving his shoulder. "It seems like such a shame to dump it in the trash. Maybe birds would like to make nests with it or I don't know, you kids could use it for school projects. Arms up."

We were sitting at the table. Me, Malcolm and Reese turned away. There are many parts of Dad I don't want to see and that is at the top of the list. Reese grimaced. "Dude!"

I muttered. "That's what I'm saying."

It's like they forget a girl lives here sometimes. Reese takes one waffle and I snatch up the other one before Malcolm could. Malcolm snapped. "Hey! Give me that!"

Reese snickered and I shoved Malcolm away by his face and using my other hand to shove the waffle in my mouth. I shoved the rest in my mouth, my cheeks bulging. Malcolm glared at me, shoving me out of my chair. "I wanted that."

I grunted. "Ow."

I grinned at him on my back from the floor. I made sure he could see the waffle. He looked ready to attack me, if not for Mom's voice. "Charlie, Malcolm! Knock it off!"

I swallowed my food, picking up my chair and sitting down. Mom said. "Malcolm, I want you to come after school. I made you a play date with Stevie Kenarban and you have to take a bath."

I looked at her in surprise. Malcolm shouted. "What?! Mom! No!"

Reese laughed. "Malcolm has a play date."

Malcolm snapped. "Shut up. Reese!"

Dad asked. "Why is playing a problem?"

I grinned. "Malcolm's not Dewey's age."

"God, shut up Charlie! And I don't even know Stevie!"

Dad put his leg on the table. I rolled my eyes, 'Why'.

Mom said. "His mother said you ate lunch together."

Malcolm exclaimed. "That was one time. He rolled his wheelchair next to me. It's not like I could just say, 'go away'! He's not even in my class. He's in the Krelboyne class, next to tetterball. "

I noticed the 'lecture' look Mom had. "You listen here, young man, that one lunch obviously meant a lot to Stevie. He's a human being with human feelings. You're gonna be friends with that crippled boy and your gonna like it, Understand?"

I smirked at Malcolm and he glared at me. He looked back at Mom. "Yes, Ma'am, understood."

"You kids take your legs for granted, like nothing could ever happen to them. Let me tell you something. That is just wishful thinking. There's meningitis, car accidents, I could actually be giving you a spanking and accidentally snap your spinal cord. Everyday is a lottery and you count yourselves lucky you don't have to scoot yourself around town with your hands." I squirmed at that. I'd believe that.

Dewey grinned. "I don't take my legs for granted, Mom."

Mom told him. "I know, honey. You're a good boy. Stop playing with yourself."

I snorted, shaking my head. We all got ready for school, grabbing our packs and Mom herding us out the door. Malcolm bumped into Reese, who threw him in a headlock. They were shouting at each other. I scoffed. "Idiots." Even with how smart Malcolm was since we were kids, though I usually get involved somehow. I walked past them with Dewey. "C'mon Dewey." I saw our neighbors run past us and laughed. That doesn't change. Mom called to watch after Dewey so he didn't get kidnapped. I called back. "Got it." No one is their right mind would kidnap a Wilkerson kid. It was funny to even think about.

Dewey asked. "You're gonna walk me to school?"

I gave him a look. "No way."

Reese called to mom. "Yeah, Mom, that would be terrible." Reese turned to Malcolm. "It's your turn to walk with him."

Malcolm said. "I walked him yesterday and the day before."

It was getting a little hard to hear when because I was quickly walking away, but I heard Reese say. "I walked with him when he wet his pants."

I then heard. "CHARLIE!"

I darted off. "See ya!" They called me names, but I ignored them. One of them was stuck with Dewey. I was yanked by the back of my bag strap and punched in the arm hard. I knew who it was. "Ow! Jesus, Reese!"

He shoved me away, laughing. "That's what you get!"

I rubbed my hurting arm. "Ow. Asswipe." He laughed at me again, running off toward school.

/ / / '''''''''''' '''''''''''''''''''''''' / / ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' / / /

"Hey Shelly!" I ran over to a friend in the school courtyard.

She smiled at me. She had long blond hair and green eyes. I known her since elementary school, in like the third grade. "I heard your brother was sent to the pysch ward."

I snapped my head toward her, offended. "What!? Francis?! Hell no! My older brother is awesome, he got sent to some private school." Well, it was military school, but she didn't know that. Mom overacted when she sent him, but she always wins. Since, he only did it to prove to her he could.

Shelly said, giggling a little. "He's kinda cute."

I froze and sent her a look of pure disgust. "What? Ew! No way! Sometimes I don't know why I hang around you. Jeez."

She snorted. "Charls, calm down. I guess because he's your brother..."

I shook my head, walking with her to class. "Luckily for you, you're a only child. And not only that, he's Francis. He's cool, but that's it!"

"Whatever you say, c'mon."

/ / / / / / / / / /

When I got home with Dewey, Malcolm was already at Stevie's. I wonder how that's going to go. Obviously, he's not reckless like us. I really didn't know Stevie. Just that he was off limits for bullying because of the wheelchair and that he talked slow because of a medical condition he had. Dewey was in the kitchen eating chips. I walked over, grabbing them and raising them a little, eating some. "Thanks."

He whined and jumped, but couldn't reach. "Hey! Give those back. I had it first!"

"But I'm hungry!"

I smirked, shoving a couple more in my mouth, before tossing them to him. "Here, twerp."

I heard him cheer as I left the room. "Yay!"

/ / / / / / / / /

It was Saturday and all of us were sitting on the couch, watching T.V. Reese on one side of the couch, Malcolm on the other and me an Dewey in the middle. "Dude, get off!"

Mom was cursing by the washer. "You kids keep this house clean 'till your dad comes home. Two of you will get pizza and two..,we have peas." I didn't reply, knowing that would be a fight later.

The phone rang. Me, Dewey and Reese called."Not it!"

Malcolm sighed and got up to get the phone. "Hello?" A minute later, he grinned. "Francis! Hi."

Me and Reese rushed to the phone, hovering close.

"Hey man, I wrote you guys a really long letter, but they only give me three minutes on this thing so will you put on the special prosecutor."

I snorted out a laugh, that could only be one person. Malcolm yelled out. "Mom, it's Francis!"

I heard Mom click on the phone and we listen quietly.

Mom said. "Francis, how is school?"

Francis told her. "Ah, couldn't be better, mom. My new roommate showed me how to kill mice with a hammer yesterday. So, between that and the general atmosphere of simmering homoerotic, I'm starting to turn around."

"Honey, It's only until the summer."

Francis said. "Hey, I hate to ask, but can you send my allowance a couple of weeks early."

Mom then snapped. Oh my God! I can hear you-you're smoking, aren't you?"

I gaped with wide eyes. I mouthed. "He's so dead."

Francis sighed. "mom, I'm not smoking, jeez."

"After seeing the anguish your father and I went through to quit, didn't that register with you?"

It was quiet and I shared a look with my brothers. Mom always won, but what would happen next? Mom sighed. "I'll talk to your dad, maybe we can sent you part of it. Honey, I have to go, I'm late for work. I'll call you later."

We put the phone down. I groaned, sitting back down. "I can't believe we have to wait until the summer!"

Reese and Malcolm also groaned. "I know."They both sat back down, though Reese and Malcolm were now next to each other. The doorbell rang and Mom yelled. "Get the door!"

Malcolm snapped at Reese. "You get it, butt wipe."

They started fighting and I leaned back, basically on Dewey. "Guys, knock it off!" i was trying to watch T.V.

Dewey whined. "Charlie, get off!'

I pressed my feet against Reese's back. "Not my fault! These idiots won't stop!"

Reese turned and punched me in the leg. "Your the idiot!"

I snapped. "Ow! You jerk!" I shoved harder against his back. "Take that!"

Mom yelled at us, but we ignored it. We were going to get in trouble anyway. I felt something plastic hit my head. I turned to see Dewey with a bad. "Ow! Dewey, what wrong with you?!"

"Don't sit on me then!"

I sent him a grin. "Sitting on you?"

He gulped. "Charlie..."

My grin widened. I snatched the bat and tossed it on the couch, forcing him on his stomach and sitting on his back.

"Ow! Charlie! Get off!"

A yank on my leg sent me off him and onto my two brothers. I saw it was Malcolm's hand. "Ow! Malcolm!" I smacked him over the back of the head. "Don't pull me in."

Malcolm cried out. "Ack, Reese! Charlie!"

I felt the bat again and the three of us were in a pile, rolling somewhere. I grunted as Reese's elbow was shoved in my stomach. I smacked him hard on the head. "Get...off." I wheezed out.

Reese snapped. "Why you..."

Soon, I felt a hand on the collar of my shirt. It was Mom and her other hand had Reese and Malcolm's. I yelped and she let go of us. "All of you knock it off before your grounded, go! Go, now!"

/ / / / / / / / /

It was dinner and were all eating and quickly at that. I learned early on if I don't, it would get stolen. I snatched what I had and hovered over it, eating. I don't know how, but me, my brothers and Dad finished at the same time. Dad said. "That was great, honey." I got up with them to go finish the math homework I was ignoring all day.

Mom said. "Wait, wait, wait! There something we have to talk about." I froze, looking at my brothers. Reese was also frozen and he shrugged at me. I shrugged back. I don't remember doing that would need the whole family here. We all sat down. Dad said. "I thought we weren't going to talk about Aunt Hellen until after the biopsy."

.I blinked. "What?"

Mom waved a hand. "Not now, Charlie. It's about Malcolm."

I turned toward him. Malcolm raised a hand. "I didn't do it."

Me and Reese nodded at the same time. "Yes, he did." I told Mom.

Reese said. "Yeah, we saw it."

Malcolm sent us a glare and I shrugged at him. At times, it was everybody for themselves in this house.

But Mom said. "A lady from the school came by and ran some tests with Malcolm. He has an IQ of a 165."

Dad asked. "Who?"

"Malcolm! He's a genius. He's going to a special class."

My eyes darted to Malcolm in shock. Special class? 165? I know he was smart, but jeez. Malcolm yelled. "What?"

Dad asked, smiling. "Malcolm's special? Where do you think that came from?"

Mom said. "They have a special class program for gifted children. They have advanced textbooks, devoted teachers and good things they don't want to waste on the normal kids. You start on Monday."

Well, that's nice. I then looked at Reese and he was looking back at me. We realized where she wanted to sent him. Reese asked. "You want to put him in the Krelboyne class?"

Malcolm yelled. "Mom, no! I don't want to!"

Mom asked. "What do you mean? Of course you want to."

"No! I want to stay in my own class, I don't want to be a Krelboyne!"

I nodded in agreement. We all saw what happened to the Krelboyne's around school. Crazy to think that would be Malcolm. Sure, he's smart, but he's not like that. I spoke up, hoping to help a little. "Mom, he's right. They're nerds and losers. I mean, they don't even have a place on the pole."

Reese nodded. "Yeah and they get their butts kicked."

Mom snapped. "Now, just stop one minute, There's nothing wrong with being smart. And there's nothing wrong with being cut from the herd. It makes you the one buffalo that isn't there when the Indians run them off the cliff.

I stared. What?

Malcolm yelled. "Mom, this isn't fair. If I don't want to go, why do I have to?"

"It's not just up to you. We have to do what's best for you."

Malcolm begged. "Mon, don't make me go, please!"

Dad raised his hands. "Malcolm, calm down."

He yelled. "But, it's not fair!"

Mom said. "Your right, it isn't fair. It's the first time anyone in this family has been given an edge and you are not gonna waste it."

Malcolm whined. "Dad!"

Mom's stare was intense. "Honey?" I watched the both of them like a tennis match. We all knew who'd win, but he was putting up a good fight. It makes sense with what's at risk.

Dad tried to use the empty ice tea as a excuse and Malcolm ran off. "I want a better family!"

I scoffed to myself. "Krelboyne's."

I went to the living room and jumped on the back of the couch, sitting on one side. Dewey was on the other end and Reese joined me, him sitting in the middle. I had the remote and I flipped a couple channels before Reese took it. I snatched it back. "I had it first."

Reese said. "I'm older!"

The remote was still clutched in my hand. I rolled my eyes. "By one year, snot brain."

Reese flicked me hard in the forehead. "Mine, now."

I shoved him hard, not wanting to give up. Next thing I know, I was in a tight headlock. We were on our knees on our couch. I choked from under his armpit. "When's the last time you showered? Let go!"

"Make me, Charlie!"

I snapped, pulling at his arm. "Ugh, I hate you! Dammit!" Dewey was cheering us on.

I heard Dad say. "Now kids..."

I shoved my elbow into his side hard. "Let go!" He had a hard grip once he got you.

A door opened. "Reese! Charlotte! No fighting! Me and your brother are talking!"

I could finally breathe and we both straightened up. "Yes ma'am!"

Dewey turned on a show with that purple stuffed toy. Me and Reese looked at each other, looking toward our room and decided it wasn't worth it.

/ / / / / / / /

If we didn't share any classes before, we didn't now. The only thing we shared was lunch. As for usual Krelboyne's, everyone moved away from Malcolm as he walked around. His eyes went to mine. I shrugged, show him it was up to him. He walked over to Stevie Kanarban. I guess their hang out went well.

Snarp, the bully threw a carton at him. Malcolm snapped, yelling at him. I was impressed, but knew Malcolm didn't like taking crap. It ended with Snarp hitting Stevie and everyone hating him. I sighed in relief, my hands pressed to the table. I realized I went from sitting to standing. He was my little brother. I sat back down. Shelly asked me. "Are you good, Charls?"

I nodded, smiling. "Yeah?"

"You want to go over there?"

I frowned, taking a bite of my apple. "Nah." She took it well about him being a Krelboyne. She's known since the third grade too. Sure, he was a smartass, but he was Malcolm.

She eyed me. "If you're sure..."

I looked over to see him smiling and talking to Stevie. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad.

/