I stopped in the doorway, Frank was bathing Grammy. "Morning" I mumbled "morning Lucy" Grammy said. "I've got a full-time job and seven kids to raise" Frank said to her. "Are we talking about the same person?" Grammy said. I decided to ignore them and went in and brushed my teeth. "Scrub harder, you're scrubbing like a pussy" Grammy said as Frank washed her back. Lip came into the room "oh, that's a disturbing image" he said as he went over to the toilet. "Morning Lip" Grammy said "how's it going Grams?" Lip said and started to piss. Grammy looked over at him "you fuck girls with that pecker?" She asked. "As often as they let me" lip said. "Hard to believe he got Karen pregnant with that thing. It's so small, isn't it?" Frank said and started laughing. I spat out the toothpaste and washed off the brush. "Don't kiss up to me because you feel like a worthless piece of shit" grams told Frank. I left the room.

"Luce, have you ever gone down here?" Carl yelled out to me as I walking into the hallway. He was standing near the laundry chute "no, dare you to" I told him. He smirked and opened it up then climbed in and fell down. There was yelling from downstairs. I stuck my head in the chute, Carl was sitting on the ground. "Holy crap! Why have I never done that before?" he yelled out and looked up at me. Fiona appeared and looked up too "don't you even dare!" She yelled at me. I ran downstairs and joined Carl at the table. "Mattress next time?" I asked him "no next time" Fiona said. "How much in the winter squirrel fund?" Lip asked Fi. "Just over 9 grand" fi said. "That's all we got to get us through the entire winter?" Ian asked "Frank screwed us when he gave Liam away and there was the compressor for the fridge" Fi said "and stuff for Liam's ear infection" lip said and kissed Liam on the head. "Everyone needs to get winter jobs" Fi said. "I think I'll make a bit over Christmas" I said. "Busking in winter? Could be too rough" Ian said "I'm tough" I said "the toughest girl I know" Lip said and sat down at the table next to me. "Debbie get down here! Breakfast!" Fi yelled up the stairs. "I'll be right there" she yelled back. Fiona started giving us some money "school supplies and clothing. Nothing else. No candy, drugs, beer or concert tickets. I want receipts" she told us. "What if the drugs are really good?" Jasmine asked as she came out of the toilet. "What the fuck?" I whispered. Lip shrugged. "You still here?" Fi asked her. "I got caught up reading a magazine" Jasmine said "hey that's mine" Debbie said and grabbed it off her. "Debs I need you to find the backpacks and any old school books" Fi told her. "Carl put the daycare supplies in the basement" fi added "okay" Debbie said "roger that" Carl said "lip, you and Ian clean the pool, think there's a few surprises in there" fi said. "Carl, tell Lip to do it himself" Ian said "lip, Ian says you can do it yourself" "Carl, tell Ian he's being a douche bag for not talking to me" lip said in a funny voice "Ian, lip said you're being a douche…" Ian put his hand over carls mouth. "Ok, whatever it is you guys are still doing I want it over before school starts so figure it out" Fi said. "Mommy, what's my assignment?" Jasmine said. "Argh, I'm off" I said. "What? why doesn't Lucy have to do anything?" Debbie whined "she's got music lessons all day" Fi said. I stuck out my tongue at Debbie.

Lee and Cue were waiting for me at the bus stop. "Ready for school?" I asked them as we boarded the bus, Lee hung back for a second and passed something to the driver then jumped over a seat and plonked down next to us. "I'm going to see what the teacher gives out first, got caught at Walmart the other day and not risking it again just for school shit" he said. "That sucks" I mumbled. "Same, foods more import" Cue said. "We going to find us some bikes while you're at the music thing, hopefully we can ride home then" Lee said. "Not pink" I said. "We will paint it anyway" cue said and rolled his eyes. "Is Fiona making you go shopping for new clothes?" Lee asked with a laugh. I shook my head, "that's stupid, I'll just wear what I've been wearing all summer" "hope we don't get any do gooder new teachers" cue said. Lee and I nodded in agreement.

"I really need to shit" Cue mumbled again, "just go behind a tree or dumpster or something" I told him. "I tried, I just can't. I need privacy" he said. "Bloody toilets being shut" Lee mumbled. They had planned on using the toilets to freshen up and everything so neither were happy. "Just come to my place afterwards ok? We are meant to finish at 3" I told them as I walked up to the stairs to Mr McKenzies house. "Do you think they'll fill up my drink bottle?" Lee asked. "Ask?" I told him as I knocked on the door. Lee and cue came up the stairs too.

"How do you do that?" Alex asked. I gave her a puzzled look. "Take the criticism" she added. I didn't lose the puzzled look, Mr McKenzie was just telling me to try harder and work as a team. "He didn't say anything mean?" I questioned. "He told you to stop half arsing it and that it wasn't all about you anymore, to stop being a princess and focus on what everyone else was doing. He called you a little shit" I nodded, he had said that. "That's mean" Alex added, "I would have balled my eyes out." "Why because of the shit? He always says that and the Princess thing is funny. That's just how we talk to each other, it's how everyone I know talks to each other. You should hear what my siblings or Frank says sometimes. But I don't care, if they are right then I deserve it if they aren't then they can fuck off" "but others heard, what if they think the same?" "Well, then same shit really. And unless they say it then how do I know what they think anyway" "Lucy watch the swearing please" Mrs McKenzie said from the doorway. "Sorry" I mumbled. "You both did wonderful today, don't listen to what grumpy Mr McKenzie says" she added. "Thank you" Alex said. I spotted Cue and Lee coming up the street, both on bikes. I ran over to greet them and check out the bikes. "Nice, do I get to keep it?" I asked. "Yeah I'll find another one" Lee mumbled. "Who is that?" Cue asked and nodded towards Alex. "My music friend, come meet her" I told them. "Alex!" I yelled and and waved her over. She slowly walked over to us. "This is Lee and Cue, guys Alex" I said. "You play the violin?" Cue asked "no, cello" Alex said. We stood there in silence for a bit. "I tried to teach them guitar but they both suck, can't even clap out a rhythm properly" I said and smirked at the boys. "At least I can read" Lee replied "I can read" "you sure? You definitely can't spell. Or play ball" Cue added. "Hey, take the back. I play ball, I will whoop your arse" I said as I pushed Cue. "Yeah right, you can't get the ball into the basket" Lee said. "That doesn't mean I can't play" "that's the whole point of basketball" "I'm going to wait with Alex until her dad comes but you guys can piss off if you want" I told them. "We will wait" Lee mumbled.

I watched Ian do push ups, Debbie had her new clothes laid out on the couch. "For the first day of school, what if I wear this red top with these blue shorts" she said. "Must be nice to not get hand me downs" Ian said. "or is the pink top better?" Debbie continued, "not stuck with Lips old crap" Ian added. "Poor you, I get stuck with that crap and whatever survives Carl" I said and kicked his knee. "It has flowers on it. Flowers are for babies aren't they?" Debbie said ignoring Ian and me. "You're lucky Fiona's clothes don't fit you yet, get to have all new stuff" Ian continued, "guys I'm going to need a little more help than this" Debbie sighed. "No one cares what you're wearing" I said. Lip walked through the front door "oh good you're here, I'm trying to make a good impression for my last year of elementary" Debbie said to him, "red top, blue shorts" Lip said "that's what I thought. Thanks" Debbie started folding up her clothes. "Karen and I are getting back together, she ditched Jody, now I can step up. Be a father to our kid" Lip said. Ian stopped working out and shook his head. "Why, what's wrong with Jody?" Debbie asked "he's a tool" lip said. "Why would you want to be a dad?" I asked, "kids been made, I'm just doing the right thing and looking after it" Lip said. "How will I know if I'm dating a tool?" Debbie said, "you'll figure it out" Lip told her. "nah she won't" I said "then we'll beat the shit out of him for her" Lip said. "Ok, cool" Debbie said and headed upstairs with her clothes. Lip looked at Ian who was ignoring him then headed into the kitchen. "Pathetic" Ian called out after him. "Ladies and gentlemen, he speaks" Lip joked. "You could have anything you want, and this is the life you choose" Ian said and stood up. "Im not gonna split on my kid like Frank" Lip said "fucking waste" Ian said and walked past Lip. "You're the one pretending to date Mandy so you can fuck her brother" Lip said. "wait what?" I said but they ignored me. "Even the pentagon says it's ok to be gay but you're too chickenshit to let anyone know" Lip continued, "least I'm not getting trapped by some pregnant skank" Ian yelled. Lip pushed Ian "fuck you" "you'll probably quit high school, start working at best buys" Ian said and pushed him back. "Watch your fucking mouth" Lip yelled "I wonder how long before you start huffing glue" Ian said and they started wrestling. "Hey, hey!" Grammy yelled as she came inside. The boys stopped. "Put all that Sudafed down in the basement Carl. Lucy help him" she said. I got up and grabbed some bags. "Are you making meth?" I asked Carl "Grammys teaching me" he said.

"Why are you mopey?" I asked Fi. She looked up from the laptop. "Just a rough day" she sighed. I went and snuggled in next to her. "It's grown up stuff" she mumbled and continued to scroll through job ads. "I didn't ask" I mumbled with a shrug. After a while she put the laptop away and laid down, I joined her. "I think Jasmine likes me" she said, "well yeah, you're friends and she hangs out with you heaps. Of course she likes you" I said confused. "No, like … likes likes me. She kissed me" "she's always kissing you?" I still didn't get it. "This was a proper romantic kiss" "with tongue? Yuck" "a bit, she was drunk though but … it was weird" "Jasmine is always weird" "you don't like her?" "not really" "why?" "I don't know, she's … fake? I think. Or pretending something. I don't know. I just don't like her." We laid there in silence for a bit.

—

"Carl leave it alone" I told him again. He just smiled. There was a flash of light and a big bang, Carl yelled. My vision was all spotty and my ears rang "Fiona!" I screamed. Carl stumbled over to me "shit" he mumbled. Fiona rushed down the stairs and grabbed the fire extinguisher. "Where's your grandmother?" She asked once the fire was out. "Getting more supplies" I said, Carl was still pretty dazed. "I'm gonna kill her" She yelled and rush up the stairs. "Are we going to get high now?" I asked. "More like cancer" Debbie said.

There was a knock on the door, my friends looked outside and then took off. "Hey, it's just emt. It's not the police" I yelled at them as they left. "Fine, I'll enjoy getting high by myself then!" I went and opened the door. They had Grammy with them. "Lucy, good, this is my granddaughter" Grammy said. "Hi Grammy" I said and moved out of the way. They helped her over to the couch. "Did you drink too much?" I asked her. "No sweetie" she said and winced as she sat down on the couch. Fiona burst through the front door. "What's going on? What happened?" She yelled, Frank walked in behind her. I pointed at Grammy. "I'm fine, don't listen to them" Grammy said. "Are you the guardians of Margaret Gallagher?" one of the emts asked. "She is" Frank said as he pointed to Fiona. "She's my grandmother, what happened?" Fi asked. "Well, your grandmother blacked out. She was at a ace hardware, fell and was taken to the emergency room" "what was it?" "ER doc says cancer." I looked at Grammy, "from the meth?" I asked her "shhh" she told me. "Grammy" Carl said as he ran down the stairs "hey, it smells in here. You blow up our lab?" She asked him. "A little bit" carl mumbled and sat down next to her. I went over to Fiona. "She's got to be in a lot of pain, she shouldn't be leaving the house" the emt said. "These morons don't know what they're talking about" Grammy yelled. "sign this form, please. If she were my grandmother, I'd call hospice. They can manage her pain. Make her more comfortable" the emt said. "Hey, knuckle head set up the card table, I want to teach Carl a little 5 card stud" Grammy told Frank. Fiona and Frank looked at each other. "What's going on?'" I asked. "Grammy's sick" Fiona said. "Oh, ok. I'm going to go find some friends" I told her and ran off. "Wait, what about lunch?" She yelled out. "Not hungry" I said.

"Jesus, you stink" V told me as I walked into their kitchen. There was a cage on the table with a rabbit in it. "What's that?" I asked her. "Our pet" she said and came over to me while stared at the rabbit. "A pet?" I questioned, people like them and us didn't really do pets. "Give something for Kev to nurture and shit now Ethel's gone" v explained. "She's really gone? Just like that?" I asked. "Yep and now we have Ethel number 2" V said. I clicked my tongue at Ethel 2 but she didn't move. "Fiona said you had a rabbit, but I wasn't sure if she was just bullshitting like that time when she said you got a puppy and I rushed over here and there was nothing, then they locked me out of the house for the day" I stuck a finger in the cage and wiggled it but Ethel 2 still didn't do anything. "yeh, you were being an annoying shit, you being annoying this morning?" "No, Carl blew up the meth lab" "meth lab? that's what the smell is? Jesus, guess Grammy will be going then?" "Grammys got cancer" "oh, that explains the medical furlough." "Does Ethel number 2 do anything?" "Not really"

I rode around the streets looking for something to do, there weren't many kids around. I eventually found Jav and his arsehole friends huffing glue at the playground. "Is this all you do now?" I asked Jav. "Unless you going to let us do some exploring, get lost" one of his friends said. I just looked at him and shook my head. "This is fun Luce, the high, company, chicks … you're still a little kid so won't understand" Jav mumbled. I felt so sad for him, it didn't look like fun and I had, we all had, seen the damage done by huffing glue. The 18 year olds still in middle school, barely able to form a proper sentence. We used to always talk about it and agreed we wouldn't do it, but there was Jav taking another breath from the bag. "You going to cry little girl?" One of his friends teased. "Shut up, you are all idiots. You don't have to do this Jav, these arseholes aren't your friends" I told him and turned to leave. One of them grabbed my arm and pulled me into him, I instantly started kicking and swung at his face. I made contact with a shin and his nose. He shoved me back and I fell to the ground. One of the other boys sat on top of me and slapped my face, he pulled me up by my top. "Don't you ever come back here, you worthless gutter trash. Jav ain't your friend" he yelled into my face and pushed me into the dirt. He spat on me when he stood up, another one kicked my side but was quickly moved away. I looked towards Jav, the sadness in his eyes only lasted a second, then they went blank and he stood up and walked away with his friends.

"You too hey?" Ian asked. He had a black eye, Lip was sitting next to him and didn't look much better. "I hate arseholes" I told them as I sat down in between them. I curled into a ball and rested my head on Ians side, he put his arm around me and Lip put a hand on my knee. "Sucks hey" Lip said. I nodded. "Really? Greet way to start the school year. You better not have hurt your hands Lucy" Fi said as she came into the room with a beer. Ian grabbed my hand and had a good look at it. "Should probably put some ice on it" he said. Fi sighed and went back into the kitchen.

—

"Lucy! Up, first day of school and you're not going to be late" Fiona said. "I don't want to" I moaned. Fiona sat on top of me and breathed all over my face "ewww" I said and tried to get away from her. "My heads kind of fuzzy" I told her, "Yeah it's the meth lab" she said.