“Right, let’s keep buttering him up with compliments, especially everytime we want to flash him his minimal profit margin… You know we can’t lose him. Keep him high on that horse; this season’s indicators strongly lean towards a bull run, we can make back everything we lost anyway.” I said as I drove past the green light, brimming with confidence.
“I think he’s not gonna be with us that long.” Stephanie sighed in my right ear. She was talking about a high profile client of my firm, a client we could not–and I emphasize–could not lose.
“Have a little faith, Steph.” I grinned to myself, sure as hell about the current state of our portfolio. It was a gut feeling I couldn’t put aside, and my analysis had so far been 75% spot on this season. For a chance that high, I was a god at the firm.
“Let me know how he reacts.” I told her.
“Sure will.” She said and clicked off.
A small fear crept up my spine; it was an icy little thing, a singular doubt that worms its way into my mind whenever I’m on a pedestal, telling me I’m not as good as I think, and that soon, it will all come crashing down so I could go back to flipping burgers again.
I shrugged it off and turned up the volume to Tpain’s ‘All I do is win ‘.
Fear is the enemy. I told myself. I’ve got the house. The flashy car. The great job. And the girl? A brief recollection of our last spat made something in my chest flutter.
“Stasia, check for missed calls.” I told my only other companion.
“You have no missed calls.” The AI replied flatly.
I quashed the urge to squirm in my seat, even as I nearly missed my turn. I turned off the main street and onto the street where my sister lived. I could already see the brown roof of her house up ahead: the house was a modest, peach bungalow with a decent amount of parking space in front, an area annexed to a high-walled fence.
Today, her parking space was crammed to the brim with cars, as well as the sidewalks in front of the house for several yards out. Grumbling, I had to park four houses down.
Once I got out, I smoothened the lapels of my shirt and grabbed two gift boxes I had in the back. They still had the receipts slapped on them from when Stephanie had rushed over to the mall to get them — I peeled them off, checked the sides to be sure there was nothing more, and practiced my best smile as I strutted towards the house.
My million-dollar-smile was easy, friendly, and caring even; I knew it would serve me well in a place packed with people I no longer remembered.
Soft music met me at the gate, and I pushed it open to reveal a crowd of people mingling. A few faces shook memories free from the corners of my mind but I made no effort to make contact; my target was locked on the front door — inside the house immediately registered as a safe haven from all unwanted interactions, and I made a brisk beeline for it.
I rapped at the door twice and listened to the chaos inside. Children were screaming and scurrying around, that much was evident from where I stood. The thought of those little gremlins touching me slid ice down my back. The reaction was connected to a memory from my childhood, about a stuffy place and a younger me being unable to fit in. I immediately pushed this memory aside as the door flung open.
My brother-in-law was standing there with three kids in two arms, all squirming, two crying. The crying managed to ring above the annoying cocomelon music playing somewhere in the house.
“Hey Ben!” he donned a tight smile. “Nice to see you!” He rocked the children from side to side in his show of excitement.
“Hi Ralph!” I flexed my signature smile with raised hands, unsure how an embrace was going to work out.
“I would hug you if not for these little buggers. Come on in. The party’s already started.” He ignored my gesture as he started walking away, but then he paused two steps in and sighed. “I just wanna say, thanks for that thing you helped us with last week. You’re amazing, bro.”
The thing he was referring to was his child’s tuition. Not my sister’s child, but a child from his previous entanglement. What could I do when my sister looked at me with hurt in her eyes and told me about her child dropping out of college?
“No worries.” I said through a tight smile as I stepped into the vestibule. “Come on in. We really need help round the back. Helen should be in the back too. I just gotta feed these little ones first.” He shouted to me as he dodged into a room.
Left alone, I scanned the areas within sight and was nearly grateful to see no child, although I could hear the chatter of people coming from the back of the house. “Ey! Stop doing that!” Ralph yelled from a room down the hall, probably at one of the minions he had been holding; I stood in the vestibule enlightened, remembering why I said I would not have kids. Well, hopefully–I always had Ralph as a bad example on why not have kids. Why? Ralph was by far the smartest guy in any room; he finished top of his class in Columbia University and had all the right recommendations. Only to what? Work 9 hours and come home to three restless minions? I shivered.
I pulled the door closed behind me but restrained myself from venturing any further. Actually, my plan was to stop by and step out. Transgressing into the mix would only seal my fate as a willing laborer in their endeavor–and I had no intention of laboring, OR entertaining kids. I disliked kids.
“Ben! Finally!” My sister sprung from the living room like she had been haunting the area, her hands outstretched. She had an assassin stealth about her that made her move through rooms in seconds, and in the most quiet way possible.
She grabbed the boxes before I could mutter a ‘hello’. “Henry won’t shut up about the gift you promised him.” Her smile was strained, the lines etching up the corners of her eyes.
I managed a small “oh”, but was cut off before I could say anything else.
“Could you help me put some drinks in the coolers? They’re all set out in the kitchen.” She said and I was horrified. “Mum’s around here somewhere. She was eager to see you earlier, but knowing her, she’ll be pissed you’re late,” she added and I knew I wanted to run. The last thing I wanted was an uncomfortable lecture from my mother. “And, Kelly will soon be here.”
Kelly? I couldn’t stop the reflex of grinding teeth. That name irked me in every way, and unfortunately, it was the name of my sibling.
“I didn’t even know he was back in town from one of his usual escapades. Last I heard of him, he was stealing mom’s car.” I huffed as my sister walked off.
“Now-now, be nice. Help me with the drinks, will you?” Her voice rang with scorn and I was left with the task at hand.
Her kitchen was designed to be more utilitarian than aesthetic. The sink, stove, and dishwasher went in a straight line closest to the door. The dining table was made from walmart wood and basically a rectangle with no ornamentals. Small photos of her family hung from the walls and on the fridge, featuring me in a few of them.
I felt queasy standing there in this small space, much different from my open-spaced minimalistic kitchen; The weathered, grainy wood was a jarring contrast to the immaculate steel and granite surfaces of my kitchen. I did not like how it was a room I had never been in, and yet, it echoed so many memories; I did not like that the patterns of the dining napkins matched the towels hanging from the stove, or that the children’s toys could be found at odd places, like on the kitchen counter and on the fridge. A small wave of nausea made me panicky and I hurried to finish the work and get out of there.
The coolers were left open by the dining tables, already laden with ice, and the drinks were set on the dining table just as she had said. I began reaching for bottles when a loud door slam rang through the house.
“EYYY! How are we doing!” The voice made me cringe. It was my elder brother, Kelly. My heart fluttered before the tightening in my chest. I tried to plaster my million-dollar-smile before he walked into the room, but the expression was a tight mask.
He swooped right into the room without warning, grinning from ear to ear.
“K-kelly…” I fumbled the word and stuck an awkward hand out for a shake. He eyed me from head to toe and yelled, “Don’t give me that!” His bear-arms swallowed me and nearly twisted my jutting arm between us.
“How have you been?” He let go only to grab both my shoulders. I felt so sonned, but I smiled through the embarrassment and managed a “Been okay. Been fine.”
“So lucky of us to be in your presence. Nearly thought you’d miss this birthday.” He pulled me into his side and took huge strides into the threshold, reeling me along.
I was irritated by the words I really wanted to say but felt uncomfortable to say. The first thing I wanted to speak to him about once I saw him was the fact that he kept stealing from mom! But there I was, trapped under his big arm, forcing a smile as he loud-mouthed his way to where the real chaos was–the backyard that was teeming with people. He pushed the kitchen’s glass door open to reveal a small party: people were mingling in pairs or groups, having small talk and sharing light laughter. I did not like this scenario one bit. Even worse was the fact that I could tell a few familiar faces that lit up once they saw me.
“Hey Mom! Look who decided to drop in!” Kelly boomed, his voice nearly as loud as the music.
My mom looked amazing. She had this petite form that made any dress look better, and so she was, on this day, shining brighter than even most of the younger women. Mom had this posture and walk that made her look effortlessly in charge, even as she glided over to us and wrapped her arms around me.
“So happy to see you, honey! Tell me you’re sticking around for long this time. I would love your company!”
“Mom, I would but, I’ve got a thing.” I sighed, referring to a bar hangout with my friends later that evening.
“You always have a thing. Where is Leah? She couldn’t make it? I know she loves family parties.”
A rash I couldn’t scratch started behind my ear. I had not been able to make progress towards reconciling with Leah since our last spat. “She had some things to attend to,” I smiled.
“You know you’ve gotta hurry up with that one right?” Mom gave me her know-it-all expression.
“Yes ma’am.” I sighed as I literally ducked out of Kelly’s embrace. “I can’t stay for long though. Just wanted to pop in and see how everyone’s doing.” I took my mom’s palms in mine and rubbed the top of her hand with a thumb. “Mom, you look beautiful.”
“ — And you look handsome. You’re a dead ringer for your father.” Sadness clouded her as she said this. At that moment, I was reminded of my pact to care for her and protect her — a pact with myself when I was much younger, such big shoes to fill at the time. She would want for nothing if only she didn’t have to deal with her nefarious first son, who clung to her like a one-year-old!
My mom’s expression changed for a split second as she looked at me, and I quickly realized she had noticed my anger, even as Kelly still swung his massive arm over my shoulders again. “Look man, can I have a word with you quick?”
I looked to my mom for permission. She nodded apologetically and I released her. I plodded over to a corner of the sit-out while managing small pleasantries and gestures with some family and friends along the way. Once Kelly had me at a corner, I knew before his lips opened that I was not going to keep my cool.
“Can I get 10k from you? I’m kinda in a fix right now.” He clasped his hands in feigned humility. I sighed loudly as the first stirrings of rage began to bubble to the surface. “Amma have it back next month, I promise. I’ve got this new job — ”
“Is that why mum’s been calling me recently? Asking me for 10 grand for a business investment? Are you the business investment, Kelly?”
“Mom is just trying to help me out. You ain’t help me like her.”
“SHE HELPS YOU WITH MY MONEY!” My outburst caught me off. I flicked an apologetic glance in all directions as I tried to compose myself. “I am trying to take care of mom.” I looked pointedly at Kelly as I said this. For a moment, he was so observant, so quiet, which was a rare state for him, and it empowered me to raise my shoulders a little more. “I am all she’s got. Helen has a family now. She tries to take care of mom too, but even she needs some help from me every now and then. It means, I am all mom’s got. I pay her bills. Fill her car tank up. Put food on her table. She’s got a little pension, but it doesn’t do much for her — ”
“I help her out too. You know she’s always wanted her garden, so I work on the patch on sundays.” Kelly chirped in.
“Yeah, and then you take her car THE REST OF THE WEEK, AS PAYMENT!” Again, I was embarrassed by my own outburst. Kelly was already sulking as well, but paying no mind to the others.
“Look man, mom doesn’t have many places to go. My car’s at the shop. I told you so.”
“YEAH! LIKE A YEAR AGO! AND YOU BEEN TAKING FROM MOM EVER SINCE!” The rage had balled in my throat and had shut everything out. All I saw was Kelly’s irritating face!
“Don’t be yelling at me little bro. Ever since you got a little money, you’ve been prancing about like you’re something special.” Kelly’s lip trembled as he said this, the tell-tale signs of his own anger.
“I AM SPECIAL. Must be the reason you keep crawling to me for money!” I snarled and his shoulders rose like two massive boulders. I could see the anger contort his countenance as well, which was perfectly fine; I had been waiting weeks to spit in his face. “You know I hated you less when you had that dump of a car, because then at least you’d disappear in that shit for weeks. Drive to some out-of-the-way county to get stoned and I could just tell mum you were out searching for jobs!” A force made my face swing so hard that the world disappeared for a second. When I came to, I was picking myself off the ground.
“ASSWIPE!” Kelly was trembling as he yelled, but my mother was in front of him shoving him backwards. “Don’t you ever talk to me like that again!” He yelled over her.
Half my face felt like cold sludge, the feeling had disappeared. I rubbed at it, trying to figure out how much PSI had been in that one punch. Everyone was looking at me with shock on their faces, and a few scowled at me as they muttered things.
My mum soon had Kelly in an embrace, and my sister was gesticulating with her hands to calm him down. Her husband stood between me and them, unsure of what direction to go in.
In that moment, the most shocking thing happened — I searched my composure, and there was no anger. Not even a sliver of irritation.
“Hey man, you alright?” my sister’s husband asked, finally taking a side.
I smirked before I could stop myself: I felt great. I had finally mouthed off to big bad Kelly, and although I was numb in one side of my face, it had felt extremely rewarding to shed some weight off my chest, and for that split moment of truth, I had relished seeing the sting on his face; There really was something about words being more damaging in some cases.
“I’ll be heading out now!” I boomed so everyone could hear me, just now noticing that the music had been turned off. I caught my mom’s disapproving grimace but I paid it no mind. “Wouldn’t wanna put that animal in jail.” I said and turned towards the door.
Hi!
I’m Rachael Asikpo, and this is my first entry for a literary interest I’ve had for a bit of time. It’s not going to be a novel, but it’s going to be an episodic journal that recreates and addresses some real-life scenarios, but from a well-thought out character’s perspective.
From Ben’s perspective, I will be combining the opinions of various people I have worked with and stories I have heard. I hope you enjoy this as much as I will!
Here is Episode 1 of the story
I’m also a ghostwriter and editor for biographies, essays, memoirs, and fiction: sci-fi & fantasy.
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