in, mixing her coffee with a spoon. “The debate team, the law club, student body, and orchestra.” Her eyes shift to me. “What activities have you signed up for, Elvis?”
I need to get out of here. “Nothing.” Shit, I just spat cereal all over the table.
“Nothing?” she asks.
“No.”
Dorothy turns to my mom. “How can you let this happen? Not involved in any school activities? What college is going to accept him?” She looks at Dad. “I told you, you need a firm hand on the boy. He needs discipline. Sending him to New York? How did you think that would help? Send him to Cayton Hill, that program for troubled boys. They’ll straighten him out.”
Yeah, treat me like wallpaper.
“We’re not sending Elvis to Cayton’s, Mom,” Dad says so low like he’s scared she’ll chop his head off.
“He’s still a walking disaster,” she mutters. “Maybe worse.”
Yeah, I’m not deaf. I slam my bowl in the sink and march out the door. Collapse on the living room couch.
I miss Gran and Gramps. So much I get this ache in my gut. I’ve always loved them as a kid, but never got the chance to spend enough time with them since they lived in New York. They showered Rey and me with gifts when they visited. Took us to the park and the zoo when we spent a summer there. Let us stay up late watching scary movies. Gran baked her famous oatmeal cookies. Just for us.
Gramps was a retired Navy captain. Kept our minds filled with his adventures at sea. Rey told me that Gramps made up some of the stories when we were kids because sea monsters don’t exist. It didn’t matter to me, though, because Gramps and I had a connection. The Navy didn’t interest my brother as much as it interested me.
When I stayed there last year, Gramps and I talked for hours and hours about the Navy. About the ships, his experiences, what it’s like to be a sailor. He gave me his old uniforms. I almost brought them back with me, but I knew Mom would give me shit. “Dad, stop filling Elvis’s head with all those stories.” The woman can’t get over growing up without her dad being there for her. As if anyone would miss me if I joined the Navy.
“Hey, Cruise.” Rey sits down near me on the couch. “Tough breakfast, huh?”
I shrug. Prop my feet on the coffee table, knocking down some lame-ass finance magazines.
“Come fishing with us today, man. Show them you’re not as bad as they think. That you’ve changed.”
“Not going, bro. Have fun without me.”
He doesn’t say anything. Just leans back on the couch and stares at the blank TV screen. I can hear them talking in the kitchen. Not about me. Grandpa is complaining about retirement or some shit.
I should leave. Should have left the moment I had a chance. Only reason I didn’t was because I thought they’d finally accept me for who I am. But that’s too much to ask. I’ve got disappointment written all over me.
I’m about to get up, but Rey says, “I miss fishing with you, Cruise. Man, we had great times years ago. Me, you, dad , and Grandpa fishing together every month. It’ll be fun if you come with us.”
I sink back down. “No, Rey. Fishing ain’t for me. Never liked it much.” I fold my arms over my chest. “I know you love it, love to spend time with the old man and his old man. We’ll hang out when you come back.”
“Okay, if that’s what you want. You going to meet up with Erica?”
“Nah, she ain’t in town for a few days. Gonna hit the beach.”
He thumps my back. “See you soon. Have fun.”
“Right back at ya, bro.”
I get to the door and slam it after me. Hop onto my bike and ride to the beach. Can’t take this anymore. When I was a kid I thought my parents and grandparents treated me like I was defective. Like the first twin didn’t come out of the womb the way they wanted, so they embraced the second twin with open arms. Rey loved all the attention he got from them. Not that I blame him. I was just in the way. Always in the way.
I need to get out of here. “Nothing.” Shit, I just spat cereal all over the table.
“Nothing?” she asks.
“No.”
Dorothy turns to my mom. “How can you let this happen? Not involved in any school activities? What college is going to accept him?” She looks at Dad. “I told you, you need a firm hand on the boy. He needs discipline. Sending him to New York? How did you think that would help? Send him to Cayton Hill, that program for troubled boys. They’ll straighten him out.”
Yeah, treat me like wallpaper.
“We’re not sending Elvis to Cayton’s, Mom,” Dad says so low like he’s scared she’ll chop his head off.
“He’s still a walking disaster,” she mutters. “Maybe worse.”
Yeah, I’m not deaf. I slam my bowl in the sink and march out the door. Collapse on the living room couch.
I miss Gran and Gramps. So much I get this ache in my gut. I’ve always loved them as a kid, but never got the chance to spend enough time with them since they lived in New York. They showered Rey and me with gifts when they visited. Took us to the park and the zoo when we spent a summer there. Let us stay up late watching scary movies. Gran baked her famous oatmeal cookies. Just for us.
Gramps was a retired Navy captain. Kept our minds filled with his adventures at sea. Rey told me that Gramps made up some of the stories when we were kids because sea monsters don’t exist. It didn’t matter to me, though, because Gramps and I had a connection. The Navy didn’t interest my brother as much as it interested me.
When I stayed there last year, Gramps and I talked for hours and hours about the Navy. About the ships, his experiences, what it’s like to be a sailor. He gave me his old uniforms. I almost brought them back with me, but I knew Mom would give me shit. “Dad, stop filling Elvis’s head with all those stories.” The woman can’t get over growing up without her dad being there for her. As if anyone would miss me if I joined the Navy.
“Hey, Cruise.” Rey sits down near me on the couch. “Tough breakfast, huh?”
I shrug. Prop my feet on the coffee table, knocking down some lame-ass finance magazines.
“Come fishing with us today, man. Show them you’re not as bad as they think. That you’ve changed.”
“Not going, bro. Have fun without me.”
He doesn’t say anything. Just leans back on the couch and stares at the blank TV screen. I can hear them talking in the kitchen. Not about me. Grandpa is complaining about retirement or some shit.
I should leave. Should have left the moment I had a chance. Only reason I didn’t was because I thought they’d finally accept me for who I am. But that’s too much to ask. I’ve got disappointment written all over me.
I’m about to get up, but Rey says, “I miss fishing with you, Cruise. Man, we had great times years ago. Me, you, dad , and Grandpa fishing together every month. It’ll be fun if you come with us.”
I sink back down. “No, Rey. Fishing ain’t for me. Never liked it much.” I fold my arms over my chest. “I know you love it, love to spend time with the old man and his old man. We’ll hang out when you come back.”
“Okay, if that’s what you want. You going to meet up with Erica?”
“Nah, she ain’t in town for a few days. Gonna hit the beach.”
He thumps my back. “See you soon. Have fun.”
“Right back at ya, bro.”
I get to the door and slam it after me. Hop onto my bike and ride to the beach. Can’t take this anymore. When I was a kid I thought my parents and grandparents treated me like I was defective. Like the first twin didn’t come out of the womb the way they wanted, so they embraced the second twin with open arms. Rey loved all the attention he got from them. Not that I blame him. I was just in the way. Always in the way.
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