Cliff Jumping is Prescribed

13| Eraser

I heard a crash and jogged to Athena's room, where the noise was coming from. She had red-rimmed eyes and was sniffling softly in the middle of her bed while clutching a pillow to her chest.

"Is everything alright?" I asked softly and I heard the sound again and jumped when I saw Dad standing in front of Athena's dresser with his hands on his hips.

"If I didn't build this damn dresser myself I would rip it apart with my own hands," he mumbled and turned to me. "We're rearranging your sister's room and I got too lazy to do it the right way and this stupid dresser is too heavy with all the drawers in so every time I lift it a drawer slams shut."

"Well, why are we rearranging the room?" I asked as I got to the other side of the dresser and put my hands on it ready for him to tell me when.

"Because my daughter doesn't feel good and I'll do anything to spend time with her. Now Athena babe where do you want this to be?" He asked and I turned to her tear-stricken face I recognized it looked similar to the way she looked when Dad told me not to interrupt. Whatever's been bothering her, Dad is trying to take her mind off it and I feel an ache in my chest. I've been so in my head about being there for my sisters that I'm so out of tune with them at the same time. Hell, I don't even know where Lynne is right now.

"I think under the window but I'm not sure," she whispered.

"We'll move it and if you don't like it then we'll move it again. But not three times baby girl I'm starting to get old and I'll get winded. Five kids do that to you," he shook his head and I went about moving the dresser with him.

"Eloys!" Marty yelled from downstairs and I called for him to come upstairs.

"Thank God!" Dad sighed as he fell on the bed in a huff next to Athena.

"What are we doing?" Marty asked and Benny handed a paper bag to Athena who looked at it confused as he fell into the recliner in the corner of the room and leaned his crutches against the wall.

"I heard this vegan bakery was really good but I got only a cookie because I wasn't sure if it was gross so try it out if you like it I'll get a box next time."

"Thank you, Benny," she said with a soft smile and broke the cookie in half giving one side of Dad who munched happily. At least some people are picking up the slack because I seem to be missing the mark.

"I think the bed should go on the other side of the room," Dad said looking around and I turned to where Marty was staring at Athena's closet doors.

"Wanna take this off and put beads?" He asked Athena who laid back in the bed and leaned her head on Dad's shoulder.

"Don't you think that's a little too on the nose for the hippie of the family?"

"Embrace it!" Marty said as he walked out the door. "Let me grab my toolbox out of the trunk."

"What color beads do you want?" Bennett asked, "Lynne needs to practice on the road driving and I bet she'll be happy enough to take me to the store."

"Surprise me I guess," she said with a soft smile and he nodded as he left the room.

"What are we doing?" Mom asked as she came into the room and spotted Athena. She climbed on the bed and got on her other side and Athena snuggled into her as Dad grunted.

"Fine forget about me I guess," he mumbled.

"We're redoing the room," I said as I looked in the drawer and flinched at the mess. I reached in and fixed a shirt when I saw a bong and snorted instantly shutting it. The funny part? It was definitely from Jiddah's house meaning she definitely gave it to her.