Family Fortune(ShortStory)

Family Fortune

It all started three years ago when Mama would bring people home after work; more men than women. Dad didn't live with us, but he'd come around on a couple of occasions to check up on us. He suddenly stopped coming around about three years ago but never said why. It really put a toll on my siblings and I. Mama worked in the local bar, Mark's, bartending. She got fired around the same time my Dad stopped coming around, and decided to have more people at the house partying while still being pregnant with my baby brother Carl. Doing drugs and drinking alcohol started becoming a ritual for her, and since my sisters and I weren't used to it, we'd all hang around our neighbours until it was okay for us to come home.

Although it only took one night to change our lives forever. It was one of those many nights when my sisters, brother, and I stayed at our neighbour, Ms.CeCe's house. We decided to get back home, seeing that it was almost eleven o'clock, and our house should be empty except for Mama who was usually passed out on the couch. Upon entering the house, it came to my attention that someone else was in the living room, noticing big black boots at the doorway. I decided to just go straight into our bedroom we all shared and to not speak of the stranger in the house to frighten them. "Beth, can you read us a stowybook pwease", Carl begged, pulling on my leg. I placed him down on his bunk and he started playing with his locket around his neck that Mama put on him a few months after he was born. I chuckled, "Alright, alright, first wear your pj's and get into bed!" I replied, rushing him. We all got changed and right before I took a seat at the edge of my bed, ready to start my bedtime story, we heard footsteps approaching the hall. I peeked in and took a glimpse of a man's face, one that looked quite familiar. He was one of the guys that has been around here regularly lately which was a bit odd since I've never seen a face around twice. He was short and buff with extra greasy hair. He started opening all the doors in the hall as if he were out seeking for something precious. Looking raged, he snapped his head towards me, catching me staring. I flinched back quick, and got in the room, shutting the door behind me and moving back.

**Bang Bang**

I locked the door in fear and put a chair under the doorknob. I hid Amy, Jennifer and Carl behind me. Amy being ten and Jenn being seven, they comforted their three year old baby brother Carl, who started weeping hysterically. Being the oldest sister it was my duty to protect them; after all they were my family. The door knob started rattling and the kids started to whimper while clutching each other's arms for dear life. "Go under the bed, quick!" I whispered, hurrying them up while giving them a little push. Everything went silent for a second before the door flew open and pieces of the chair flew everywhere. My eyes shot down to his bloody clenched fist. "Where are they Beth? Don't do this to yourself", he spoke sinisterly, edging towards me and the bed. "Sir, please. Just take me and leave them alone", I begged him, my eyes pleading for some mercy but also held some confusion to how he knew my name. I knew ever since my mom started doing drugs and smoking we'd be in a lot of trouble. Shoot, even when she's sober we're still fearful. "Bring out Carl and I'll leave the rest of you alone," he said looking around the room to see where they might be. I had no idea what was happening and decided to act quick. While the man was turned around checking in our closet, I pushed him down, his head connecting with the floor echoing a loud thud, I got the kids and we raced out of the room and headed for the front door. Surprisingly, Mama was standing there blocking our way. "Beth, leeave Carl with him, okaay?" she slurred. "Mama what do you mean? Who is that man? He's trying to take Carl away and you're letting him?" I responded sounding shocked as ever. What possible reason is there for me to leave my baby brother, her SON, with a stranger? "Honey, let him go!" she insisted trying to carry Carl but I pulled him behind me quick enough for her to lose her balance and fall softly on the rug. Carl was now crying and I took that chance to try and make my way towards the door.

Just before we were about to leave, Jenn pulled on my sleeve before whispering, "B, he's coming". I whipped my head around and noticed the man rubbing his forehead then making his way towards us; angrily. He stepped over my Mom, whose body was still lazily laid across the ground, and came face to face with me.

"Move out of my way and give me my son", he said clenching his jaw tight. Wait, what? His son? My brother? No. He must be a mad man.

"You're not taking my brother and he's not your son!" I spat in his face. It was clear his emotions were beyond rage at this second. He pulled my arms towards him and gripped them so tight I started to feel a rush of heat go through my body, My arms instantly turned dark red, resembling his bloody fist. "You don't get it do you? She never told you.." he said angrily before sounding amused staring down at Mama. I shook my head slowly, confused while wiggling out of his solid grip. He loosened his hold on me surprising me. "About four years ago I used to work at Mark's with your mom. We enjoyed our time together ..sometimes", he said glancing at Mama again before letting me go and facing me. "Then all of a sudden she started not coming to work for a couple of days which made me suspect something was wrong and I was right, She quit her job and whenever I'd come around she said she was too busy for me. I eventually got worn out by coming by that I decided to stop coming altogether," he said seeming zoned out now sitting on the couch while Jenn, Amy, Carl and I stayed put. "I thought she was fired," I asked confused knowing for a fact Mama told us she got fired. "Ahaa, nope." I stared down at my knocked out Mom in the middle of the floor saddened. "Anyways, a couple weeks after I stopped coming by, Erica, another co-worker told me your Mom is pregnant with my child; a boy. That's when I got angry realizing that she kept this from me and tried to reach out to her but she wouldn't answer the phone and never let me in the your house," he said sounding hurt which shocked me since the whole time he seemed to be a murderer in the house, "I didn't know what to do after that so I got myself together for the past three years and reached out to your dad to make sure she had my baby boy. Even though he what outraged, he told me it wasn't his boy, so it must've been mine. That's why I came by today, being calm and all about coming to see my kid, but surprisingly after your mom let me in, she started saying I can't see which pissed me off. And, well, you know the rest", he finished, getting up and walking closer to me, motioning Carl to go to him.

Carl was still scared and really confused at this point while Amy and Jenn were weeping quietly by my side. I was taken aback on all this information that it started to make sense. Mama probably made Dad stay away when she knew it wasn't his baby. That's why he was so mad that this man came to him with all this bogus, but sadly believable information.

"Listen, sir, I'm still startled by all of this, and even if it may be true.. Carl can't go with you. As much as you want him, he doesn't know you and you're still a stranger to him; to all of us," I said choosing my words safely while going about it sympathetically. He let out a deep breath. "The least you could do is let me talk to him.. even if it's just here for a few minutes and hopefully I could return?" He asked, hoping for me to give him time with his..son. "Um, alright, I'll take Mama back to her room and you guys could talk until then if that works," I said seating Carl down with his sisters on the couch next to the one where the man was sitting at. "Wait, what is your name?" I questioned. "Harvey, Harvey Levi," he said, looking at Carl.

Wait, those were the initials on Carl's locket.. I guess it was true. I watched Harvey bend down next to Carl and introduced himself and Carl, Amy and Jenn looked more comfortable. I gazed down at my Mom and knew she had a big heart but maybe it was a bit rusty. I carried her fragile state making her murmur while I went down the hall entering her room and placed her gently on the bed. "Thanks babyy,," she said before turning her head and snuggling in her pillow. I put the covers over her frame and kissed her forehead before walking to the bedroom door. I looked back at her sleeping state and knew she cared a lot for Harvey to keep his initialled locket on Carl ever since I could remember. I quietly closed the door and left the room reaching the end of the hall and stared at Harvey chuckling with the kids while Carl was explaining something that seemed to be confusing with his hands. I smiled, maybe this family isn't as torn as it seems.