Tuesday, October 6, 2009

06.

"It's so nice to finally be able to sit down, Kenneth sighed while sinking into the plush seat of Melanie's car.

"You know what's even better," Melanie asked as she climbed into the drivers seat, "being done with work and having the next three days off!"

"What?! How did you swing that kiddo," Kenneth asked, "it's almost unheard of to get that many days off in a row." Kenneth's voice ached with a misplaced longing for whatever plans Melanie had, not so much because he didn't want to to work, on the contrary, he needed all the extra hours he could get, rather, he pined for any example that showed him life could be more than the bleak and dismal horizon he looked out onto every day and Melanie was the one person who showered rays of sunshine down on him.

"Well, in case you didn't know, I'm only like the best CEC employee ever," Melanie laughed while lightly tapping her steering wheel. "Seriously, though, my grandparents are flying in tomorrow morning so I requested time off while they're here."

"Ah, right, family time," Kenneth said in a slightly mocking tone that just barely hid his bitterness. Although he always joked about Melanie still having to be home for dinner at the age of 17, he secretly envied Melanie for having a family to go home to, and then as if to add insult to his already wounded heart, she had to add grandparents to the mix, a relation that Kenneth never knew.

"You know it, gots to have that family time; speaking of, I'm having an early dinner tonight with the fam, so I'm gonna have to just drop you off today, Melanie said.

"Oh Mel," Kenneth exclaimed holding his hand against his heart. "How can you do this to me? You're actually going to make me go home when evil stepfather may be lurking around? Melanie, I thought we were friends, but alas, you are showing me your true colors." Kenneth hemmed and hawed as he pleaded with his friend who gave him a knowing smile.

"Ken! Don't make me feel bad! You know I love you, it's just that my older brother Charlie came back home last night, so we're all going out to dinner. Besides, it'll only be for a couple of hours...you should call George, he's always down to hang and then when I'm done I'll meet up with you guys."

"So, now that your real brother is back, I'm not going to be your 'big bro' anymore?" Kenneth asked giving Melanie a pathetic look.

"Well as long as you still call me kiddo, you'll always be my big bro, you know that," Melanie answered reassuring that their affectionate nicknames were still solid.

"That's nice to hear, you're the closet thing to a family I got," Kenneth said as Melanie pulled up in front of his house. "Well thanks for the ride kiddo."

"Anytime, big bro."

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