"He got sacked just before Christmas two years ago. Which would be about a month after my father's pharmaceutical scam was exposed. I'm pretty certain it was the same company."
Looking at Miniver. "Maybe it was connected. Maybe that's why he hates me so much."
Miniver was raised with the understanding that the best way to solve problems with other people is to live as if they don't exist. It's how his parents ultimately solved the problem of HIM.
"I don't know. The whole thing is really weird. One day he's headbutting me to make me piss off, less than a week or two later they're around at my house offering some kind of truce if I behave myself. I think telling them at the first meeting that if I wanted to I now have enough evidence to get my mother charged with child neglect might have been a factor."
"Because I have a bad feeling about this guy and I don't want him to hurt my mother or unborn half sister. If I'm the only one who thinks there's something wrong, it's my responsibility."
"No it isn't. Why should everything be your goddamn responsibility? I swear to Christ, Guppy, sometimes you act like everyone's your responsibility except yourself."
Miniver takes the ultrasound picture and stares at it curiously. He's never seen one.
"Y'know... they might do better with her. I hate to say it, Guppy, but that's just how it is. I wouldn't go find my parents and stop 'em having any more kids just 'cause they fucked up with me. We're adults now. So are they. You kinda have to be responsible for yourself first, then worry about other people -- if they ask you. If they really need it. If this little one needs it... fine. But until that happens, step back and live for yourself for a while."
"I wouldn't dream of asking them not to have more. All I want to do is keep an eye on them both, and if I don't play along they'll never let me close. I'm not going to interfere unless something is wrong, like he's beating them up. He's already attacked me three times, and I'm his nephew."
Small sigh. "My counsellor says I harbour resentment to him because he's taking the place of my father. Nobody believes me that I just have a really bad gut feeling about the guy."
He's still in scrubs, eating a pasty, and grabbing a handful of snacks. This constitutes his dinner.
He then stops and coughs... it's possible he grabbed a crayon.
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"You okay?"
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"Sorry, I was just thinking... my new stepfather used to work in pharmaceuticals."
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Looking at Miniver. "Maybe it was connected. Maybe that's why he hates me so much."
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Miniver was raised with the understanding that the best way to solve problems with other people is to live as if they don't exist. It's how his parents ultimately solved the problem of HIM.
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"Dude... seriously... why the hell are you still talking to them?"
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"No it isn't. Why should everything be your goddamn responsibility? I swear to Christ, Guppy, sometimes you act like everyone's your responsibility except yourself."
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"Sorry." Guppy says quietly. "I should be more considerate to those of you who worry about me."
He takes a picture out of an inside pocket. The ultrasound of his little half-sister. He passes it to Miniver.
"I don't want her to end up screwed up like me."
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"Y'know... they might do better with her. I hate to say it, Guppy, but that's just how it is. I wouldn't go find my parents and stop 'em having any more kids just 'cause they fucked up with me. We're adults now. So are they. You kinda have to be responsible for yourself first, then worry about other people -- if they ask you. If they really need it. If this little one needs it... fine. But until that happens, step back and live for yourself for a while."
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Small sigh. "My counsellor says I harbour resentment to him because he's taking the place of my father. Nobody believes me that I just have a really bad gut feeling about the guy."
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