Page 35 of Mother Parker
“Then what the hell are we doing here?”
“And it’s only our first lesson,” I added.
“Fine,” she sighed. “Again?”
“Again.”
Autumn turned her back to me, and I grabbed her.
This time when she dropped me to the ground, she kept her arms on my chest and stared at me.
“What?”
“Nothing. I just hope you’re not such a dick with Hwan too. He’s a great kid, you know. He doesn’t need any of your grumpy-ass shit.”
“I know,” I said. “I’m not.” She raised an eyebrow, challenging me. “Well, I’m trying not to be.”
“Try harder. When you think you’re giving one hundred percent, push for two hundred. Because I know you, big brother, and you’re as subtle as a fucking brick through a window.”
“Good thing I’m not Hwan.”
“Why?” she asked.
“Brick through a window? Really? Talk about subtle.”
Autumn let me go and covered her mouth with her hands.
“God. You’re right.”
I laughed. She laughed, and then we were both on the floor giggling like we were kids again.
“I think Hwan will be a good influence on you,” she said as we finally composed ourselves.
“Why? You want me to dye my hair pink too? I always thought blue would suit me better.”
She hit my stomach with the back of her hand, and I faked a groan.
“See? He’s already being good for you. When was the last time you smiled, let alone laughed like that?”
There it was again. Her telling me how inhuman I was because I didn’t smile or act like other people did.
I’d spent enough of my life feeling like I wasn’t normal. Like I was wrong. As if something in my wiring had failed me because I couldn’t feel the joys of life the way others seemed to. Not that I’d had many.
“Will you stop being so annoying?” I told her.
She paused, took a deep breath, and relaxed her body on the floor.
“I am annoying, aren’t I?” she asked.
“Immensely.”
“Yeah, well, you’re a big grump. I guess we all have our flaws.”
Instead of a response, I huffed.
“Thanks for proving my point.”
“I hate you, Autumn,” I said.
