Chapter 78: Dignity and Rewards

Reaping the benefits of working for a florist, Susan showed off her craft picking out some Tulips, Hydrangeas, a few sprigs of mint and wildflowers.

Meanwhile Jeffrey picked out two small succulents for his two little sisters. Jeffrey spent part of his paycheck at the store where he worked, SK flowers.

Then Jeffrey headed to a local grocery store. Where Jeffrey purchased on a bar of rollos and milk chocolate Toblerone, a 1.2 liter bottle of coke, and a bag of chips

It was a good weekend, nothing to special and out of the ordinary. Friday nights were family nights, because it was the day before the weekend. Jeffrey took the bus and commuted home. He still arrived before any of his parents did. Going to the side of the house, he went to the lockbox and inputted the code retrieving the latchkey from the backyard.

The lonely pomegranate tree leaves were starting to return and turn green.

As soon as he got back he went to the garage to hide the gifts. Emerging out from the door he was immediately ambushed by Saoirse.

"What were you doing inside the garage Jeffrey?", Saoirse asked innocently.

"Nothing much, grabbed a bottle of water. Say do you want to play some video games since mom and dad aren't home", Jeffrey asked.

"Don't change the subject, what's in the garage?", Saoirse found her older brother was hiding something and she wanted to know.

"You're not allowed inside, come on don't you have homework to do?", Jeffrey pushed Saoirse away from the door.

Saoirse reached for the door handle and at this moment Jeffrey picked her up to prevent her from finding his surprise.

"It's a surprise Saoirse don't ruin it!", Jeffrey pleaded with her.

"RAIIINE, HELP ME. JEFFREY'S HIDING SOMETHING", Saoirse became incorrigble and annoying squirming in his arms.

Loud footsteps could be heard coming down the stairs as Raine joined in the commotion.

"What's going on?", she asked watching her two siblings fighting.

"We were just--", Jeffrey started to say before Saoirse bit him.

"Saoirse that hurt", Jeffrey said with a tone of pain in his voice.

As soon as Jeffrey let go, she ran behind Raine as a shield.

"Mario Kart?", Jeffrey asked his sister.

"Mom's going to catch us", Raine responded.

"Come on, I played Barbies and Disney flash games with you last week", Jeffrey reminded her.

"yeah and last time we played Nitrome Cave Chaos you bullied me and Saoirse", Raine countered.

"It's not my fault you're bad at the game", Jeffrey muttered under his breath.

The week before, they were on the family computer and Jeffrey was teaching his sisters various flash games like Bomberman, bomb it 4, Nitrome Mutiny, Skywire and more. His sisters really liked cooperation games like bad ice cream, whereas he preferred fighting ones like twin shot.

Eventually however, after coaxing his sisters with his hidden stash of Halloween candy they all sat on the couch playing video games on the Nintensho wii.

*brrr*

the silent sound of a car engine being parked could be heard outside.

The three of them scrambled to turn off the tv and erase the evidence of the snacks they consumed on the couch. Crouching under the windows, Raine and Saoirse ran to their backpacks to pull out their homework. Jeffrey calmly walked to the panty to make himself a sandwich.

The front door opened, it was just their Dad. "Hey guys, I'm home", their dad announced.

"Daddy", Saoirse yelled running to hug him.

Jeffrey's Dad caught Saoirse hugging her tightly and swinging her around.

"Mom's busy at a work meeting so she'll be home late. I'll be cooking dinner and we can put on a movie", their dad told them.

"Awesome", Jeffrey responded a slice of bread in his mouth.

Jeffrey could hear his other sister groan because of their dad's choice in action and horror movies. "Is it a scary movie this time?", Raine yelled downstairs.

"It's a good one, Get Smart", their dad announced. "We still have to go to blockbusters to rent the CD."

Their dad went to the chicken to heat up some chicken in the oven. Jeffrey helped to wash the rice and start the rice cooker. Saoirse started boiling some water for when mom came home.

Raine looked like she was busy studying, hiding her magazines in the closet and helping to set the table.

"Video games?", their dad asked the three of them.

"Yeah!", Raine said as they all grabbed a controller.

However this time as they started up a new game. They didn't hear the other car park outside.

The front door opened again as their mom caught all four of them on the video game console.

"Romie what did we say about video games on Friday", their Mom chastised their dad.

Looking a little guilty he bowed his head and apologized to their mom.

"Dad's in trouble", Raine whispered to Saoirse and Jeffrey.

"I got this", Jeffrey said.

"Mom, I got a surprise from SK flowers", Jeffrey announced trying to bail out their dad.

Their dad took this time to start to place dinner on the table as Jeffrey pulled out a vase of flowers from the garage. He also had two baby cactuses on the side as well.

Raine went to her room to pull out her pumpkin scented candle she got from her last birthday.

"Awww.... that's so sweet", their mom was clearly tired from work.

"Yeah, let's all sit down and have dinner", his Dad got seated at the table.

Raine, Saoirse and Jeffrey all went to wash their hands.

"So how was work today?", their dad asked their mom. It was another Friday night as another familiar dinner conversation continued.

That night's movie was Mom's choice. She was volunteering for that month's film festival, so after the her work for the pre-screenings she got a copy of the Ice Age as a reward for them to watch at home.