21. The family

"Lauren. Should I beg for entry into my own house?" Her raspy voice asked.

The old beast got Lauren flustered with just one comment. And the best part is, it wasn't even true. My father worked hard, and my mother did as well; although in the companies of their parents, they purchased the villa with their own money. But because grandma 'gifted' him his life, everything he owned was hers, and his house was also hers. At least the old dragon didn't just roast me; she did so with everyone else as well.

Lauren immediately opened the door wide, a few subordinates hurriedly standing in attendance while we entered, including Henry.

My father hurried down the stairs; he was blonde, with green eyes, older, and in a suit. Strict and unfriendly looking, marred with the loss he still hadn't coped with.

He came downstairs and walked to his mother as if wanting to hug her. I tried to sneak my arm out of hers, but my grandma developed unseen strength and held me in place.

My father didn't look at me as well; he just kissed his mother's cheek, as not to touch me unintentionally. Seeing him kiss this mummy, my face twitched with disgust. As if she used the powers of the dark lord to see my movement, my grandma stomped my foot while my father pulled away from her.

"Mum. You are early. Come in."

"We have a guest. Don't be impolite." She scolded and dragged me to the dining room.

My father turned and mustered my stalker and just nodded at him before following us. I turned back to the dining room, where I was dragged to the stool beside my grandma. The stool my father should sit on. I was ready to stand up, but Sauron had fixated me, rendering me unable to move.

Another person joined us, besides my father, coming in with Henry. Steve, my brother. He was only a year older than me, and we were close as kids, while Lauren was the eldest, spoiling us and forcing us to wear dresses she talked my mother into buying for us.

Every time I saw Lauren, I didn't recognize her anymore, from the wild girl to someone unfeeling plastic like. But I always recognized Steve, and damn it still hurt that he never looked at me, following his sister's and father's example.

His hair and eyebrows were dyed black, and he looked like a tall, thin ghost, because of it. He had dyed it in his rebellious teenage years, and since then, he stuck out like a sore thump at family dinners, from his looks, even more than me. 

My grandmother snorted at him, like she always did, and Steve nodded at her,

"Grandma."

My grandma raised her tweak like arm and pointed at the seat beside me.

"You. Longhair friend. Sit with my grandson." The seating order had gone to hell anyway, and Henry sat on my right. My grandmother was at the head of the table, my father across from me, Lauren next to him, and next to her Steve.

There was uncomfortable silence like always before the subordinates brought food. Now it went like this: Use your fork or your spoon~, take food on it~, shove it in your mouth~, pray that you choke~, be disappointed when you shallow~. 

I bet it was like this for everyone besides my grandmother.

"So...what have you all been doing?" And the hour of disappointment started, with my grandmother swinging the gong.

My father started,

"We acquitted-" 

"Not you, the young folks." My grandmother waved at him in disinterest.

"I started in the company. A low position, but I got praised repeatedly." Lauren shallowed her food with difficulty (and I bet disappointment) and spoke after my father was flung aside like a dirty towel.

"Have you met somebody?" My grandmothers eyes peered at her. 

"A nice colleague, I became friends-"

"A man?" My grandmother asked.

"No." 

My grandmother leaned back and sighed– raspily like wind that fought itself through the pipes. Again, my face scrunched up in disgust, and I felt her kicking me under the table with inhuman strength. Does she even see me? Her eyes seemed like they had rotted away already. I got another kick and succumbed to the possibility that she could read thoughts.

"I want a great-granddaughter; hurry up." My grandmother also dismissed her, and pointed at Steve with her long bony finger that had red nail polish on it. Before I could react toward seeing her finger, I was kicked again.

"I got accepted to the prestigious college. The first few days I got to know the campus." 

"Steve. If you ever drink or take drugs, I will dig your grandfather out and pierce you with his rib." I rolled my eyes, feeling she just searched for reasons to dig that cheater up.

"Kennith Howard." I was called like in school.

"Nothing new; I am in my senior year." I said.

"And you made a friend." She pointed with her steak knife at Henry.

"I have friends beside him."

"And where are they?" She asked.

"I don't know, at home?" 

"Do you think I don't know what you have on your back?"

I looked at her. What does this have to do… no, wtf? Why does she know?

"So?"

"Did they talk you into something like this?" 

"No?"

"Mhm." She scoffed at me before letting the matter slide. From the rest of my family came not even a glance; even if they knew of my tattoo, they wouldn't care.

"Your turn, Henry." I flinched, and I saw Henry flinching as well. Where the hell did that come from? No one had mentioned his name.

"I repeated the school year; now I am in my senior year again. Same class as Kenny." He wiped his mouth before speaking.

"Kenny." My grandmother chewed on the nickname with distaste.

"How is your family, Henry?" I put my cutlery down with more force than necessary.

I bent to her and whispered in her ear.

"What are you doing, you old hag?" 

"You wimp." She mocked me.