*Author's Note: Any and all persons engaging in any sexual activity are at least eighteen years of age.
Disclaimers: This story has been edited by myself, utilizing Microsoft spell-check. You have been forewarned; expect to find mistakes.
*.*.*
Theresa Meyers felt lost, confused, directionless. The sense of unease, of being off-balance had begun at home. Theresa's big sister Laci had moved out to go to college, the University of Louisiana at DeGarde. Finally, Theresa was no longer living in Laci's shadow. Theresa's mother and Theresa's father had never held Laci or Laci's accomplishments over Theresa. They'd never overly praised Laci, had never glossed over Theresa's accomplishments. But Theresa had always felt very insecure, somehow lacking next to Laci.
With Laci a few hundred miles south, Theresa was now the big sister to Claire and Jerry Jr. She was the one Claire came to for sisterly advice. She was the one Jerry came to for big sister snuggles. As much as Theresa truly loved the role of big sister, it somehow seemed odd, even disassociated from who she was.
At Laci's birthday, the calm in the home seemed to crash. Dad, who'd been sober for a few months, suddenly began drinking very heavily. Mom seemed to cry often, for no clear and discernable reason. Claire and Jerry Jr. spent much more time needing Theresa, but Theresa needed someone too. She just didn't know who to turn to.
Then, at Thanksgiving, Laci seemed a little thicker in the middle. Laci had always been just a few pounds overweight but now seemed fat. Cindy and Jerry Meyers were unusually tense, even as Jerry drunkenly tried to carve the turkey and Cindy wanted the family to go around the table and declare what each child was thankful for, on this day of giving thanks.
Theresa could not breathe when Laci said she was thankful that her baby was healthy. Theresa stared, uncomprehending. Then she realized what was not in the room. Aunt Roselyn and Uncle Jack and Baba, Laci's Baba weren't there, crowding around the table, banishing Theresa and Michelle and the other kids to the kiddy table.
"And isn't that just fucking great?" Jerry Meyers snarled at Laci's declaration, flinging knife and fork away.
Jerry, you said you wouldn't," Cindy sobbed out, retrieving the knife and fork.
"And you said you had the little bitch on birth control," Jerry thundered and stormed out of the house.
Laci sobbed; she'd never heard her father refer to her as 'little bitch' before. Theresa wrapped her arms around her big sister, her rock, her friend and squeezed Laci tightly.
They heard Jerry's Mustang roar away at a high rate of speed. Then the only sounds were of Cindy and Laci and Clair and Jerry Jr. sobbing.
After clearing the table; no one felt like eating, Cindy retired to the back porch with a cup of coffee, Claire and Jerry Jr. went to watch television, and Laci called Baba and begged Baba to come get her. Theresa felt totally isolated as she sat at the dining room table, absently tracing the deep wood grain pattern with a well-polished fingernail.
Jerry Meyers totaled his Mustang. He miraculously walked away with just some bumps and bruises, but now had some serious legal issues. After Christmas, a Christmas where Theresa and Cindy tried to put forth a festive mood for the younger children, and for Aunt Roselyn and Uncle Jack and their brood, including Theresa's new cousin-in-law, a very beautiful and pregnant April Thompson, Jerry found some reason to storm out of the house.
He took Cindy's Toyota Avalon, even though his driver's license was suspended and drove away. With hugs and kisses, Aunt Roselyn and Uncle Jack gathered their children and left. Shortly afterward, Baba helped his pregnant wife put her coat on, then helped Laci into her coat.
"That, that's your baby," Theresa blurted out, making the connection. "Baba, that, Laci's, that's your baby."
Laci gave Theresa a sad little smile, even as Baba put a protective arm around Laci's shoulders. Laci just gave a soft nod to Theresa, then left with Baba and April.
Jerry lost control of Cindy's car; Myndee had received a few inches of snow that had defrosted, then frozen again, creating black ice. His legal troubles were proving quite expensive for the Meyers's household and Cindy had to borrow money from Aunt Roselyn and Uncle Jack to pay their bills.
In May, just before Theresa graduated from Roselawn Academy, April gave birth to Jewel Ann Thompson and two days later, Laci gave birth to Cynthia Roselyn Meyers. Not even a week after graduating, Theresa managed to land the job with Salon Cimo. She wasn't naive; Theresa knew her long blonde hair and pretty, large brown eyes and very short skirt was the main reason she'd beat out all the other applicants.
Even though Cindy was working as a receptionist at the local Young Insurance agency and somehow, Jerry managed to hang onto his job at Mickelwhite Deli and Meat Market, Theresa's income was greatly appreciated. Theresa tried not to be resentful; she was the child, not the adult. But at just eighteen years of age, she was having to pay bills, bills that her father had managed to accrue.
"Sissy?" Claire's voice roused Theresa from a fitful sleep.
"Yeah?" Theresa roused. "What you need, Sweetie face?"
"Sissy, I, I think I'm dying," Claire sobbed out. "I'm bleeding and I don't know why, and my stomach hurts and Sissy, you got make it stop. Please."
"Theresa ascertained that Clair had begun transformation from skinny little girl into a woman. She was slightly surprised; Claire was already fourteen years old. Theresa had assumed Claire had already started her menses a few years earlier.
Theresa did not wonder why Claire had come to her, rather than their mother or father. Cindy and Jerry were so tense, so agitated; a frightening situation called for a calming, soothing adult. Theresa didn't feel like an adult, but did her best to be the grown-up in this moment.
Theresa hugged the frightened girl tightly and congratulated Claire on her first step toward becoming a beautiful woman.
"If this is what being a woman means, then I don't want it," Claire cried.
Theresa helped Claire clean up, then taught Claire about feminine products. Cindy also kissed and hugged Claire and declared that this was truly a wonderful day. A phone call to Aunt Roselyn was made and Jack found himself watching his nephew and sons and his brother in law while all the women went to Blue Jay Diner for a celebratory breakfast.
Thanksgiving and Christmas were solemn celebrations in the Meyers's home. They prepared the traditional Thanksgiving feast; Mr. Mickelwhite had given his employees fresh twelve pound turkeys. Laci and her adorable baby made an appearance. Baba and April did not come in; saying they had other plans and commitments.
Christmas, the Meyers family put out their ten foot plastic tree, their six Christmas stockings with their names embroidered on them were tacked over the faux fireplace. Again, Theresa fought hard against being resentful; Claire and Jerry Jr. and Cynthia, Laci's baby were getting the lion's share of gifts. And much of Theresa's paychecks and her two hundred dollar Christmas bonus went toward these gifts.
"I'm sorry, baby," Cindy whispered, eyes red from both tears and exhaustion.
"I know, Momma," Theresa whispered, fighting against the tears that threatened to spill out. "It's just...I know."
In January, news of a new disease slowly pushed other news aside. At the salon, Stephanie announced her own pregnancy, and suddenly began to have violent mood swings. One moment, Stephanie was happy, even warm and affectionate. Sometimes, the beautiful brunette was a little TOO affectionate, rubbing Theresa's back, dangerously close to Theresa's compact buttocks. Or rubbing Theresa's shoulder or upper arm, fingers close to Theresa's breasts. The next moment, Stephanie was bitter, resentful, short tempered.
Everything came to a head in late March. Jerry stole the keys to Theresa's glossy black 2011 Ford Explorer and totaled it. This accident put him into Clarkston County Hospital.
Stephanie fired Theresa for being twenty minutes late; Theresa's old bicycle wasn't very quick transportation. Then the mayor of Myndee, Arkansas decided that none but the most essential of workers could go to work; this lock down was to stem the spread of this horrific disease that was sweeping through the nation like wildfire. Theresa's unemployment and Cindy's unemployment was barely enough to pay the most essential of bills. Cindy wiped at her red eyes and joked that Jerry had at least eliminated the need to pay automobile insurance.
"Uh huh, and gas and oil change and car washes," Theresa said.
Three days after being admitted to Clarkston County Hospital, Jerry passed away. Years of alcohol abuse, his diabetes, and the severe head wound he'd sustained made full recovery highly unlikely, but Jerry's sudden death hit his family very hard.
Roselyn and Jack Thompson paid for Jerry's funeral. At the graveside, Jack promised his favorite sister he would take care of her and her children.
"I'm your only sister, Jack," Cindy said, but hugged her brother, then her sister in law.
Theresa tried not to need anything. She had given up on wanting anything months earlier, when her father's drinking had returned, when his erratic, unpredictable behavior had begun.
The job market was dead. Thankfully, their unemployment continued to be deposited into their accounts. Cindy's normally beautiful face was sallow, her eyes dead. But she always forced a smile to her face when Theresa informed her that she'd transferred her unemployment earnings into the family account.
Jerry had taken out a life insurance policy, but that fifty thousand dollar payout was very quickly eaten up by medical bills and legal bills.
"God damn it, please," Theresa begged that night as she diligently used the family computer to search for work. "I'm sick of being the strong one. I'm sick of it. I know, I know I'm being a bit of a bitch here, but please."
Theresa couldn't remember the last time she'd been out with her friends. Theresa couldn't even remember the last time she'd spoken with her friends. Many had gone their separate ways right after they'd graduated from high school. When all the turmoil in her home had begun, the few that maintained any contact also faded away.
Theresa exited the employment web site; there were no new jobs posted. There had been no new jobs posted in over a week. Theresa thought for a moment, then went to the University of Myndee's web site. Finding the Blue Jay Bugler web site, she went to the classified section; perhaps they'd have some new job listings.
Hunter's Cabin, Cotton Blossoms, The Captain's Table and Sir Lancelot all had advertisements; dancers wanted. Sir Lancelot was asking for male dancers and Hunter's Cabin, Cotton Blossoms and The Captain's Table were looking for female dancers. Theresa wondered, if only essential businesses were allowed to be open, how these bars qualified as essential. How were dancers, people willing to take off their clothes considered 'essential workers?'
"Not that desperate yet," Theresa muttered to herself and scrolled down.
Pearl Painters was looking for painters, as well as people to do carpet installation. Apparently, the painting company had expanded to include flooring as well. Theresa had already put in two applications and had been turned down twice when she admitted she had no experience. How was she supposed to get experience if they wouldn't hire her?
Bored with the employment ads, Theresa furtively looked around. Cindy was in the kitchen, debating with herself about what to make for supper. Claire was working on her homework, using the laptop since it had an attached camera, and Jerry Jr. was scribbling in his coloring book. Baba had given the boy a coloring book of The Avengers and a box of 64 crayons.
