Home

Peter and Adam hadn't been home in ages. Both were now living in separate corners of the country, their lives far removed from where they now stood. Almost nothing had changed, only the colors dimmed by a thick layer of dust and negligence. They each wandered throughout the house, marveling at it's state of disrepair, when their paths crossed at the den. Both men peered around the worn edges of the doorframe, still marked with the faded names and dates of a childhood long passed. Just as it was when they were young, the two could not bring themselves to enter their father's sanctuary. It was sacred ground, off-limits to all but the man who was king of their castle. Adam raised his eyebrows, pointing them through the doorway and over to the chair that faced the window. "Go on!" they seemed to say. Peter was quick to shake his head. There was no way he was going inside and to make sure Adam understood, he silently mouthed the words. NO. WAY.

"Get in there you idiots." Jeannie came up from behind, grabbing each brother's arm, and pulled them into the den. Even though she was the youngest and the smallest of the three siblings, she had long ago earned the title of "big little sister". If a decision had to be made, if there was advice to be given, she was the one they looked to. "I can't believe you two. You're acting like children." Jeannie had been back for weeks, leaving her family behind to do what had to be done. Years ago when their mother passed, Jeannie became head of the family. She kept her eye on everyone, whether they liked it or not, and when Dad had come back from the hospital she moved in to make sure that he was comfortable and taken care of. She was the one who called both brothers, booked their flights, and gave them no other choice but to put their lives on hold and return home. No one said no to Jeannie.

"Jeez. Shouldn't you be a little more quiet? You're gonna wake up Dad." Peter looked at his father with concern. Always more of an imposing figure, he had never seen the man look so small and frail. It was unsettling and contradictory to everything he knew the man to be. Their father had made it through a war, a marriage, three children, and countless other life battles. He survived them all, but this was different. This was cancer, and cancer was going to win.

"I gave him his medication an hour ago. He'll be asleep for at least another two." Deciding to become her father's nurse, Jeannie quickly learned the ins and outs of his day to day. Much of it was spent sleeping and any moments of lucidity were filled with anger and regret. Her brothers, who were browsing through the books on the shelves, had no clue what is was like. They couldn't bring themselves to look at their father for very long, much less feed him or clean up after him. Jennie was used to it. "Nothing'll wake him. Watch." She moved in close to her father, bending down to his ear for effect. "Dad. Dad! Dad, wake up! Dad, I lost my virginity when I was fourteen. Daaaaad." Her brothers stared at her in horror. "See," she said with a smile. "Told ya so."