Winchester Legacy{Vacation Interlude}

RECAP: Alice was adopted into the family, Val was mysteriously absent, we met Neil’s new girl, Toni switched careers, Dane was bringing home the bacon and little Gai became teen Gai.

Hey! It’s Neil! Mom said that I should do the talking this time since Val did it a few days back. I don’t mind doing it. I know you don’t get to see me much anymore. What with school and work and…the laaaadies! I can’t keep them off me. It’s my animal magnetism. Or something like that.

Anyways, we finally made it to Three Lakes. Dude, I think that driver got us lost on purpose. Mom about blew a gasket as she watched the meter keep ticking away. I swore I could hear her teeth grinding together. She was about to say something when we finally got to our hotel. Dane ended up having to drag her away from the driver when he asked for a tip. And then I was walking around, scoping out the sights, when this strange kid came up to me and started banging on his chest like some coked out money. He let out this horrible sounding wail, almost like he was dying. I was about to call mom when I realized he was doing some local custom.

“Dude, you look crazy. You’re not going to get chicks to notice you if you’re acting crazy all the time.”

He didn’t seem to pay me any attention because he went up to someone else and did the same thing. I shrugged. To each his own I guess.

Look, I may not be the best looking guy that you know but I keep myself fresh, my teeth are white and I think I have a wicked sense of humor. Val says that I look like my dad. I guess that’s true. I mean…I really kind of stand out in the family photos you know? But whatever. Mom’s never treated me any different and Dane’s been like a dad to me since I was a little kid. I’ve looked through the photos. And I should probably hate him for breaking up my family but if I hated him I’d have to hate my mom and that’s just not going to work now is it? I remember mom asked me if I wanted to go live with my dad when I started acting up in school. I kinda felt like she was trying to toss me out until I realized she thought that I wanted to go. That couldn’t be further from the truth. If I lived with my dad I couldn’t mess with Val’s head.

Eyeballing myself in the mirror I reached up and brushed at my hair. It was crazy. I was the only guy in a house full of chicks(Dane doesn’t count since he’s old) but I’ll admit that I spent a lot of time in the bathroom checking myself out. It’s just that I worry about my appearance. And even though mom talks all that crap about inner beauty you gotta be attracted to something on the outside right?

Look at my kid sister. She’s a teenager now and she’s about as bad as me in the mirror. I guess she has to get used to her new curves. And if she wasn’t my sister I would think she was kinda hot but since she is that’s kinda gross. And now I was going to have to watch out for her just like I did for Val. Although Val doesn’t know that I do that. She would have a cow. Seriously. Something is wrong with that girl. It’s like she’s constantly on her period or something ya know? But she’s my kid sister and I love her . Family watches out for family. No matter what. Dude, that sounded mafia right? Just call me Tony from now. Or Capone.

Even if you’re adopted into the crazy clan! Alice is pretty cool. She’s a dread head. Those things are so cool and they fit her. Mom’s talking about wanting some and I hope she’s kidding around. The last thing I need is for my mom to walk around with dreads.

Alice is quiet. Like she’s quieter than Gai was. She’s content to play by herself and sometimes you’ll almost forget she’s there. I feel kinda bad for her though. Being in foster homes must suck. I asked her about it one time and she shrugged.

“Some of them were okay. I got three meals a day and some toys. Others weren’t so great. I don’t like to talk about those.”

Yeah, I can understand why she doesn’t. Just some of the horror stories I’ve read or seen on the news makes me ill. Hopefully she likes living with us. I admit I like having her around. She even showed me some of her dance moves. Girl has some skills.

Everyone was tired by the time we got to the camp so we all crashed. Val threw a fit, of course, when she realized she had to share a room with Gai.

“She snores!”

“I do not! YOU snore!”

“Say that again and I’m going to punch you in the nose.”

“You’re such a douche Val,” I grumbled. At least they had a room. My room had been overlooked in the hoopla so I had to wait until a bed was available in order to crash. What kind of crap was that? And Val’s complaining because she has to share a room with Gai?

“What did you just say Neil?” Her voice had risen on the my name and I could feel a fit of rage coming on.

“I said-”

“He said nothing,” Mom said as she slipped a hand over my mouth. “Everyone is cranky. How about we all head to bed and then we’ll go sightseeing tomorrow.”

“Fine! Whatever!” Val stormed off and mom turned to me.

“I’m really sorry baby! We had booked you a room-”

“It’s okay mom! I’ll just rough it! I mean we are at a camp ground right? It should be good times!”

She bent down and kissed my forehead before I could dodge away.

“MOM!” I said as I looked to the left and right. Laughing she ruffled my hair before she headed toward her room.

Secretly I think it’s pretty cool that we’re all close. I know a couple kids at school who can’t stand their parents and I know a few more kids at school who don’t even see their parents. Don’t write this down all mushy alright? I’m just saying that I think our family is pretty tight.

Yeah, that’s me sleeping out in the big scary wilderness! Not! I’m right next to the girls cabin. I saw the way this kid was looking at Gai and if he thinks he’s going to make the moves on my sister he can think again. Seriously! Yeah, yeah! I’m that kind of brother. I can’t help myself. Besides Gai was new to being a teen! I didn’t want her to get swept away by some fresh kid thinking he was a Casanova. Wait…what are you laughing at?

Anyways, I’ll talk to ya later! I’m beat!