Page 2 of Unbalanced

“Shh,” I hiss at my brother, putting my finger over my lips.

Dad walks in a second later with a woman that I’ve seen before. My hand balls into a fist. I hate this woman. He closes the door, and I gag when he kisses her. Yuck. Why do adults like kissing? It’s so gross.

Dad’s hands are all over her, touching places that we’ve been taught are private. When I was younger, I didn’t understand that they were going to have sex. Now at eleven, I know all too well. This isn’t the first time Dad has had someone over when Mom is out.

The woman I know as Tammy takes off her shirt. I can see her bare stomach and her boobs in her bra.

“I wanna see.” Rob grabs my arm and pulls.

“No.” I jerk away.

“Yes.”

I wheel on him.

“Shut up, or you’re gonna get us caught.”

“You can’t tell me what to do.”

“I am right now. Shut up.”

“Don’t tell me to shut up.”

“Shut the hell up,” I whisper harshly. “If we get caught because of you, I’m never playing with you again.”

“I don’t care. I don’t want to play with you anyway.”

He steps toward the door, and I grab him. I don’t want him to see this. I wish I could forget what I’ve seen.

“Get off of me,” Rob snarls.

“No.” I hold him tighter.

“I’ll scream,” he continues.

Why is my brother so annoying?

“Then we’ll both be in trouble.”

He pauses and then, like a fire-breathing dragon, he sucks in a deep breath. I slap a hand over his mouth. He tries to scream anyway. The sound is muffled, but still loud. Too loud. Dad definitely heard that. Rob struggles in my arms, and we both end up on the ground rolling around.

Suddenly, the closet door opens, and we freeze.

“What is going on in here?”

Rob points at me. “It’s his fault.”

I glare at my brother, wanting to pummel him.

“No, you said you wanted to find our Christmas gifts.”

“No, I didn’t!”

“Yes, you did!”

“Nuh uh.”

“Don’t lie,” I yell.