An Ordinary American Family

No one spoke in the car on the drive home. It took about 45 minutes to go from Aunt Jenna and Uncle Harry’s apartment in Queens to where they lived in Brooklyn. That’s a long time for no one to talk in our family. Not even small talk. Like, what a nice party, the cake was delicious, all the kids had a great time, I can’t believe how they’re growing up so fast. Nothing! And now here they were, arriving in front of their apartment, getting out of the car. Home! The three of them, Rita, Missy, and Andy, stood on the sidewalk in front of their house waving goodbye to Uncle Harry. Andy turned as soon as the car was down the block, and started to run up the steps. Their mother reached out for his arm. “Wait! I’ll go in first. You and your sister wait here.” “Why?” he started to whine. “I wanna show daddy what Aunt Jenna gave me.” “Just wait here with your sister!” Their mother’s voice was firm. The kind of voice that always stopped Missy’s brother in his tracks. Missy’s mother turned to her. “If I don’t come back to the door to get you, ring the neighbor’s bell and ask them to dial 911.” “What?” Missy couldn’t let her go in! She tried to hug her but her mother pushed her away. “Just listen to me for once!” Their mother sounded desperate. Her kids, Andy and Missy, meant everything to Rita. She couldn’t let anything happen to them. “Okay, just be careful. I love you!” “I know. I love you too!”