Tiny Tim полностью

That last statement was a blatant lie, of course. I was very much NOT okay with being left out, or I wouldn’t feel so damned depressed all the time. I stood by what else I had said, though. They didn’t care whether I’m around, they couldn’t be bothered to consider my feelings, and they weren’t even interested in talking to me unless it was to assign chores and make sure I stay out of the way for their family orgies. Why did I even still want to have these people in my life?

While Uncle John looked at me with some doubt, Aunt Danielle seemed to understand where I was coming from. After a moment of her studying her feet, she sighed, nodded, and grabbed her husband’s arm to pull him out of the door. Tess followed shortly after, so I could finally get back to my task. It took me three more hours and a trip to Home Depot to finally sort through the mess and make my way home.

Six days later was Thanksgiving, which we all gathered in Uncle John’s house for. As announced, the grandparents had flown in to spend the entire week with us, though I hadn’t spent any real time with them in the evenings. I spent roughly thirty-five hours a week in school, followed by twenty-eight hours a week working my job, followed by another eleven hours a week in the company gym. That’s a seventy-four hours workweek, not accounting for homework or travel time, and that was before things with Tess got serious!

So, Aunt Danielle had gone to great lengths to ensure I would attend their Thanksgiving dinner. She even counseled – conspired is more like it – with Bill and Tess, so I could definitely attend that dinner without having to go into work or being tempted to do something more fun than eat at her house. That told me she had something planned I explicitly asked them not to, and I wasn’t happy about it. Aunt Danielle was a therapist who specializes in Couples Therapy, so I guess she simply couldn’t let it go without meddling.

“Tell me...” I asked Danielle while helping to set the table. “ ... why exactly did I absolutely, positively have to be here?”

“Can you make it sound a little less like you’d rather be anywhere else?” John chuckled.

“No.” I answered matter of fact while looking him straight in the eyes as if to challenge him. That caused his chuckle to abruptly die.

“Oh, I just thought it would be nice to have everyone together again.” Danielle finally answered my question with a strained voice. Surely the result of my exchange with John. “It’s been a long time since we had.”

“What are you talking about, Danny? We were all together just last Saturday. Five days is hardly ‘a long time’. Or did you miss us so soon?” Logan injected while laughing, adding that second part with playful coyness.

I was sure I puked a little into my mouth. Calling her by a pet name was probably just his way of rubbing in how close they all were. Looking at her, though, I noticed Danielle acting a little hurried upon hearing Logan’s comment about them being together last week. She hastily tried to get the topic back on track, away from that little piece of information.

“No, Logan, I meant everybody. That includes your little brother. If John and I don’t visit him at work, we never hear anything that’s going on in his life.” she said with a patient smile.

“Oh?” I heard Claire inquire “Anything you’d like to share?” I wasn’t sure, but it sounded like she asked out of genuine interest, not just because she needed to play the part in front of her parents.

“Yes! We’ve been here since Saturday already, but barely got to see you!” added Grandma Susy with an accusing undertone.

“He got a haircut and a new outfit. That’s it. You only learn about his life when you visit him at work, because his life is work.” Logan answered for me, probably – hopefully – not realizing how his statement was true in more than one way. Claire’s ostensive interest seemed to be satisfied with that as well. So much for the perceived genuine interest from just a few seconds earlier.

“Aren’t you a little young to already be a workaholic?” Grandpa chuckled. “But I can appreciate young people thinking about their future!”

“I’m with Mom on that one!” Maggie chimed in cheerfully. “She told me about walking in on you at that gym and how you changed. But actually seeing it myself?” She had placed her hand on my upper arm and was feeling my biceps, looking me up and down. “I’m impressed, little cousin! You also became a lot taller since the last time we got together.”

“Thanks.” I replied, smiling at her. That is, until Logan felt the need to add his opinion.

“Too bad only his muscles can be enlarged by training.” came his quiet, pitying comment while throwing me a nasty smirk, reminding Maggie of the origins of ‘Tiny Tim’.

It earned him a stern look from Aunt Danielle, but it had the effect I expected and Logan hoped for. Maggie removed her hand from my arm, gave me a sympathetic look, and walked away without a further word.