Chapter Twelve

“I’m cold,”

I complain.

Karl tosses me

a blanket,

and I pull

it over my

head

for a few

moments.

 

I take the

chance to

pop

a few

pills.

 

When I

swim

out of the

soft

fleece, Karl is

glued

to the television

again.

 

“When will

Mom

get home?”

I ask.

 

“Late.”

 

I sigh and

watch tv

with him.

 

He’s hard to be

around

but he’s my

brother.

 

I kinda

like him

the

way

he

is.

 

On the next

commercial break

he asks,

 

“What do you

want for dinner,

Runt?”

 

He calss me

that because

I’m so much

shorter

than him.

 

I was a

small

baby.

 

“Dessert!”

 

He gives me

a look.

 

“Pizza?”

I ask

meekly.

 

He grins.

 

“Sure.”

 

I have

the best

brother

ever.