Painful Smiles

Clara had come home half drunk. If not for the disgusting smell she had, Clara would have deceived everyone into thinking she was just dizzy.

‘You better start talking, young lady. Was Mega with you? And Belle? How could they let you drink?’ Mr. Larabee shouted.

Mrs. Larabee just stayed mute, while ravaging Clara’s bag looking for what no one knew. ‘I’m telling you, Dad, I didn’t know it was alcohol. The girls didn’t know also’ Clara mumbled again, looking like a puppy.

Claudia finally came downstairs when use couldn’t help but know what was going on. Behind the stairs, Paul was there peeking at how his parents yelled at Clara.

‘What now happened now?’ Claudia asked behind him. He quickly gave her the ‘shh’ signal, she unconsciously placed her hands on her lips and stooped to peek along with him.

‘Someone came home drunk’ Paul said. He peeked again to see his mother holding something up to Claudia. It was like a cloth. A little short.

‘No, you didn’t wear bum short there. No, I did not just see some bum short sneaked in your bag. I didn’t not’ her mother yelled.

She threw the shorts at Clara and began shaking her head angrily. Clara stood pale as the zip of the shirts scratched her forehead.

‘I thought it was something like a prom party for the new grade twelve. You told me it’s a formal party, miss. Why’d you wear a bum short there? And then you got drunk?’ Her father raised her hands to slap her but it stopped half way.

‘Slap, slap, slap’ Paul chanted quietly.

Claudia smirked and began returning upstairs.

‘And Claudia? Why did she let you go out alone?’ Mr. Larabee asked.

Claudia froze on her way. Paul turned to look at her.

‘Claudia? Where’s Claudia? She was home today. Why’d she leave you to go alone to fool around?’ her father shouted at Clara.

Claudia frowned. When was she Clara’s bodyguard. Clara had her own will, she had hers.

Why did she even have to monitor her twin? Clara as shifty as she was, she wouldn’t even listen.

And for the records, when Clara had asked her that morning if she was coming, she had given a straight no.

Clara had further said it was because she was scared of boys or being called ugly.

She had calmly responded by saying, ‘Or I am trying to live well, like a good kid should’.

Clara had just scoffed and went for the party. The party would be filed with seniors and friends of seniors.

Dirty stuffs are bound to happen. And Claudia had been meaning to have a bath of holy water so she’ll spare herself some dirt.

Why should she be responsible or in anyway related to this case?

‘Claudia! Claudia, come down here, please?’ her father shouted.

Claudia sluggishly came out with her hands across her chest.

Her mother looked at her with pain in her. Claudia felt it.

‘Claudia dear, you should have told your sister not to attend that party?’ her mother started.

Claudia cleared her throat before answering, ‘And if I did, and she didn’t listen?’.

Mrs. Larabee turned to Clara, who was already glaring at Claudia.Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

‘That’s why you’re older than she is, she makes mistakes. Because of her young age. You should be there to warn her against all these but you rather stay up in your room, doing nothing exactly. When you have a duty to your siblings! Be a good big sister!’ his voice increased with each word.

Claudia just stayed, staring at him in surprise, how did the table turn rounds? It was Clara who went out! It was her decision!

‘Dad, I don’t think I’m required to police Clara because I’m older… ‘

‘Then, what’s the duty of an older sister? Maybe Clara should be the oldest then or not?’ her father snapped.

Mrs. Larabee placed her hands on her husband, ‘Don’t blame Claudia, honey. Claudia doesn’t like such parties. Personally, I’m glad one of my daughters isn’t a whore’ she glared at Clara whose eyes just enlarged.

‘Claudia, go back to your room. Try to talk to your sister against her stupid ways. If she refuses your advice, you can smack her, then report to me’ her mother’s eyes were still in Clara’s.

‘I can’t believe I’m raising such kids’ Mr. Larabee slammed on the table before leaving.

‘Kids?’ Paul frowned as he crawled out of his hiding place. ‘Why daddy said kids? Its Clara who got drunk not me. Or sister Claudia? Why’d he say kids?’ he enquired.

Claudia shook her head before ascending up the stairs to her room.

Her dad had the very annoying habit of generalizing Clara’s wrongs with her. Even when she tried her best to avoid it. It somehow came back to her.

‘Good news is, you get to smack Clara when you like’ Paul smirked behind her. She didn’t even knew he had followed her.

She smiled at him. That was a good news. And she need not fund a good reason, every reason was reasonable.

‘Well, this holiday should get too eventful. I bet Clara would act like a house cat, sleep, eat and sleep. She wouldn’t want to cause trouble and get.. smacked’ she winked to Paul.

He hopped on her bed. ‘Mom called her a ‘whore’, I know its not a good thing, right?’ he asked.

Claudia nodded, ‘A very bad thing, don’t ever call someone that. Mom just got angry mixed with her fluctuating emotions, she just spoke as she felt. Clara deserved it anyway’.

Paul fell on her bed and Claudia fell with him. He faced her and told her how he overheard Clara speaking of a French guy coming next term, she had spoken with her friends over the phone.

Claudia lips curved up, she wasn’t smiling though.

‘You like French guys right? You always call me Frenchie’ Paul continued.

Claudia chuckled slightly before rubbing his head, ‘Not any French guy. And I just think they’ve a good sense of humor like playing death games. Whatever though, I don’t care’.

Paul frowned slightly before getting off her bed. ‘This holiday would be fast, get a new style for your senior year. Cool and calm doesn’t fit you much. Try Cold and savage. It fits you’ he ran out before she threw him the pillow.

She smiled at his words. How could he be four years old and thought that way?

She sighed, she had all the ‘amazing siblings’ anyway.