Thread: Better with Brother (Mr Incognito and skittish_butterfly)

Susan nodded as Roger's first words, that she was in fact allowed company. Well of course she was, but it was good for him to say it. She nodded again at mom's overprotectiveness, her only disagreement there being that he was probably underestimating Mom's paranoia -- but then again he'd always been Roger, treated differently than Susan was. Roger probably didn't really understand or believe Susan, that Mom really was a total buzzkill whose only joy in life was making sure Susan never had fun like the rest of the kids in school and treated her like a little girl rather than a young woman. Well, it didn't matter. So long as she could stay with old Reasonable Roger she would be ok. He said he was protective too, and that struck her as odd, wrong. But you don't have to protect me at all Roger. I just need a room, and maybe some food, and perhaps a little pocket money once in awhile if you can spare some, but that's it -- I don't need a second mother. I'm not little Susan anymore Roger, I can take... But he interrupted that, explaining about not having met Josh, not knowing him. Apparently he wasn't fooled at all about who was here. And he wanted rules. Rules. Rules?! Roger! He was as bad as Mom, but she had nowhere better to go. Maybe she could pout her way out of it like the old days, or tickle him until he forgot what he was upset about. But he kept talking about his house, his sanctuary, his rules, and Susan started to understand. He wanted to protect HIMSELF and his HOUSE. She gave a knowing 'ahhh' as he paused before starting whatever list of rules he'd somehow inherited genetically from Mom. But now that she understood she felt better. It wasn't personal and it wasn't about her. Whatever literal rules he would come up with, the spirit was this don't mess up his house or privacy or whatever was so important about his man cave. She stopped feeling so threatened now that she understood. A quick glance at her watch told her that she should be scooting this little session of congress along so she could take a recess to call Josh and meet him somewhere. Ok, Rog, shoot. We need to get you back to unloading the rest of my stuff from the back of your car and settling down to work, your job and all that -- which I also very much want to respect and stay out of the way of. She felt proud of her thoughtfulness and helpfulness. Maybe it would help. And if he was busy and uninterrupted with work, she could sneak off and meet Josh uninterrupted somewhere. Susan ticked off the rules on her fingers along with him. One, let him know when someone was coming over so he wouldn't have to worry about who was in his house. Probably his privacy bit and using coasters. She nodded. Ok, I see your worry there. She'd make sure he never bumped into any visitors, and always ask if he was around for sure, and make sure everybody took care of his house. Easy enough. Maybe if she introduced him to Josh he wouldn't even care, she thought. They weren't exactly cut from the same cloth, but maybe... Roger was going on with another rule and she ticked it off on a second finger as she leaned against the wall, more relaxed now as she watched and listened to him. Curfew! Her little whine of protest came out before she could stop it. She really didn't want to complain. She learned with mom it never really worked, always made it worse. But seriously, at her age? She kept quiet though as he glared at her briefly and went on about it being for midnight and giving her time to party. He even volunteered to give her rides, which to her seemed to mean that technically so long as she called for a ride before midnight that would count. I don't suppose we could negotiate on one instead of midnight? No, never mind. She dropped it, not wanting to risk being able to stay here. She would just have to slowly push the boundaries back a little at a time until he couldn't' remember what the original time was anymore. Easy enough again. Except for that word caretaker. But if she brought that up this discussion could end up with him sending her back to Mom, or at the very least wasting her whole morning while Josh was hopefully outside idling his car on the street waiting for her. Not worth it, not now at least. Number three. Cell phone. Alway keep her cell phone? What kind of planet did he live on? When would she ever be separated from her cell phone unless she was underwater or having major surgery or something like that. That wasn't a rule, it was a simple statement of fact. She just nodded with a smile. There was that part about answering when he called, but common sense and common convention told her that wasn't too big a burden. Worst case if she was busy she'd call him right back. That's how cell phones worked and he wasn't too old to understand that,the way Mom seemed to be. She smiled, feeling quite relieved. He hadn't mentioned dishes or homework or vacuuming or chore schedules or any of Mom's stupid rules. This would be a breeze. You know Roger, I'm really glad to be here too. I've missed you so much since you left. She really did, she realized. When he took off, that was when things really started getting bad. Maybe it was because that was about when she started going through puberty soon after, that's what Mom said at least, but having Roger around had always just made things better. She came closer and gave him a hug from a distance, just clasping him with her hands around his shoulders. Then she looked up. So, uh, I'm still kinda... she looked down at her bare legs, his tshirt really not enough to let her go out again in her opinion. Could you be the most amazing brother in the world and fetch the rest of my stuff before you scurry off to whatever it is you do with your day? She pointed at her pile of clothes on the floor. Meanwhile, I can change into something a little more appropriate -- so you won't have to worry as my caretaker about how I'm dressed. And then I'll stay out of your hair so you can work. Caretaker -- use his words against him, that was how she'd always tried to twist Mom around her finger. Of course that strategy had ended up with her out of the house and living here now, but the strategy was sound, it was her mom who was the problem. Susan tried to scoot him out of her room so she could change real quick after sending an SMS to Josh to pick her up in 5 minutes out front. As she tried to push Roger to the door she was struck by how much stronger he seemed than the old days. As hard as she ended up pushing on him with both hands, it felt like he would only move where he chose to move, be pushed if he chose to allow it. A little bit of the old tomboy inside her flared up, annoyed at not being stronger, but she'd given up caring about how strong she was years ago now. But still, she wanted to get dressed for Josh, and she gave him a good push, giggling just a little like the old days so he wouldn't get upset about it.