Paul's Kingdom

You go to class and finish up the day. No A+s today, (you had a B+), but it was overall a very good day again. That is to say, nothing bad happened.

Just as before you go home and eat some Cheerios. However, you won't be able to attend to your kingdom today. You've got homework today. And if you're going to get that A+ back, you'll need to do all of your homework.

Just as you finish the last of your math homework (simple multiplication tables) Tom steps through the door. "Where were you?" you ask him. "You're supposed to get home at most a half hour after me!"

Tom smirks. "I've been with Shannon."

Your eyes go wide. "You're only allowed to be with her on weekends!"

Tom looks nervously upstairs, to see if Dad reacts to what you just yelled. Of course he doesn't. "Well, too bad. And you're going to have to shut up. I brought her here with me."

You gape as Shannon comes through the doorway as well into your house. You've never liked Shannon. Despite the fact she was older and you think she looks very good, she's your brother's girlfriend. He shouldn't have a girlfriend. "You brought her home?" you murmur.

"Yeah, and you're not going to tell Dad. Because if you do I'll make sure I'll tell Dad about what I found three months ago."

You gulp. One boring day three months ago you stole your Mom's Victoria's Secret magazine and hid it under a stack of papers. Tom found it three days later. Luckily for you, he didn't tell anyone what he found. But he's been using it to blackmail you ever since.

"Fine," you resign sullenly. "I won't tell."

"That's right," Tom says haugtily. "Shannon, let's go into my room, shall we?" Tom and Shannon disappear up the stairs, tiptoeing quietly.

A battle rages in your head. Tom has no right bringing Shannon here. You should tell Dad. This is serious and it might even make him do something besides just lay on his bed. But then Tom will tell him about the magazine...

Is it worth it? It is. You know it is. But first you'll go to Tom to see if you can resolve the issue without any conflict.

You push the door open to his room and find Shannon laying on your brother. She almost shrieks, falling off him and hitting the floor.

"What's wrong with you?!" Tom bellows. "Get out of my room!"

"I'm going to tell Dad!" you tell him. "Make her leave or I'll tell."

"What's going on here?" your Dad steps in the room. He looks dizzy, but he stares at the situation with pure understanding.

"Tom brought Shannon home!" you explain. "He did!"

Tom doesn't say anything. Shannon sprints out of the room and leaves the house.

"Get out of the room, Paul." Your father points at the door. You leave.

Tom's going to get it. Dad's never going to stop yelling, and then Tom won't be able to play Xbox forever. But you hear no yelling from your father. Instead you here muted screams from Tom. And then silence.

You quiver. Tom's probably talking to Dad right now about the magazine! What you did was more tangible than what Tom did...he only brought someone here, you actually stole something! And a very bad something.

You need to leave. You need your mother. You need to find Mom.