The front door opens and in walks Jennifer. She immediately drops her bookbag near the doorway, closing the front door behind her.
Jennifer: Mom?
There's no answer. Jennifer calls out for her mom one last time before someone is seen walking into the living room. Jennifer sees its her Aunt Gabby.
Aunt Gabby: Hey, Jennifer.
Jennifer: Hi Aunt Gabby *looks around* where's my mom?
Aunt Gabby: She went out for dinner with--
Jennifer: *annoyed* Ugh, don' even say it.
Jennifer walks away from Aunt Gabby to go toward the kitchen. Jennifer forcefully opens the refrigerator and takes out the juice. She slams the door shut and sees her little sister, Maryette.
Maryette: You're not supposed to be slamming the fridge door.
Jennifer: Leave me alone.
Jennifer walks away from Maryette in which her little sister follows her.
Maryette: And that juice is supposed to be for dinner tonight.
Jennifer: Stop following me and leave me alone.
Maryette doesn't listen; he continues to follow her big sister around the kitchen.
Maryette: You can't tell me what to do, Pep!
Jennifer: *annoyed* Shut up and leave me alone! You're so fucking annoying.
Maryette: *shouts* Pep said a bad word! Pep said a bad word! You have to put a dime in the swear jar!
Jennifer: Leave! Me! Alone!
The two sisters begin to argue in the kitchen and Aunt Gabby comes into the kitchen to see what the bickering is about.
Aunt Gabby: Hey! Hey! What is all this fighting about?
The two girls begin to talk over each other, not allowing the other to speak. Aunt Gabby quiets the girls down.
Aunt Gabby: Okay, that's enough! The twins are asleep and this noise will wake them up. *to Jennifer* Jennifer, you go first since you are the oldest.
Maryette: But--
Aunt Gabby: *stern* I said Jennifer gets to speak first.
Jennifer: I was minding my own business until she came into the kitchen and started bothering me.
Maryette: She slammed the door and took the juice!
Aunt Gabby: Maryette.
Maryette quiets down and Jennifer chuckles to herself.
Jennifer: This is stupid; can I go to my room?
Maryette: It's my room too.
Aunt Gabby: Maryette, how about you go and grab Matt from his room and you and him can help me bake some cookies?
Maryette: *excited* Okay!
Maryette runs towards the staircase and up to the second floor. Aunt Gabby turns around and looks at Jennifer.
Aunt Gabby: What's going on with you?
Jennifer: Nothing, it was just a long day at school today.
Aunt Gabby: It's always a long day at school; is everything okay?
Jennifer: Everything's fine, Aunt Gabby.
Aunt Gabby: Okay, I'm just making sure. You know you could always talk to me if something is bothering you.
Jennifer: *dismissive* Yeah.
Jennifer walks out of the kitchen and toward the staircase. She walks to her shared bedroom and closes the door behind her. She takes a deep breath and lays back first on her bed. She closes her eyes tight.
It's the year 1996, particularly on one of the hottest days of the summer season. Jennifer is playing across the street in front of Milo's house. They kick around a soccer ball, laughing and having a good time. Moments later, Jennifer looks at the house across the street where she sees her father, Justin, call out her name.
Justin: Pep! Time to come in!
Jennifer smiles at her father and waves goodbye to Milo. Her father walks across the street to get Jennifer. She grabs her father's hand as they walk down the street.
Justin: Mama is taking your sister to the doctor today, after lunch we can go to the park.
Jennifer: Can Milo come?
Justin: Of course, we can go and ask Milo's mom if he can come.
Jennifer smiles; she swings her father's arm in her hand.
Jennifer opens her eyes when she hears Aunt Gabby talk to someone downstairs. She opens her bedroom door and looks over the railing of the stairs. She sees Aunt Gabby talk to two adults in the foyer; one being her mom and a second being a man. She knows exactly who it is.
She leans in closer to get a better look down at the foyer, which causes for the railing to creek loudly. Jennifer cusses to herself, but loud enough for the adults to stop what they were doing to look up at Jennifer.
Lydia: Peppie?
Jennifer squeezes her eyes shut before opening them, revealing herself on top of the staircase.
Jennifer: Hi, Mom.
Jennifer looks at her mom and then looks at the man next to her. She immediately knows it's Justin, her dad. Jennifer walks down the stairs, pretending to be unbothered of the situation.
Lydia: I'm going to start making dinner in a few, I--
Jennifer: I'm going to hang out at Milo's.
Justin: *to Lydia* Mark and Elise's son?
Lydia nods.
Lydia: Please be back before dinner is ready.
Jennifer: *dismissive* I promised Mrs. Kamalani I would stay for dinner--
Jennifer grabs her jacket and bookbag from the front door where she last left it.
Justin: It was nice seeing you, Pep.
Jennifer stops what she's doing and turns around to look at her mom and Justin standing there.
Jennifer: My name is Jennifer.
Jennifer opens the front door and exits without looking back at her parents.
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