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School Days' characters (c) Krezz Karavan, used with permission.

This story was once on the Palcomix Forum on the School Days Thread. Since the PalComix Forum is no more, I'm putting it here.", "writing": "Chapter 76: Too Many Sisters, So Little Love.\n\nGrandmother comes out in an apron and holding a big butcher knife before stopping by Jose A.\n\n“I brought six more full sized folding beds, they are in the basement with pillows, sheets and blankets. There are 5 more I originally bought in the storage closet in the basement, along with more pillows and blankets. Get them set up for you all to sleep in tonight, dinner will be ready in two hours.” Grandmother tells them all.\n\nThe girls all say “Thank you”, before Jose A. tells her, “Thank you for taking us in such short notice. I’m sure the accommodations will be fine.”\n\n“Do not try to woo me, Mr. Gutierez. I’m not my daughter who you abandoned so long ago with a pair of twin pups. There will be a heavy price to pay for your deeds.” Grandmother tells him sternly.\n\n“No apology could make up for what I did Dona Maria, but I will try to make up what I can with what little time I have left.” He tells her.\n\n“Enough. Go to the basement to get the place ready for you all. During dinner we will discuss the house rules.” Grandmother tells him before walking into the house. She opens the door to the basement, holding it open with a chair.\n\nA few at a time the girls walk into the house where they find the basement door open and go in down a flight of stairs. The elder girls talk to themselves in English as they all gather downstairs and get the remaining beds, pillows and other items from the storage closets while they set up the room.\n\n“Who the hell she think she is?” Lareina asks in an angry tone.\n\nGabriela, the oldest of the ones who wears all covering clothing, sighs for a moment, “Maybe she does not know of dad’s condition.”\n\nAlejandra, the oldest of all the girls makes her thoughts known, “Its more to it than that. I remember when dad tried to visit his son long ago and was denied. Like she said upstairs, dad abandoned this end of the family to take care of us. I can see why they are angry. But they are angry at him, not at us.”\n\n“How you know that?” Lareina asks, “Why are we sleeping in the basement on folded cots and not upstairs in beds?”\n\n“This house seems small to hold all of us. I counted four windows on the second floor and one of them was a bathroom window. So one room for our brother, one room for our new sister, and one room for the other one.” Gabriela explains.\n\n“I don’t remember hearing of a twin sister when dad took me to try to visit them.” Alejandra replies. She throws in, “Angelina, bring ‘Nina (Saturnina) over here. I got this bed ready for us. We’ll need another to put it together with this one.”\n\n“Alright...” Angelina replies before grabbing her twin by the arm, “Come one Saturnina, lay down on the bed and you wont get in the way of everyone. \n\nSaturnina not liking to be pulled out despite her handicap, complains, “Hey!” She lands on the bed with a “THUD!”\n\nAnother “THUD!” follows as Angelina pins down Saturnina to the bed.\n\n“Angelina, you should not be treating her so rough! You know she can’t see at times!” Alejandra chews out her little sister for manhandling her twin.\n\n“Let calm down. At least we are not in a hotel in separate rooms having fast food burgers or greasy chicken from a bucket.” Gabriela points out.\n\n“But I like chicken in a bucket!” the smallest one known as Luna lets out from across the room.\n\n“You would eat Nacho Chip and Fish Cheese Pizza if they made it.” Lareina scolds her from across the room.\n\nAnother by the name of Melissa steps up to Luna and holds her by her waist close to her, “Don’t listen to those girls. Samantha and I are your real sisters.”\n\n“We are all sisters, from the same father but different mothers and by squirrel society rules we are all sisters.” Gabriela says out loud enough to be heard, followed by, “Bianca and Candi, get that bed over here as we have a place to sleep together.” The twins look at her and though they appear to dismiss her, they do as she said and rolls a folding bed to her.\n\nIn time they set up three sets of two or three joined folding beds by the wall and they all sit on them. One from each bed explores the basement, finding two bathrooms with a toilet and a shower stall, with nearby a laundry area. Lareina lets out her thoughts out loud.\n\n“Two bathrooms for eleven girls and no bathtubs? I swear!” Lareina lets out loud.\n\n“There’s at least one more bathroom upstairs on the second floor and maybe one more on the first floor. We should be able to use them too.” Gabriela tells her.\n\n“Does the TV work?” Luna points out the large screen TV at the end of the room. \n\nThey can hear a commotion upstairs through the ceiling, sounding like the patter of many feet and the muffled voice of Grandmother upstairs and the patter of more feet as they leaving the house.\n\n“I’ll go see what’s going on.” Alejandra says to be known.\n\n“I’ll go with you.” Gabriela adds.\n\n“Oh no, you are not leaving me with the little ones!” Lareina complains.\n\n“We’re not little!” Bianca and Candi hold back from yelling at Lareina.\n\n“Just wait here girls, and we’ll be back.” Gabriela tells them as she and the other two older girls leave.\n\nIt did not take much for the younger ones to get up and follow their older sisters up the stairs; soon they were all walking out onto the kitchen and dining area. They stand there looking at a grey squirrel (Rachel) who is setting up the dining table.\n\n“Girls. Over here and sit down.” Their father tells them.\n\nAs they sit down about the living room whether on the furniture, each other or on the floor, a couple of them whisper at their father, “Who is that?” with one asking, “That’s not Fernando’s twin, is it?”\n\nGrandmother walks over to the grey squirrel and whispers something in her ear. The grey squirrel puts down the last of the plates on the table and heads up stairs for a moment before running down the stairs and out the door.\n\nWith the grey squirrel gone out of the house, their father answers, “That’s Rachel. She was adopted into the family long ago and is Fernando’s younger sister. You will meet her later but there is another grey squirrel sister named Jorgina-Daisy, she’s Fernando’s mother’s daughter through another man.”\n\n“We don’t have to accept them, do we?” Lareina asks too loudly.\n\nIn hearing this, Grandmother says loud enough to be heard in English, “To be part of this family, yes you do!” She then walks to the living room with a large metal ladle in her hand, “If this family is to be as one, you have to accept every girl in this house as your sister, and that one boy as your brother. If you can not accept that, then you can just leave.”\n\nLareina looks at her angrily, which Grandmother more than notices and tells her, “This is my house, my family and my rules. You are to respect me as your grandmother, and you are to either to help out, stay out of the way or leave. I will not have such disruptions in my house, and thanks to your father, you are all are part of my family. I will do my best to care of you, feed you and keep you safe from what is out there since your father is in no shape to do that anymore. The rules of this house are simple and in time you will learn them all. Until then, do not bring harm or stupidity to this house or you will be looking for a new place to stay.”\n\n“That is not nice to say, Dona Maria.” Jose A, tells her.\n\n“After I feed you all, you can all leave and take that money with you. The choice is yours, Jose. Remember, you abandoned your first-born son and daughter so you can have sex with who ever, and now you are paying for that in taking care of all these girls like a good father should. But that does not clear you of your crimes and deeds of abandoning your first-borns, you need to remember that you owe a lot more than what money you can throw around or what seat of power your tail might be on. Remember- as a disconnected prince of Spain, you will never see the throne unless something happens to kill some 200 people ahead of you for that throne. And also remember that they only send you money to keep you quiet and not be a paparazzi embarrassment to the family. And remember, in this family, I am the king, not you or anyone else. And if my daughter comes to see her children, you are to stay quiet and leave the area. I will not have a fight in this family for I will kill you both. So excuse me for not saying nice things.” Grandmother tells him laying down the authority of her position in the family.\n\nThey stare at each other for a long moment. The girls witness something they never had seen before, their father backing down. He never backs down according to their memories, but he does here and now.\n\n“I’m sorry, Dona Maria.” He tells her, “You are right.”\n\n“DAD!” Most of the girls shout at him.\n\n“No. Girls. She is right. We are family first and foremost. Second, I owe this family more than you will ever all know unless the guy you marry abandons you like I abandoned them a long time ago. And as a family, you are going to respect and foremost love this woman for she is your grandmother through your only brother who is willing to help us all in our lives. No one else we met in our travels who call us family would do that for us. She is. Now we got to learn to adapt to this new situation we are living.” Jose tells them.\n\n“You keep forgetting your daughter who is his twin.” Grandmother tells him.\n\nJose just nods.\n\nGrandmother looks at the girls for a moment, “There is a bathroom upstairs at the end of the hall, and if you have not found them, there are two down stairs. Go wash your hands to get ready to eat. Dinner is almost done.”\n\nIt takes them a while to think, but the older girls lead the rest down stairs to the basement bathrooms where they take care of their hand washing needs.\n\nBefore Grandmother can speak a word to her former son-in-law, the doorbell rings. She walks to the door and opens it without checking the side windows to see who it is. It was Dr. Leary in a black mini-dress, who Grandmother was expecting to come over. As she steps into the house, Dr. Leary sees Jose Antonio sitting on the far end of the sofa.\n\n“So is that him?” Dr. Leary leans over and whispers in Grandmother’s ear.\n\n“Yes, and the girls are downstairs washing up for dinner.” Grandmother tells her before leading her into the living room area.\n\nDr. Leary takes the seat at the end of the room near the sofa, putting her medicine bag on her lap. He had seen her and eyed her like a prize piece of beef as she walked by. Before she could speak, Jose makes his intentions known.\n\n“And who do I have the pleasure of meeting? Perhaps we can go out for some coffee and who knows what afterwards?” Jose tells her as he leans to her direction.\n\n“Oh shut up.” Dr, Leary tells him as she shoves a digital thermometer into his mouth, then takes a blood pressure cuff to his arm and wraps it tightly.\n\n“I’d advise you to stay still, Jose. This is Dr. Leary, she the family’s personal physician. I called her over to check you and the girls out and look over their medical files. In short, Jose Antonio Gutierez, I do not want to come downstairs and find a dead man in my living room. Do I make myself clear?” Grandmother tells him.\n\n“And I’m already seeing somebody at the moment who I am loyal to. You have nothing to offer me but problems.” Dr. Leary tells him before looking at the digital read out, “Hmm... you seem to be running a fever.”\n\nDr. Leary pulls out the probe from his mouth, only to hear him complain, “I’ll be seeing a doctor tomorrow! I hear he is the best!”\n\nDr. Leary pulls out her appointment book and shows an appointment slot with his name on it written in red ink, “You will be seeing me, as I am the best as I am a Pteromyini Sciuridae – or in your vocabulary – a Flying Squirrel Specialist, one of maybe six in the nation. And as you noticed, I am a flying squirrel like you.” \n\n“Don’t insult me!” Jose tries to bring his machismo levels up and failing.\n\n“Look sir. I have seen your records at the hospital to prepare for your visit tomorrow. Just because your doctors told you that you have months left to live does not mean you have months left to live. At any time one of those tumors floating about in your bodily organs can break off and go into your brain and give you a stroke that will kill you. It can happen right now, tonight, next week or it can kill you months from now. You do not know when you are going to simply drop dead in your tracks going to the bathroom or outside to the store so you need to shut up and do as I tell you.” Dr. Leary tells him.\n\nJose can only look at Dr. Leary with a wide-eyed expression of disbelief. But in his heart, he knows this to be true as other doctors told it to him before. It is not a matter of time for him but a matter of when, and he needs to own up to that fact.\n\n“How is he?” Grandmother asks.\n\n“Considering what I read, he should be dead months ago. But like I told him, as long as a tumor does not break off and stroke his brain, he should be fine for the next few months and treatments given should extend his life for a few more years. But I want to run some tests tomorrow to make sure.” Dr. Leary tells her, “Other than that he’s running a slight fever from his stressed out immune system. And he needs to relax but remain active.”\n\n“Which means for you to not laying on your butt all day long and giving out orders.” Grandmother tells him. \n\n“Where are the girls?” Dr. Leary asks.\n\n“They should be coming up from their temporary quarters in the basement.” Grandmother tells her as she hands over a sealed manila envelope.\n\n“According to the records, there are three with Photodermatitis. I would like to see them now if possible.” Dr. Leary says.\n\n“That would be Bianca, Candi and Gabriela...” Grandmother says inquisitively, watching Jose nod. She walks to the basement doorway, and shouts down the stairway, “Bianca, Candi and Gabriela! You’re needed at once upstairs!”\n\nThe girls all look at the stairway as Gabriela gathers the twins Bianca and Candi before taking them to the stairs. In a few seconds they are at the area between the dining area and the kitchen, looking at who was where and what was going on.\n\nGrandmother points to them to sit down on the living room chairs, away from their father. First thing Dr. Leary notices is their clothing covering much of their bodies when they should be in short sleeves, pants and skirts in such a hot summer it has been.\n\nAs they sit down, Dr. Leary introduces herself to them, “Hello ladies. I am Dr. Leary, physician to this family and a Pteromyini Sciuridae – a Flying Squirrel Specialist, one of a few in the nation. As you can see, I am one too. I understand you three have a sunlight allergy?”\n\nThey all nod.\n\nDr. Leary points to the oldest as she takes out a fine toothcomb from her medical bag, “And who you might be and how old are you?”\n\n“Gabriela. I’m 13.” Gabriela answers.\n\n“OK. Roll up that sleeve and let me see your arm.” Dr. Leary tells her.\n\nGabriela does as she is told, extending her bare arm to Dr. Leary. Dr. Leary runs the comb against Gabriela’s fur and examines the skin underneath. Doing so kicks up a fine dust from her fur.\n\n“You using some kind of skin powder?” Dr. Leary asks.\n\nGabriela nods as she takes her arm from Dr. Leary and puts her hand in her pocket. She pulls out a small shaker canister and hands it to her.\n\n“Dr. Dermis’ Total Sunblock 2000? Does this stuff actually work?” Dr. Leary asks.\n\n“It makes the itching stops.” Candi, one of the twins lets out.\n\n“And who are you, and does it protect you from the rash of being out in the sun?” Dr. Leary asks her.\n\n“My name is Candi and it seems to work most of the time.” Candi tells her.\n\n“Oh my. Are you ever going to be the butt of all jokes in school.” Dr. Leary tells her.\n\n“What do you mean?” Candi asks.\n\n“All the boys and some of the girls in school will be saying, ‘I want candy’ but meaning you – Candi.” Dr. Leary tells her.\n\n“I don’t get it.” Candi says.\n\n“Anyways, I’ll be studying this snake oil medicine but until I find something better keep using it. The problem I see is that in time your bodies will get used to this medicine and stop working all together and you three will need something better.” Dr. Leary tells them.\n\n“We know that. It has happened before.” Gabriella tells her.\n\n“Alright then. I will need to see you three on Friday before school starts. What school are you girls going to?” Dr. Leary says and asks.\n\n“I intend to enroll them tomorrow in St. LoveJoy’s academy. I hear it is the best.” Jose tells her.\n\n“I do not know if they are still enrolling students so late in the season, but I will need to see all your girls for their school physical. Lets do this on Friday.” Dr. Leary explains.\n\n“I will have that done.” Jose A. says. \n\n“Good.” Dr. Leary says as she writes in her appointment book. She adds after she finishes writing, “Anything else before I leave?”\n\n“I’d like you to stay when Fernando arrives from wherever he is. No doubt he is going to act out once he sees his father here.” Grandmother tells him.\n\n“I see. I’ll stay for a while then, but I do have a date to go too afterwards.” Dr. Leary explains.\n\n“Tell your sisters to come up ad get ready to eat. You all can eat where you can sit either in the dining area, the living room or the service island. Tonight’s menu is white rice, stewed beef and potatoes, steamed vegetables, a simple salad and juice or soda.” Grandmother explains. The girls look at her as if she was talking in a different language. Grandmother continues, “Jose, adults usually eats after the children have eaten, but I’ll make an exception in your case.”\n\n“No. I will eat last with the adults. Do not break the rules of the house because I’m your guest.” Jose A. tells her.\n\n“You’re not guest, Jose. You’re family, and I will put a frying pan to your head like any other who dares to challenge my authority.” Grandmother tells him.\n\nJose A. just nods in agreement. He then signals the girls to get their sisters. Bianca who has been quiet all this time whistles out loud, getting the attention of the other girls who were hiding in the staircase to come out.\n\nGrandmother just looks at Bianca angrily for a moment, “That is not allowed in the house.”\n\n“What!” Bianca replies a little louder than needed. The girls stop gathering at between the dining area and the living room space.\n\n“Look dearie,” Dr. Leary begins as Grandmother looks angrily at the girl, “Some people has some sensitive ears, which will hurt them if you do that again. And as his doctor, Fernando has some very sensitive ears. So do not ever whistle like that in this house again.”\n\n“I’m sorry.” Bianca says quietly to herself.\n\n“Don’t be sorry, for you did not know. But now you do and you are not to do it again.” Dr. Leary calmly tells her. Bianca nods slightly.\n\nGrandmother turns to face the girls, saying to her self, “This is going to get interesting.” She then points Jose and signals him to get the girls before walking to the kitchen.\n\n“Alright ladies.” Jose tries to get up and look at them and Grandmother. “I want you all lined up in size order by that service island be serviced. Angelina, help your sister – you two are at the dining table. Everyone else can sit where you can, even the floor if you have too. Your Grandmother worked hard to make this food for us, so enjoy the meal. You all will wash your plates, glasses and utensils when you are done. Now line up.” Their father tells him.\n\n“Jose, I have a dishwasher.” Grandmother tells him.\n\n“Then they will scrape their plates and put it in the machine, the last one will close it and start washing the dishes.” Jose A. explains.\n\n“I will take care of turning on the machine. I still have four more children to feed, and then you and my self.” Grandmother tells him.\n\n“OK. Have it your way then.” Jose A. tells her in kind.\n\nGrandmother pretends to ignore him by not replying and begin serving the food.\n\nLuna, Melissa and Samantha were first to be served, taking seats on the floor in the living room area. Angelina helps Saturnina with her meal to the dining table before taking her own and sits with her twin. Candi and Bianca were next, taking their food to the living room. Daniela follows next and was about to sit by the table but an ‘*AHEM!*’ from her sister Lareina made Daniela change her mind and head to the living room with Lareina behind her. Gabriela takes her meal to be with Candi and Bianca in the living room. Alejandra takes her meal to the dining table to sit with her sisters. Though the TV was on, the girls eat their meal in relative quiet.\n\nAs they ate, Grandmother hands a plate over to their father. He accepts it though he was willing to wait to eat last with her.\n\nIt was probably the best meal they have had in months. Clean up was easy as they scraped their plates into the garbage disposal and put their plates, glasses and eating utensils into the dishwasher. The girls gather to sit down in the living room and watch the early evening news. Grandmother waits by the door, looking out the glass partitions.\n\n\nRachel was outside finally stopping Jorgina-Daisy from entering the gate to their home. She explains to her that they are to wait for Fernando and Rosita to return and to take Fernando directly upstairs to his room. Eventually Rachel has to tell her why – Fernando’s father and his sisters on his side are in the house and that Grandmother needs to talk to them all about what is going on.\n\nJorgina-Daisy ignores her and tries to enter the house. She is met by Grandmother at the door and is told to wait by Rachel until Fernando and Rosita returns.\n\nBoth Fernando and Rosita land by Rachel. Seeing this, Grandmother steps outside to the yard and walks over to them, taking Jorgina-Diasy with her.\n\nShe gathers the four of them together and tells them in Spanish, “Fernando, Rosita, I do not care about where you two were. I will deal with that later. Right now we have a more pressing problem. Fernando, Rosita – your father is in there with your other sisters. You are to go in the house and to go your room. And I’m speaking to you – Fernando, do anything stupid, and I will deal with you myself. Understand that?”\n\n“I understand.” Fernando replies in Spanish.\n\n“Rachel, you are to do what has to be done to help him and help Rosita help him. I do not care what it is I want it done. Jorgina-Daisy, start any shit, and I make you regret the day you were born. Now, I want you all to go up stairs, wash up and get ready for dinner. You will wait in your rooms until I call you. The people in this house are our guests and our family. They will be staying for more than a month, and even maybe a year. Start any problems with them; you will have a problem with me. Understand that?” Grandmother tells them.\n\n“I understand.” They all somberly reply.\n\n“Good. Now go do as I said.” Grandmother tells them before going to the door. She holds the door open and points up the stairs. The girls and their father turn around to see what was going on.\n\nJorgina-Daisy walks into the house, and stops by the stairs, looking at the guests. A slap to the back of her head sends her on her way to her room. Rachel comes in and stops at the steps, having seen the guest before. Rosita enters the house after her. She turns to face the houseguests, for the first time seeing who they are, who her father is in this life.\n\nGrandmother closes the door as Fernando walks into the house and stops at the bottom of the staircase. As he stares at the guests and they at him, Rachel takes him by the arm and pulls him up the stairs. It takes them less than 30 seconds to clumsily get up the stairs. Dr. Leary goes up the stairs after them.\n\nOnce Grandmother hears their bedroom door close, she walks to the kitchen. That is when Jose A. decides to get up out of his seat and starts to make his way up the stairs. Grandmother takes her steps back to the steps.\n\n“Where are you going?” Grandmother stops him from going any further.\n\nJose A. does not answer for the moment, making her answer for him.\n\n“You are not to see your son and daughter on your own. You are to stay away from them. I will decide when you three can sit down and meet over a supervise session. Then I will decide afterwards what rights you have with him. If you dare try to do something stupid and get to see them on your own, I will shoot you. Understand that I am those children’s guardian and I will protect them accordingly. Now if you need to use the bathroom, use the ones in the basement until this place is expanded and there is one on this floor.” Grandmother tells him.\n\nHe barely nods before leaving the area and heading to the basement doorway. She goes back to the kitchen and beings to prepare the dinners for the children upstairs. Though she could have set them up quickly, she takes her time to see when Jose A. was going to return from the bathroom. He returns from the bathroom some five minutes later.\n\nAs he steps towards the living room, Grandmother says out loud for all to hear, “I am going to call the children down stairs to eat. You and your girls are not going to bother them, you all are going to ignore them. Do not disrespect this house by bothering them. If any of you do, and you can all leave in the morning, and you Jose can take your damn money with you.”\n\n“Will that be all?” Jose A. asks her.\n\n“No it is not. But it will be all for now.” Grandmother tells him.\n\nJose A. sits frustration on his seat, signaling to his girls to keep the peace. \n\nOnce things get quiet down, Grandmother walks up to the stairs and gathers the children. The girls go down stairs first with Grandmother behind them. Dr. Leary follows as soon as the girls had sat down and Grandmother was putting their plates of food in front of them. Dr. Leary stands next to the head of the stairs by the Newel Post, waiting for Fernando. He arrives downstairs a couple of minutes later, walking to his spot on the dining table. The girls in the living room look at him like some prized possession in some display case waiting to be won.\n\nFernando tries to eat as quickly as possible, ignoring what is happening in the living room with so many eyes on him. Signals that Rachel and Rosita would only know, tells him to slow down in order to finish the meal together. Another fifteen minutes and they were done. Jorgina-Daisy was the first to run upstairs but unknown to everyone she hid at the top hallway stair to listen in on what was going on downstairs.\n\n“Dr. Leary, would you like something to eat?” Grandmother tells her.\n\n“Thank you but I will pass.” Dr. Leary answers.\n\n“Still going on your date?” Grandmother asks.\n\n“If you want to know, I will be leaving for that date after I give Fernando his medication.” Dr. Leary explains.\n\n“Then take them upstairs and get it done. I want the boy sleeping within a half hour.” Grandmother tells her.\n\nDr. Leary nods and then taps on the table to signal to the children to go upstairs with her. They follow her up the stairs, Jorgina-Daisy had already ran to her room upon hearing them get up out of their seats.\n\nOnce Grandmother hears the upstairs door closing, she makes her thoughts known, “Once everyone is on their floor I will turn on the alarm system to protect the house from nighttime intruders. If everyone stays on their floors, the alarm should not be activated. You should be able to go to the bathrooms on your floor. Now get to your beds. I have to talk to your father in private.”\n\nThe girls complain but comply with the request at their father’s signal. They clear the floor in under a minute.\n\n“You wanted to talk to me about something?” Jose A. asks.\n\n“This should be none of your business because long ago you abandoned those children upstairs but as their father, I have something to tell you that you should know.” Grandmother tells him as she walks to behind the couch where he sat.\n\n“Then go ahead and say it.” Jose A. tells her.\n\n“You are not to bother Fernando in any way. Like I said, I will set up a meeting for you, him and his twin sister to sit and talk with you.” Grandmother begins.\n\n“You already told me that, woman!” Jose jeers at her.\n\n“Then what I am going to tell you, I’m going to say once and no more. Fernando was born with a weakened blood vessel in his brain. Get him excited, bother him, anger him and there is a good chance the pressure will rise in that blood vessel and burst, killing him. Do you understand what I am telling you?” Grandmother tells him.\n\nJose was in awe at the statement, unsure how to answer.\n\n“Do you understand what I am telling you?” Grandmother asks.\n\nJose lets out a heavy sigh, finally answering, “Yes.”\n\n“Like I said, I will kill you if you go to him because that act could kill him. Lucky for her the girl does not have that condition.” Grandmother tells him.\n\nThat’s... good that the girl does not have it.” Jose replies.\n\n“So remember, I better not see you around the boy without my supervision, if you do and you need to carry him in your arms back to me, you do not need to worry about your cancer treatments because I will cure you myself by taking off your head. Got that?” Grandmother says and asks.\n\n“Is this condition terminal?” Jose A. asks.\n\n“Why do you think his doctor is here? It is terminal. No operation or medication can cure him. He’s ticking time bomb that will one day explode and take the boy with him. All we can do is hope and pray that one-day maybe he will grow out of it. Until then we have to treat him gently like some delicate fragile thing while at the same time let him have a normal life as much as possible.” Grandmother tells him.\n\n“Anything else?” Jose A. asks.\n\n“You can use the bathroom down stairs. I do not want to see you upstairs because you are sneaky and full of plans. You do things your way, and I am going to make sure you are not going to carry out such plans with my grandchildren in this house. Especially one who can be scared to death.” Grandmother tells him.\n\n“I promise I wont do anything that would jeopardize my son.” Jose A. replies.\n\n“Excuse me if I find your words hollow and worthless. Let me remind you that your actions long ago went against this family and now you owe a debt you can never repay. You can not ever undo what you did. And whether you understand it or not, your mere presence is a threat to Fernando’s well being because of his condition. You need to stay away from him at all costs. Your fluffy tail depends on that nothing happens to him. And you better hope and pray that nothing does happen to him during your stay here.” Grandmother tells him.\n\n“Will that be all?” Jose asks in an annoyed tone.\n\n“You need to throw that Machismo bull crap out the window. You can be a man all you want as determined by that micro penis and testicles you hold in your pants, but here in this house, I am the King and Queen. I lay down the law; I law down the punishment when those laws are broken. You are here under my good graces. While you live here, I will feed you, I will protect you within the walls of this house, and I will take care of you when you are connected to a life support machine on your last days. But you better understand that you are in no condition to challenge me, even if you were in a better condition. Your position here is that of a visitor. Nothing more. Respect me, respect the children of this house and respect this house. Only then will you reap the rewards this place has to offer. So know your place around me.” Grandmother tells him\n\nJose shifts uneasily at his seat.\n\n“If you want to go out, the nearest bar is at the Mall. I’ll be here cleaning up the kitchen until 10o’clock. After that the door will be locked and you will not be allowed in.” Grandmother tells him.\n\nJose sighs for a moment.\n\n“If you do go out, do not get arrested on drunk driving. I will not be there to bail you out.” Grandmother tells him.\n\n“Alright then.” Jose says before getting up out of his seat. “Where is this mall?” He then asks.\n\n“It’s down to the end of the street on your left. You can walk it there.” Grandmother tells him as she points in the direction it is in.\n\n“I will tell my girls where I am going and when I should return. Then I’m leaving for this bar to think things out.” Jose says before walking to the basement door.\n\nGrandmother goes to the kitchen and starts her cleaning routine, starting with turning on the dishwasher. As she cleans her stove with a rag, Jose steps out of the basement door.\n\n“The girls understand that I’ll be leaving for a while and will return. They should not be any problem to you.” He says.\n\n“I do not expect trouble from them, I do from you.” Grandmother tells him.\n\n“There is no way out of this, is there?” Jose A. says to himself than asks her.\n\n“They are not the problem, you are. Now, let me ask you this before you go. What happens to them if you were to drop dead when everything you have tried to extend your life fails?” Grandmother tells him.\n\nJose sighs before answering, “You would take care of them because there is nobody there for them on their side of the family.”\n\n“And they are aware of this decision of your to hand them over to me in case of your inevitable death?” Grandmother asks.\n\n“Yes they do.” Jose answers.\n\n“Then that is why I can trust them, and not you.” Grandmother tells him, then adds, “Go and numb your brain. I’ll be here cleaning up to open the door for you.”\n\nNot being to answer, Jose slowly walks out of the house, making his way through the front yard and stops on the sidewalk. He stops for a moment and looks around the area, remembering to go to his left. It’s a long walk to the mall, about a half-mile but the exercises will do him good.\n\nAnother couple of minutes Dr. Leary heads downstairs.\n\n“Fernando is in his bed.” Dr. Leary says, and then asks, “His father left?”\n\n“Out to numb his brain at the mall’s bar.” Grandmother answers.\n\n“Maybe it will do him some good.” Dr. Leary adds.\n\n“I doubt it. He was a womanizing drunkard, and that is all he will ever be.” Grandmother tells her.\n\nDr. Leary thinks, not wanting to fan the flames that were already burning. “I’ll be going. Hung over or not, make sure he keeps his appointment with me at Pouncefield Medical, fourth floor – General Medicine.” She finally says.\n\n“I will.” Grandmother tells her, “See you tomorrow.”\n\n“Tomorrow it is.” Dr. Leary says as she leaves the house.\n\nGrandmother continues with cleaning the kitchen. With more than a half hour passing, she begins to mop the floor. That is when three of the girls, Daniela, Bianca, and Candi, come up to the kitchen. They were dressed in pink nightgowns and slippers, though Bianca, and Candi’s nightgowns were of a heavier material. Grandmother looks at them as they step out into the kitchen.\n\n“What do you girls need?” Grandmother asks.\n\n“Juice, water, anything to drink.” Daniela answers.\n\nGrandmother points to the refrigerator, “Walk carefully. The floor is wet.”\n\nDaniela goes to the refrigerator to get what was inside, Candi asks, “Glasses to drink from?”\n\nGrandmother points to the cabinet. Candi goes to the cabinet to get the glasses, handing several of them to her twin Bianca.\n\n“This is for everybody downstairs?” Grandmother asks.\n\n“Yes.” The twins reply in unison.\n\n“Then have them come upstairs and drink up here so there will be no mess to clean up downstairs.” Grandmother tells them.\n\nThe girls did not like hearing that. Daniela leaves the other two and heads to the basement. After a tiny discussion, most of the girls come up stairs except for Saturnina and Luna who were either watching TV or sleeping. Grandmother counts them, only counting nine as she prepares something on the stove. She shaves a black bar over a pot she has put evaporated milk and grated cheese into, along with a few other ingredients, only taking less than 10 minutes to prepare.\n\nTurning off the fire to the pot, Grandmother takes some tiny cups on a tray and fills them. She then walks around and give each girl a cup. They look at it, thinking that the near black brew inside would be coffee but it was too thick to be coffee. The smell gave it away when the cups were put to the nose.\n\n“Chocolate?” Several of the girls ask.\n\n“It’s pure Chocolate, diluted and sweeten. You will never have it like this unless you to go certain places in the Caribbean or in Mexico. This is how the Aztec and other natives drank it, minus the hot peppers. Now drink up, there is more where this came from.” Grandmother tells them.\n\nThe girls gingerly drank it, as it was too hot to swig it down in one gulp. But as the chocolate cooled, it became drinkable. Seconds became thirds before Grandmother but the rest away. Now she has the girls where she wants them.\n\n“Ladies. I have to tell you that my problem is not with you, but is with your father. As you have heard, he did abandon the mother of your other sister and brother. That is all I am going to say on the subject, and tell you all that is the problem. I do not care for anyone saying that I do not like you because that is false. The problem is with him, not you.” Grandmother tells them.\n\n“When can we see our brother?” Alejandra asks before the others.\n\n“I was hoping to not answer that one.” Grandmother says to herself, then she begins to explain, “That is on you and him. I would say see the sisters first before going to the boy. It’s that I do not want your father to take advantage of the situation and take the boy. Since he is his only son, Jose acts strange about it. You do not know that but we do. How else can he be wanting to have the boy but not wanting the twin sister that the boy has? That is not a true father, even if he did take care of you girls. Give it time. Maybe tomorrow or the next day we will act more like a true family and not as a mish-mash of guests and home owners.”\n\n“Is it true that our brother is weak and can die if we scare him?” Daniela asks.\n\n“Where did you hear that from?” Grandmother asks, holding back her anger.\n\n“While you were talking with daddy, we snuck upstairs and took the bottle of soda.” Daniela explains.\n\n“And you drank it all.” Candi complains.\n\n“That’s enough.” Grandmother tells them, she then throws at them, “The soda can be replaced. But you are not supposed to be sneaking about the house, and you are not to be ease dropping on other people’s conversations. It is highly improper, and immoral to be listening in on other people’s conversations. I better not catch you doing that again.”\n\nThe girls remain quiet for the moment.\n\nGrandmother continues, “To answer your question, Fernando has a weaken blood vessel in his head, so if you overly excite him, you can kill him. That is not to say that is you play too rough with him or fight him that he would be killed. He is a normal boy despite his condition. But this condition gives him headaches at time. So he knows what to do and you must follow him what he says and respect him. If he does not want to play, then he will not play and he should be left alone. He also has his share of girlfriends, again, he is a normal boy.”\n\n“Just like Saturnina...” Angelina lets out. The girls stare at her, as she should not have said anything.\n\n“What do you mean?” Grandmother asks.\n\nAlejandra explains for her younger sister, “We know that Fernando, well, cant see well, and Saturnina is the same way. But now we found out that Fernando gets headaches, so does Saturnina. She gets headaches all the time. So, if Fernando gets his headaches from that blood vessel thing in his head, Saturnina must have the same thing.”\n\n“Fernando gets his headaches because he is a sensitive boy.” Grandmother tries to explain, failing at this first attempt but tries again, “It is like his senses are screaming at him. Soft sounds are loud to him, warm things are hot, cool things are cold and something smooth is rough. All this sensory information over loads him, giving him his headaches.”\n\n“Saturnina says the same thing.” Alejandra replies.\n\n“You are all seeing the doctor for your school medicals on Friday, so we’ll find out what’s wrong with her.” Grandmother tells them.\n\nThough wanting too, they do not say a word.\n\n“Now, ladies. You all have a long day tomorrow so get some sleep and wake up early. So lets get to bed.” Grandmother tells them.\n\nThe girls gather themselves to go downstairs for the night.\n\n- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -\nEnd of Chapter 76\n- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -", "writing_bbcode_parsed": "Chapter 76: Too Many Sisters, So Little Love.

Grandmother comes out in an apron and holding a big butcher knife before stopping by Jose A.

“I brought six more full sized folding beds, they are in the basement with pillows, sheets and blankets. There are 5 more I originally bought in the storage closet in the basement, along with more pillows and blankets. Get them set up for you all to sleep in tonight, dinner will be ready in two hours.” Grandmother tells them all.

The girls all say “Thank you”, before Jose A. tells her, “Thank you for taking us in such short notice. I’m sure the accommodations will be fine.”

“Do not try to woo me, Mr. Gutierez. I’m not my daughter who you abandoned so long ago with a pair of twin pups. There will be a heavy price to pay for your deeds.” Grandmother tells him sternly.

“No apology could make up for what I did Dona Maria, but I will try to make up what I can with what little time I have left.” He tells her.

“Enough. Go to the basement to get the place ready for you all. During dinner we will discuss the house rules.” Grandmother tells him before walking into the house. She opens the door to the basement, holding it open with a chair.

A few at a time the girls walk into the house where they find the basement door open and go in down a flight of stairs. The elder girls talk to themselves in English as they all gather downstairs and get the remaining beds, pillows and other items from the storage closets while they set up the room.

“Who the hell she think she is?” Lareina asks in an angry tone.

Gabriela, the oldest of the ones who wears all covering clothing, sighs for a moment, “Maybe she does not know of dad’s condition.”

Alejandra, the oldest of all the girls makes her thoughts known, “Its more to it than that. I remember when dad tried to visit his son long ago and was denied. Like she said upstairs, dad abandoned this end of the family to take care of us. I can see why they are angry. But they are angry at him, not at us.”

“How you know that?” Lareina asks, “Why are we sleeping in the basement on folded cots and not upstairs in beds?”

“This house seems small to hold all of us. I counted four windows on the second floor and one of them was a bathroom window. So one room for our brother, one room for our new sister, and one room for the other one.” Gabriela explains.

“I don’t remember hearing of a twin sister when dad took me to try to visit them.” Alejandra replies. She throws in, “Angelina, bring ‘Nina (Saturnina) over here. I got this bed ready for us. We’ll need another to put it together with this one.”

“Alright...” Angelina replies before grabbing her twin by the arm, “Come one Saturnina, lay down on the bed and you wont get in the way of everyone.

Saturnina not liking to be pulled out despite her handicap, complains, “Hey!” She lands on the bed with a “THUD!”

Another “THUD!” follows as Angelina pins down Saturnina to the bed.

“Angelina, you should not be treating her so rough! You know she can’t see at times!” Alejandra chews out her little sister for manhandling her twin.

“Let calm down. At least we are not in a hotel in separate rooms having fast food burgers or greasy chicken from a bucket.” Gabriela points out.

“But I like chicken in a bucket!” the smallest one known as Luna lets out from across the room.

“You would eat Nacho Chip and Fish Cheese Pizza if they made it.” Lareina scolds her from across the room.

Another by the name of Melissa steps up to Luna and holds her by her waist close to her, “Don’t listen to those girls. Samantha and I are your real sisters.”

“We are all sisters, from the same father but different mothers and by squirrel society rules we are all sisters.” Gabriela says out loud enough to be heard, followed by, “Bianca and Candi, get that bed over here as we have a place to sleep together.” The twins look at her and though they appear to dismiss her, they do as she said and rolls a folding bed to her.

In time they set up three sets of two or three joined folding beds by the wall and they all sit on them. One from each bed explores the basement, finding two bathrooms with a toilet and a shower stall, with nearby a laundry area. Lareina lets out her thoughts out loud.

“Two bathrooms for eleven girls and no bathtubs? I swear!” Lareina lets out loud.

“There’s at least one more bathroom upstairs on the second floor and maybe one more on the first floor. We should be able to use them too.” Gabriela tells her.

“Does the TV work?” Luna points out the large screen TV at the end of the room.

They can hear a commotion upstairs through the ceiling, sounding like the patter of many feet and the muffled voice of Grandmother upstairs and the patter of more feet as they leaving the house.

“I’ll go see what’s going on.” Alejandra says to be known.

“I’ll go with you.” Gabriela adds.

“Oh no, you are not leaving me with the little ones!” Lareina complains.

“We’re not little!” Bianca and Candi hold back from yelling at Lareina.

“Just wait here girls, and we’ll be back.” Gabriela tells them as she and the other two older girls leave.

It did not take much for the younger ones to get up and follow their older sisters up the stairs; soon they were all walking out onto the kitchen and dining area. They stand there looking at a grey squirrel (Rachel) who is setting up the dining table.

“Girls. Over here and sit down.” Their father tells them.

As they sit down about the living room whether on the furniture, each other or on the floor, a couple of them whisper at their father, “Who is that?” with one asking, “That’s not Fernando’s twin, is it?”

Grandmother walks over to the grey squirrel and whispers something in her ear. The grey squirrel puts down the last of the plates on the table and heads up stairs for a moment before running down the stairs and out the door.

With the grey squirrel gone out of the house, their father answers, “That’s Rachel. She was adopted into the family long ago and is Fernando’s younger sister. You will meet her later but there is another grey squirrel sister named Jorgina-Daisy, she’s Fernando’s mother’s daughter through another man.”

“We don’t have to accept them, do we?” Lareina asks too loudly.

In hearing this, Grandmother says loud enough to be heard in English, “To be part of this family, yes you do!” She then walks to the living room with a large metal ladle in her hand, “If this family is to be as one, you have to accept every girl in this house as your sister, and that one boy as your brother. If you can not accept that, then you can just leave.”

Lareina looks at her angrily, which Grandmother more than notices and tells her, “This is my house, my family and my rules. You are to respect me as your grandmother, and you are to either to help out, stay out of the way or leave. I will not have such disruptions in my house, and thanks to your father, you are all are part of my family. I will do my best to care of you, feed you and keep you safe from what is out there since your father is in no shape to do that anymore. The rules of this house are simple and in time you will learn them all. Until then, do not bring harm or stupidity to this house or you will be looking for a new place to stay.”

“That is not nice to say, Dona Maria.” Jose A, tells her.

“After I feed you all, you can all leave and take that money with you. The choice is yours, Jose. Remember, you abandoned your first-born son and daughter so you can have sex with who ever, and now you are paying for that in taking care of all these girls like a good father should. But that does not clear you of your crimes and deeds of abandoning your first-borns, you need to remember that you owe a lot more than what money you can throw around or what seat of power your tail might be on. Remember- as a disconnected prince of Spain, you will never see the throne unless something happens to kill some 200 people ahead of you for that throne. And also remember that they only send you money to keep you quiet and not be a paparazzi embarrassment to the family. And remember, in this family, I am the king, not you or anyone else. And if my daughter comes to see her children, you are to stay quiet and leave the area. I will not have a fight in this family for I will kill you both. So excuse me for not saying nice things.” Grandmother tells him laying down the authority of her position in the family.

They stare at each other for a long moment. The girls witness something they never had seen before, their father backing down. He never backs down according to their memories, but he does here and now.

“I’m sorry, Dona Maria.” He tells her, “You are right.”

“DAD!” Most of the girls shout at him.

“No. Girls. She is right. We are family first and foremost. Second, I owe this family more than you will ever all know unless the guy you marry abandons you like I abandoned them a long time ago. And as a family, you are going to respect and foremost love this woman for she is your grandmother through your only brother who is willing to help us all in our lives. No one else we met in our travels who call us family would do that for us. She is. Now we got to learn to adapt to this new situation we are living.” Jose tells them.

“You keep forgetting your daughter who is his twin.” Grandmother tells him.

Jose just nods.

Grandmother looks at the girls for a moment, “There is a bathroom upstairs at the end of the hall, and if you have not found them, there are two down stairs. Go wash your hands to get ready to eat. Dinner is almost done.”

It takes them a while to think, but the older girls lead the rest down stairs to the basement bathrooms where they take care of their hand washing needs.

Before Grandmother can speak a word to her former son-in-law, the doorbell rings. She walks to the door and opens it without checking the side windows to see who it is. It was Dr. Leary in a black mini-dress, who Grandmother was expecting to come over. As she steps into the house, Dr. Leary sees Jose Antonio sitting on the far end of the sofa.

“So is that him?” Dr. Leary leans over and whispers in Grandmother’s ear.

“Yes, and the girls are downstairs washing up for dinner.” Grandmother tells her before leading her into the living room area.

Dr. Leary takes the seat at the end of the room near the sofa, putting her medicine bag on her lap. He had seen her and eyed her like a prize piece of beef as she walked by. Before she could speak, Jose makes his intentions known.

“And who do I have the pleasure of meeting? Perhaps we can go out for some coffee and who knows what afterwards?” Jose tells her as he leans to her direction.

“Oh shut up.” Dr, Leary tells him as she shoves a digital thermometer into his mouth, then takes a blood pressure cuff to his arm and wraps it tightly.

“I’d advise you to stay still, Jose. This is Dr. Leary, she the family’s personal physician. I called her over to check you and the girls out and look over their medical files. In short, Jose Antonio Gutierez, I do not want to come downstairs and find a dead man in my living room. Do I make myself clear?” Grandmother tells him.

“And I’m already seeing somebody at the moment who I am loyal to. You have nothing to offer me but problems.” Dr. Leary tells him before looking at the digital read out, “Hmm... you seem to be running a fever.”

Dr. Leary pulls out the probe from his mouth, only to hear him complain, “I’ll be seeing a doctor tomorrow! I hear he is the best!”

Dr. Leary pulls out her appointment book and shows an appointment slot with his name on it written in red ink, “You will be seeing me, as I am the best as I am a Pteromyini Sciuridae – or in your vocabulary – a Flying Squirrel Specialist, one of maybe six in the nation. And as you noticed, I am a flying squirrel like you.”

“Don’t insult me!” Jose tries to bring his machismo levels up and failing.

“Look sir. I have seen your records at the hospital to prepare for your visit tomorrow. Just because your doctors told you that you have months left to live does not mean you have months left to live. At any time one of those tumors floating about in your bodily organs can break off and go into your brain and give you a stroke that will kill you. It can happen right now, tonight, next week or it can kill you months from now. You do not know when you are going to simply drop dead in your tracks going to the bathroom or outside to the store so you need to shut up and do as I tell you.” Dr. Leary tells him.

Jose can only look at Dr. Leary with a wide-eyed expression of disbelief. But in his heart, he knows this to be true as other doctors told it to him before. It is not a matter of time for him but a matter of when, and he needs to own up to that fact.

“How is he?” Grandmother asks.

“Considering what I read, he should be dead months ago. But like I told him, as long as a tumor does not break off and stroke his brain, he should be fine for the next few months and treatments given should extend his life for a few more years. But I want to run some tests tomorrow to make sure.” Dr. Leary tells her, “Other than that he’s running a slight fever from his stressed out immune system. And he needs to relax but remain active.”

“Which means for you to not laying on your butt all day long and giving out orders.” Grandmother tells him.

“Where are the girls?” Dr. Leary asks.

“They should be coming up from their temporary quarters in the basement.” Grandmother tells her as she hands over a sealed manila envelope.

“According to the records, there are three with Photodermatitis. I would like to see them now if possible.” Dr. Leary says.

“That would be Bianca, Candi and Gabriela...” Grandmother says inquisitively, watching Jose nod. She walks to the basement doorway, and shouts down the stairway,  “Bianca, Candi and Gabriela! You’re needed at once upstairs!”

The girls all look at the stairway as Gabriela gathers the twins Bianca and Candi before taking them to the stairs. In a few seconds they are at the area between the dining area and the kitchen, looking at who was where and what was going on.

Grandmother points to them to sit down on the living room chairs, away from their father. First thing Dr. Leary notices is their clothing covering much of their bodies when they should be in short sleeves, pants and skirts in such a hot summer it has been.

As they sit down, Dr. Leary introduces herself to them, “Hello ladies. I am Dr. Leary, physician to this family and a Pteromyini Sciuridae – a Flying Squirrel Specialist, one of a few in the nation. As you can see, I am one too. I understand you three have a sunlight allergy?”

They all nod.

Dr. Leary points to the oldest as she takes out a fine toothcomb from her medical bag, “And who you might be and how old are you?”

“Gabriela. I’m 13.” Gabriela answers.

“OK. Roll up that sleeve and let me see your arm.” Dr. Leary tells her.

Gabriela does as she is told, extending her bare arm to Dr. Leary. Dr. Leary runs the comb against Gabriela’s fur and examines the skin underneath. Doing so kicks up a fine dust from her fur.

“You using some kind of skin powder?” Dr. Leary asks.

Gabriela nods as she takes her arm from Dr. Leary and puts her hand in her pocket. She pulls out a small shaker canister and hands it to her.

“Dr. Dermis’ Total Sunblock 2000? Does this stuff actually work?” Dr. Leary asks.

“It makes the itching stops.” Candi, one of the twins lets out.

“And who are you, and does it protect you from the rash of being out in the sun?” Dr. Leary asks her.

“My name is Candi and it seems to work most of the time.” Candi tells her.

“Oh my. Are you ever going to be the butt of all jokes in school.” Dr. Leary tells her.

“What do you mean?” Candi asks.

“All the boys and some of the girls in school will be saying, ‘I want candy’ but meaning you – Candi.” Dr. Leary tells her.

“I don’t get it.” Candi says.

“Anyways, I’ll be studying this snake oil medicine but until I find something better keep using it. The problem I see is that in time your bodies will get used to this medicine and stop working all together and you three will need something better.” Dr. Leary tells them.

“We know that. It has happened before.” Gabriella tells her.

“Alright then. I will need to see you three on Friday before school starts. What school are you girls going to?” Dr. Leary says and asks.

“I intend to enroll them tomorrow in St. LoveJoy’s academy. I hear it is the best.” Jose tells her.

“I do not know if they are still enrolling students so late in the season, but I will need to see all your girls for their school physical. Lets do this on Friday.” Dr. Leary explains.

“I will have that done.” Jose A. says.

“Good.” Dr. Leary says as she writes in her appointment book. She adds after she finishes writing, “Anything else before I leave?”

“I’d like you to stay when Fernando arrives from wherever he is. No doubt he is going to act out once he sees his father here.” Grandmother tells him.

“I see. I’ll stay for a while then, but I do have a date to go too afterwards.” Dr. Leary explains.

“Tell your sisters to come up ad get ready to eat. You all can eat where you can sit either in the dining area, the living room or the service island. Tonight’s menu is white rice, stewed beef and potatoes, steamed vegetables, a simple salad and juice or soda.” Grandmother explains. The girls look at her as if she was talking in a different language. Grandmother continues, “Jose, adults usually eats after the children have eaten, but I’ll make an exception in your case.”

“No. I will eat last with the adults. Do not break the rules of the house because I’m your guest.” Jose A. tells her.

“You’re not guest, Jose. You’re family, and I will put a frying pan to your head like any other who dares to challenge my authority.” Grandmother tells him.

Jose A. just nods in agreement. He then signals the girls to get their sisters. Bianca who has been quiet all this time whistles out loud, getting the attention of the other girls who were hiding in the staircase to come out.

Grandmother just looks at Bianca angrily for a moment, “That is not allowed in the house.”

“What!” Bianca replies a little louder than needed. The girls stop gathering at between the dining area and the living room space.

“Look dearie,” Dr. Leary begins as Grandmother looks angrily at the girl, “Some people has some sensitive ears, which will hurt them if you do that again. And as his doctor, Fernando has some very sensitive ears. So do not ever whistle like that in this house again.”

“I’m sorry.” Bianca says quietly to herself.

“Don’t be sorry, for you did not know. But now you do and you are not to do it again.” Dr. Leary calmly tells her. Bianca nods slightly.

Grandmother turns to face the girls, saying to her self, “This is going to get interesting.” She then points Jose and signals him to get the girls before walking to the kitchen.

“Alright ladies.” Jose tries to get up and look at them and Grandmother. “I want you all lined up in size order by that service island be serviced. Angelina, help your sister – you two are at the dining table. Everyone else can sit where you can, even the floor if you have too. Your Grandmother worked hard to make this food for us, so enjoy the meal. You all will wash your plates, glasses and utensils when you are done. Now line up.” Their father tells him.

“Jose, I have a dishwasher.” Grandmother tells him.

“Then they will scrape their plates and put it in the machine, the last one will close it and start washing the dishes.” Jose A. explains.

“I will take care of turning on the machine. I still have four more children to feed, and then you and my self.” Grandmother tells him.

“OK. Have it your way then.” Jose A. tells her in kind.

Grandmother pretends to ignore him by not replying and begin serving the food.

Luna, Melissa and Samantha were first to be served, taking seats on the floor in the living room area. Angelina helps Saturnina with her meal to the dining table before taking her own and sits with her twin.  Candi and Bianca were next, taking their food to the living room. Daniela follows next and was about to sit by the table but an ‘*AHEM!*’ from her sister Lareina made Daniela change her mind and head to the living room with Lareina behind her. Gabriela takes her meal to be with Candi and Bianca in the living room. Alejandra takes her meal to the dining table to sit with her sisters. Though the TV was on, the girls eat their meal in relative quiet.

As they ate, Grandmother hands a plate over to their father. He accepts it though he was willing to wait to eat last with her.

It was probably the best meal they have had in months. Clean up was easy as they scraped their plates into the garbage disposal and put their plates, glasses and eating utensils into the dishwasher.  The girls gather to sit down in the living room and watch the early evening news. Grandmother waits by the door, looking out the glass partitions.


Rachel was outside finally stopping Jorgina-Daisy from entering the gate to their home. She explains to her that they are to wait for Fernando and Rosita to return and to take Fernando directly upstairs to his room. Eventually Rachel has to tell her why – Fernando’s father and his sisters on his side are in the house and that Grandmother needs to talk to them all about what is going on.

Jorgina-Daisy ignores her and tries to enter the house. She is met by Grandmother at the door and is told to wait by Rachel until Fernando and Rosita returns.

Both Fernando and Rosita land by Rachel. Seeing this, Grandmother steps outside to the yard and walks over to them, taking Jorgina-Diasy with her.

She gathers the four of them together and tells them in Spanish, “Fernando, Rosita, I do not care about where you two were. I will deal with that later. Right now we have a more pressing problem. Fernando, Rosita – your father is in there with your other sisters. You are to go in the house and to go your room. And I’m speaking to you – Fernando, do anything stupid, and I will deal with you myself. Understand that?”

“I understand.” Fernando replies in Spanish.

“Rachel, you are to do what has to be done to help him and help Rosita help him. I do not care what it is I want it done. Jorgina-Daisy, start any shit, and I make you regret the day you were born. Now, I want you all to go up stairs, wash up and get ready for dinner. You will wait in your rooms until I call you. The people in this house are our guests and our family. They will be staying for more than a month, and even maybe a year. Start any problems with them; you will have a problem with me. Understand that?” Grandmother tells them.

“I understand.” They all somberly reply.

“Good. Now go do as I said.” Grandmother tells them before going to the door. She holds the door open and points up the stairs. The girls and their father turn around to see what was going on.

Jorgina-Daisy walks into the house, and stops by the stairs, looking at the guests. A slap to the back of her head sends her on her way to her room. Rachel comes in and stops at the steps, having seen the guest before. Rosita enters the house after her. She turns to face the houseguests, for the first time seeing who they are, who her father is in this life.

Grandmother closes the door as Fernando walks into the house and stops at the bottom of the staircase. As he stares at the guests and they at him, Rachel takes him by the arm and pulls him up the stairs. It takes them less than 30 seconds to clumsily get up the stairs. Dr. Leary goes up the stairs after them.

Once Grandmother hears their bedroom door close, she walks to the kitchen. That is when Jose A. decides to get up out of his seat and starts to make his way up the stairs. Grandmother takes her steps back to the steps.

“Where are you going?” Grandmother stops him from going any further.

Jose A. does not answer for the moment, making her answer for him.

“You are not to see your son and daughter on your own. You are to stay away from them. I will decide when you three can sit down and meet over a supervise session. Then I will decide afterwards what rights you have with him. If you dare try to do something stupid and get to see them on your own, I will shoot you. Understand that I am those children’s guardian and I will protect them accordingly. Now if you need to use the bathroom, use the ones in the basement until this place is expanded and there is one on this floor.” Grandmother tells him.

He barely nods before leaving the area and heading to the basement doorway.  She goes back to the kitchen and beings to prepare the dinners for the children upstairs. Though she could have set them up quickly, she takes her time to see when Jose A. was going to return from the bathroom. He returns from the bathroom some five minutes later.

As he steps towards the living room, Grandmother says out loud for all to hear, “I am going to call the children down stairs to eat. You and your girls are not going to bother them, you all are going to ignore them. Do not disrespect this house by bothering them. If any of you do, and you can all leave in the morning, and you Jose can take your damn money with you.”

“Will that be all?” Jose A. asks her.

“No it is not. But it will be all for now.” Grandmother tells him.

Jose A. sits frustration on his seat, signaling to his girls to keep the peace.

Once things get quiet down, Grandmother walks up to the stairs and gathers the children. The girls go down stairs first with Grandmother behind them. Dr. Leary follows as soon as the girls had sat down and Grandmother was putting their plates of food in front of them. Dr. Leary stands next to the head of the stairs by the Newel Post, waiting for Fernando. He arrives downstairs a couple of minutes later, walking to his spot on the dining table. The girls in the living room look at him like some prized possession in some display case waiting to be won.

Fernando tries to eat as quickly as possible, ignoring what is happening in the living room with so many eyes on him. Signals that Rachel and Rosita would only know, tells him to slow down in order to finish the meal together. Another fifteen minutes and they were done. Jorgina-Daisy was the first to run upstairs but unknown to everyone she hid at the top hallway stair to listen in on what was going on downstairs.

“Dr. Leary, would you like something to eat?” Grandmother tells her.

“Thank you but I will pass.” Dr. Leary answers.

“Still going on your date?” Grandmother asks.

“If you want to know, I will be leaving for that date after I give Fernando his medication.” Dr. Leary explains.

“Then take them upstairs and get it done. I want the boy sleeping within a half hour.” Grandmother tells her.

Dr. Leary nods and then taps on the table to signal to the children to go upstairs with her. They follow her up the stairs, Jorgina-Daisy had already ran to her room upon hearing them get up out of their seats.

Once Grandmother hears the upstairs door closing, she makes her thoughts known, “Once everyone is on their floor I will turn on the alarm system to protect the house from nighttime intruders. If everyone stays on their floors, the alarm should not be activated.  You should be able to go to the bathrooms on your floor. Now get to your beds. I have to talk to your father in private.”

The girls complain but comply with the request at their father’s signal. They clear the floor in under a minute.

“You wanted to talk to me about something?” Jose A. asks.

“This should be none of your business because long ago you abandoned those children upstairs but as their father, I have something to tell you that you should know.” Grandmother tells him as she walks to behind the couch where he sat.

“Then go ahead and say it.” Jose A. tells her.

“You are not to bother Fernando in any way. Like I said, I will set up a meeting for you, him and his twin sister to sit and talk with you.” Grandmother begins.

“You already told me that, woman!” Jose jeers at her.

“Then what I am going to tell you, I’m going to say once and no more. Fernando was born with a weakened blood vessel in his brain. Get him excited, bother him, anger him and there is a good chance the pressure will rise in that blood vessel and burst, killing him. Do you understand what I am telling you?” Grandmother tells him.

Jose was in awe at the statement, unsure how to answer.

“Do you understand what I am telling you?” Grandmother asks.

Jose lets out a heavy sigh, finally answering, “Yes.”

“Like I said, I will kill you if you go to him because that act could kill him. Lucky for her the girl does not have that condition.” Grandmother tells him.

That’s... good that the girl does not have it.” Jose replies.

“So remember, I better not see you around the boy without my supervision, if you do and you need to carry him in your arms back to me, you do not need to worry about your cancer treatments because I will cure you myself by taking off your head. Got that?” Grandmother says and asks.

“Is this condition terminal?” Jose A. asks.

“Why do you think his doctor is here? It is terminal. No operation or medication can cure him. He’s ticking time bomb that will one day explode and take the boy with him. All we can do is hope and pray that one-day maybe he will grow out of it. Until then we have to treat him gently like some delicate fragile thing while at the same time let him have a normal life as much as possible.” Grandmother tells him.

“Anything else?” Jose A. asks.

“You can use the bathroom down stairs. I do not want to see you upstairs because you are sneaky and full of plans. You do things your way, and I am going to make sure you are not going to carry out such plans with my grandchildren in this house. Especially one who can be scared to death.” Grandmother tells him.

“I promise I wont do anything that would jeopardize my son.” Jose A. replies.

“Excuse me if I find your words hollow and worthless. Let me remind you that your actions long ago went against this family and now you owe a debt you can never repay. You can not ever undo what you did. And whether you understand it or not, your mere presence is a threat to Fernando’s well being because of his condition. You need to stay away from him at all costs. Your fluffy tail depends on that nothing happens to him. And you better hope and pray that nothing does happen to him during your stay here.” Grandmother tells him.

“Will that be all?” Jose asks in an annoyed tone.

“You need to throw that Machismo bull crap out the window. You can be a man all you want as determined by that micro penis and testicles you hold in your pants, but here in this house, I am the King and Queen. I lay down the law; I law down the punishment when those laws are broken. You are here under my good graces. While you live here, I will feed you, I will protect you within the walls of this house, and I will take care of you when you are connected to a life support machine on your last days. But you better understand that you are in no condition to challenge me, even if you were in a better condition. Your position here is that of a visitor. Nothing more. Respect me, respect the children of this house and respect this house. Only then will you reap the rewards this place has to offer. So know your place around me.” Grandmother tells him

Jose shifts uneasily at his seat.

“If you want to go out, the nearest bar is at the Mall. I’ll be here cleaning up the kitchen until 10o’clock. After that the door will be locked and you will not be allowed in.” Grandmother tells him.

Jose sighs for a moment.

“If you do go out, do not get arrested on drunk driving. I will not be there to bail you out.” Grandmother tells him.

“Alright then.” Jose says before getting up out of his seat. “Where is this mall?” He then asks.

“It’s down to the end of the street on your left. You can walk it there.” Grandmother tells him as she points in the direction it is in.

“I will tell my girls where I am going and when I should return. Then I’m leaving for this bar to think things out.” Jose says before walking to the basement door.

Grandmother goes to the kitchen and starts her cleaning routine, starting with turning on the dishwasher. As she cleans her stove with a rag, Jose steps out of the basement door.

“The girls understand that I’ll be leaving for a while and will return. They should not be any problem to you.” He says.

“I do not expect trouble from them, I do from you.” Grandmother tells him.

“There is no way out of this, is there?” Jose A. says to himself than asks her.

“They are not the problem, you are. Now, let me ask you this before you go. What happens to them if you were to drop dead when everything you have tried to extend your life fails?” Grandmother tells him.

Jose sighs before answering, “You would take care of them because there is nobody there for them on their side of the family.”

“And they are aware of this decision of your to hand them over to me in case of your inevitable death?” Grandmother asks.

“Yes they do.” Jose answers.

“Then that is why I can trust them, and not you.” Grandmother tells him, then adds, “Go and numb your brain. I’ll be here cleaning up to open the door for you.”

Not being to answer, Jose slowly walks out of the house, making his way through the front yard and stops on the sidewalk. He stops for a moment and looks around the area, remembering to go to his left. It’s a long walk to the mall, about a half-mile but the exercises will do him good.

Another couple of minutes Dr. Leary heads downstairs.

“Fernando is in his bed.” Dr. Leary says, and then asks, “His father left?”

“Out to numb his brain at the mall’s bar.” Grandmother answers.

“Maybe it will do him some good.” Dr. Leary adds.

“I doubt it. He was a womanizing drunkard, and that is all he will ever be.” Grandmother tells her.

Dr. Leary thinks, not wanting to fan the flames that were already burning. “I’ll be going. Hung over or not, make sure he keeps his appointment with me at Pouncefield Medical, fourth floor – General Medicine.” She finally says.

“I will.” Grandmother tells her, “See you tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow it is.” Dr. Leary says as she leaves the house.

Grandmother continues with cleaning the kitchen. With more than a half hour passing, she begins to mop the floor. That is when three of the girls, Daniela, Bianca, and Candi, come up to the kitchen. They were dressed in pink nightgowns and slippers, though Bianca, and Candi’s nightgowns were of a heavier material. Grandmother looks at them as they step out into the kitchen.

“What do you girls need?” Grandmother asks.

“Juice, water, anything to drink.” Daniela answers.

Grandmother points to the refrigerator, “Walk carefully. The floor is wet.”

Daniela goes to the refrigerator to get what was inside, Candi asks, “Glasses to drink from?”

Grandmother points to the cabinet. Candi goes to the cabinet to get the glasses, handing several of them to her twin Bianca.

“This is for everybody downstairs?” Grandmother asks.

“Yes.” The twins reply in unison.

“Then have them come upstairs and drink up here so there will be no mess to clean up downstairs.” Grandmother tells them.

The girls did not like hearing that. Daniela leaves the other two and heads to the basement. After a tiny discussion, most of the girls come up stairs except for Saturnina and Luna who were either watching TV or sleeping. Grandmother counts them, only counting nine as she prepares something on the stove. She shaves a black bar over a pot she has put evaporated milk and grated cheese into, along with a few other ingredients, only taking less than 10 minutes to prepare.

Turning off the fire to the pot, Grandmother takes some tiny cups on a tray and fills them. She then walks around and give each girl a cup. They look at it, thinking that the near black brew inside would be coffee but it was too thick to be coffee. The smell gave it away when the cups were put to the nose.

“Chocolate?” Several of the girls ask.

“It’s pure Chocolate, diluted and sweeten. You will never have it like this unless you to go certain places in the Caribbean or in Mexico. This is how the Aztec and other natives drank it, minus the hot peppers. Now drink up, there is more where this came from.” Grandmother tells them.

The girls gingerly drank it, as it was too hot to swig it down in one gulp. But as the chocolate cooled, it became drinkable. Seconds became thirds before Grandmother but the rest away. Now she has the girls where she wants them.

“Ladies. I have to tell you that my problem is not with you, but is with your father. As you have heard, he did abandon the mother of your other sister and brother. That is all I am going to say on the subject, and tell you all that is the problem. I do not care for anyone saying that I do not like you because that is false. The problem is with him, not you.” Grandmother tells them.

“When can we see our brother?” Alejandra asks before the others.

“I was hoping to not answer that one.” Grandmother says to herself, then she begins to explain, “That is on you and him. I would say see the sisters first before going to the boy. It’s that I do not want your father to take advantage of the situation and take the boy. Since he is his only son, Jose acts strange about it. You do not know that but we do. How else can he be wanting to have the boy but not wanting the twin sister that the boy has? That is not a true father, even if he did take care of you girls. Give it time. Maybe tomorrow or the next day we will act more like a true family and not as a mish-mash of guests and home owners.”

“Is it true that our brother is weak and can die if we scare him?” Daniela asks.

“Where did you hear that from?” Grandmother asks, holding back her anger.

“While you were talking with daddy, we snuck upstairs and took the bottle of soda.” Daniela explains.

“And you drank it all.” Candi complains.

“That’s enough.” Grandmother tells them, she then throws at them, “The soda can be replaced. But you are not supposed to be sneaking about the house, and you are not to be ease dropping on other people’s conversations. It is highly improper, and immoral to be listening in on other people’s conversations. I better not catch you doing that again.”

The girls remain quiet for the moment.

Grandmother continues, “To answer your question, Fernando has a weaken blood vessel in his head, so if you overly excite him, you can kill him. That is not to say that is you play too rough with him or fight him that he would be killed. He is a normal boy despite his condition. But this condition gives him headaches at time. So he knows what to do and you must follow him what he says and respect him. If he does not want to play, then he will not play and he should be left alone. He also has his share of girlfriends, again, he is a normal boy.”

“Just like Saturnina...” Angelina lets out. The girls stare at her, as she should not have said anything.

“What do you mean?” Grandmother asks.

Alejandra explains for her younger sister, “We know that Fernando, well, cant see well, and Saturnina is the same way. But now we found out that Fernando gets headaches, so does Saturnina. She gets headaches all the time. So, if Fernando gets his headaches from that blood vessel thing in his head, Saturnina must have the same thing.”

“Fernando gets his headaches because he is a sensitive boy.” Grandmother tries to explain, failing at this first attempt but tries again, “It is like his senses are screaming at him. Soft sounds are loud to him, warm things are hot, cool things are cold and something smooth is rough. All this sensory information over loads him, giving him his headaches.”

“Saturnina says the same thing.” Alejandra replies.

“You are all seeing the doctor for your school medicals on Friday, so we’ll find out what’s wrong with her.” Grandmother tells them.

Though wanting too, they do not say a word.

“Now, ladies. You all have a long day tomorrow so get some sleep and wake up early. So lets get to bed.” Grandmother tells them.

The girls gather themselves to go downstairs for the night.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
End of Chapter 76
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