Claudia & Jimmy

Claudia's brother has been incommunicado for a few months. With his newly attained single father status, it is to be expected. She hates herself for feeling much lighter due to his absence, and loathes that she couldn't say no to him when he asked her to come over.

Today, Claudia finds herself sitting side by side with Jimmy in his front porch for the first time in a while. If she ignores his boisterous voice, it's actually a pretty sweet place to be in.

Over here in the mountainside, the afternoon wind picks up in a very pleasant way. Rather than obnoxiously mess up one's hair, it delicately blows on it; like the universe is sending you a cool wave of relaxation. Not too overwhelming, not too meek. A perfect, calming balance.

Jimmy's porch had two rustic-looking rocking chairs. He crafted them after his divorce. Idle hands and all that. The siblings both swayed back and forth absentmindedly as they spoke.

"Ugh traffic was horrible on the way here." Claudia complained as she looked at her used car parked up front. She immediately regretted it. Her brother's face contorted into a contemptuous scoff, and she was already mentally preparing for him to change the subject back to himself.

"You think you have it bad? My kid's bestie is some old stray cat she found near her school."

"Really?" she asked dryly. Claudia opened her purse and took out a cigarette. There goes my three month streak, she thought.

"Oh yeah. Can't get along with others, says her teach."

"Wonder where she gets that endearing quality from."

"You know what, it's good she knows from a young age that she's better off being a loner—"

"Is it? You're pretty damn miserable." Claudia took a drag of her cigarette. Sweet, sweet nicotine. She offered some to her brother, but he shook his head.

"Boyfriend left you, out of shape, looking like something the cat dragged in—" she would've kept enumerating, had her brother not pridefully interrupted.

"Go to hell, I'm doing just fine." he smoothed the wrinkles of his T-shirt instinctively. "As I was saying, it's good, but why she gotta bring a cat that's gonna croak one of these days? Out of all things."

"Jimmy, do you remember that time you tried to save that baby lizard when you were six? You were such a crybaby back then. You came all teary-eyed to mom, and she said it was a lost cause."

"Yeah, and? What that gotta do with anything?"

"Jesus, Jimmy. Can you not work that brain of yours? Why do I always have to spell everything out for you?" Claudia finished her cigarette in record speed, taking her sweet time with the last exhale. "It was the same week Dad got dispatched again. Your kid's lonely, dude. She misses her other Daddy, it's pretty damn clear to me." she stood up and threw her cig in the trash can.

"Not that you care, but I got a promotion recently. Thanks for asking." Claudia walked towards her car, trying her best to ignore her brother's complaints.

"Claudia, wait, c'mon—" he followed her to her car, but she slammed the door closed. He tapped her windshield in desperation, his glossy brown eyes pleading. She couldn't help but feel sorry for him. Claudia reluctantly rolled it down.

"What?"

"I don't—I don't know what to do. I'm just so lost. Claudia, you're all the family I have left. I need you. Please. "

Claudia let out a dry laugh and started her engine. "It's always gotta be about Jimmy." she closed the windshield and began driving away.

_

Thank you for reading!

If you enjoyed it, you can tip me on here or through Ko-fi.

Socials:

Twitter

Medium