Chapter 68

   I kept my eyes closed and stayed in bed, even though I was awake. I didn't want to be on baby-duty. It wasn't that I disliked being an older sister, I just grew tired. When I turned seventeen, mom told me about her challenge and despise for her mother. Grandma. I never met her. And now she's dead. I understand that Mom's childhood sucked, but I don't get why she decides to fix that by slutting around. I guess that it was her mom's worst fear. The slut with one hundred children. Pretty much ruins her chances of ever having a normal family life. Marriage. I'd say kids, but she's already done that plenty of times.
     I sat up, out of bed and sighed. It was boring in bed. I sat up again and smiled. Mom was on another free vacation and Silver was being Mr. Dad while she was away. That left me free to do whatever I wanted. Mostly, prepare for the triplets birthdays. Five years old. Going to school. It felt weird, since Mom wasn't there. It was seven am, Monday morning. I'd baked the cakes yesterday. I was ready to celebrate. I primped myself and changed into a nicer outfit. I wasn't doing anything tonight that required my dress; I just loved wearing it.
     I went to school. I chatted to a few boys and flirted a little; nothing special. My Mother's reputation had been carried down to me a little. Most people assumed 'Like Mother, like daughter' but it wasn't true. No one gets that these have-tons-of-children things effects the kids. People aren't exactly accepting, and they don't understand the difference between what my Mum's doing and being easy.

     At home, we began singing.
   "Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday dear Aqua, happy birthday to you."
    She aged up into a Tom boy, but still was pretty good looking. Her medium length hair was pulled back into a ponytail and she wore a pinkish shirt with white khakis.We divided up the cake and gave everyone a piece.

    Then, Forest went. We sang to him again. He aged up okay, his genetics resembling the werewolf Father of his. He was a little athletically dressed, but that wasn't exactly news with the Terrans boys. They dressed athletically, but in reality weren't. 
    "Teal?" Aqua asked.
    "Yes, sweetie?"
     "Who's my Daddy?"
     "A man."
     "I know that! See, all the other kids at school have Daddies. But I don't. Why?"

     "Mommy and Daddy had issues. We don't talk about him."
     "Oh....okay. Is he mean?"
     "I don't know." I hugged her. "I don't know."
     After that conversation, Pink aged up.
    "Yay!" I cheered. "Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you." I'm starting to loath that song.

   
      Pink actually aged up into a girly girl. Or at least more girly then Aqua did. With an adorable pink top and headband, she really matched her name. I suppose that's why I like the turquoises and teals so much. The color scheme is my name.
     "Hey. What's up?" I asked Silver.
     "Eek!" She screamed. Silver was easily scared; quite strange for a ghost.
     "Chill. It's me."
     "Oh. Teal. I....I have a secret."
     "Huh?"
      "Well...."
      "What is it?" I tried to look supportive.
      "I want to go back to the Neteherworld. See my Father."
      "Out Father." I corrected. "We're twins. Besides, isn't Dad in Appaloosa Plains?"
      "Not exactly. He's a ghost. He's dead. I got a vision...he's back. To our home. Our world. But....once I go, I can never return."
       "Are you insane? That's like teenage suicide!"
       "I'm already dead. Teal, I don't belong. I can feel everyone's eyes just passing through me. I want to go home. Where I belong."
        "Does Mom know?"

        "No...I was going to tell her. I love her. And the triplets and you and everybody. I just want to go back to my home, you know?"
        "Yes...." I Sighed. I wanted to see my Father. But I couldn't. I wasn't dead. I liked living to much to die.
        "Think Mom will let me?"
       "I don't know. She loves you. But, you'll go away after you turn eighteen....It isn't exactly like her past kids visit much. She might."
        "We turn eighteen in six months."
        "Long time...."
        "I know...."
        "Are you really going to?"
        "Yes."
        "Becasue of Dad?"
        "I'm a ghost. I should live with other ghosts."
        "Oh...."
       "I'm gonna go to bed. Sleep on it."
       "Okie doke. Night."
       Silver, gone?  It seemed strange. I didn't imagine him gone. He was a ghost, but gone? I laid on the bed and closed my eyes. I'd support him no matter what. I was his sister. That was what I did.
       Support and agree and try and make everything right. Somehow, I loved and loathed being the eldest at the same time. I had to make choices. Be responsible.  I closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep. Mom would be home soon enough.