Generation 2, Chapter 16

Robert picked up the mail after class, finding several letters from home. Smiling broadly as he tore open the one from Michael.

"Rob, can you talk to Dad and explain to him I'm not a little kid anymore? I don't need to be read to sleep every night. It's ok he wants to do stuff with me but maybe it's time we find something else to do. Do you have any ideas?

P.S. Gene is causing trouble again. Can you come home and pound some sense into him?

Michael

Shaking his head, Robert went into dormitory, shuffling through the mail and opened the next one.

"Robbie, How's Patricia? When are you going to bring her home? I'd love to see her again. You missed Paul's birthday he's such an adorable toddler. Gene may be right, he doesn't look like any of us. I enclosed a few pictures of the party. 

 

What do you think? Where did that black hair come from? I can't believe Mom would do something like this to Daddy! Hope you can come home soon. You're the only one who can talk sense into Gene. It took everything I could think of to keep Gene and Mom from screaming at each other during the party. Can't really blame Mom though, after all Gene was higher than a kite and in his underwear. But no one should have to listen to her insults; especially at a party. Their screaming matches are becoming more frequent lately. You would think at her age, she would know better. The person I feel sorriest for is Dad. He's always being pulled apart by those two idiots and it's only gotten worse sense Casey left.

P.S. We have a new baby brother. Tell Evie he's green, just like her.

Love,

Beverly



Robert could feel the old familiar frustration bubbling up inside him as he wondered what they expected him to do. Why did everyone think he could perform miracles when it came to Gene? It seemed like every break through he accomplished came with bumps and bruises. He was getting tired of being Gene's punching bag. He walked into the living room, sat on the couch as he opened the next letter.

"Hey Bro, how's it goin? Hope your woman's not a stark raving lunatic like Dad's bitch. When are you coming home? I need you to convince Dad to kick that bitch out. What's he waiting for? It's not like she loves him. Just look at Paul, isn't that enough proof for him? If that isn't enough you should have seen her screaming like an old banshee when Bryan was born.

Dad's not too happy I got pictures of the birth but someone had to be happy about the arrival of our little brother. I don't know how Dad's gonna manage with a toddler and two infants in the house. Oh did I mention, Mom's little brat was a boy they named Gregory? This one might just be Dad's, he kind of reminds me of Mikey. My skin crawls at the thought of them doing ... ugh, can you imagine? So have you and your girl done it yet? I need details, bro.

Can I come and live with you? The bitch wants me gone and I can't stand seeing what she's doing to Dad. So can I? Please!

P.S. I got arrested again. I'm sure Dad will tell you all about it. Cops took my fake ID card and it cost me a fortune. But if you let me come and live with you I promise I won't get into any trouble.

Leaning forward, he rested his head in his hands. How could he tell Gene no? He wanted a chance to be free from all the drama Gene inevitably would bring into his life. The four of them had been discussing pulling their money together and buying a house. They could just afford a small one bedroom house with the money they had saved. There just wasn't room enough for Gene, not to mention the lack of privacy, which they were still trying to figure out. He didn't want to bring his drug addicted, beer guzzling kid brother into the mix. Getting up, Robert decided to go up to his room and read his Dad's letter.

Sitting on this his bed he steeled himself for what he was sure to be bad news from his Father.
Dear Son,

I know this will come as no surprise. You have two new baby brothers, Gregory and Bryan. I've tried to convince your mother to get her tubes tied but as usual she refused to listen to reason.

I'm getting a little too old to want to be chasing toddlers around the house. I would much rather be planning for a comfortable retirement instead of worrying about paying college tuitions. It might have been different if she showed an ounce of interest in their wellbeing but she seems to have turned deaf to their cries and I'm being run ragged with the demands of two infants and a toddler.

Beverly does her best to help but I would much rather she focus on her school work. Gene as you may know is back to his old tricks and I'm afraid the babies as they get older and are crawling around will find his stash that he has hidden around here somewhere. With so much chaos going on, I have little time or patience to cope with Gene.

I just don't know how to help him and as long as he refuses help there's not much that can be done. As much as I hate to admit defeat, I'm at my whit's end with him. He is failing all of his classes and will not be graduating this year. He'll be eighteen in a few months and I have told him if he expects to continue to live under my roof that he would have to finish school and graduate. Be prepared for him to ask if he could come and live with you.

Gene and your mother got into a right old screaming match the other day. He was caught drinking in one of the bars in town. The cops confiscated is fake ID and brought him home. Your mother was livid and started right in on him. As neither one of them listen to me, I just let them hurl insults at each other and worked on keeping the kids clear of wherever they were at. I've pretty much given up on ever having a peaceful family life.

You may not know this but I've consulted with a lawyer about getting a divorce. The lawyer feels that based upon the evidence, your mother would get custody of the little ones, despite the fact she's not much of a mother to them. I'm still with that woman only because I can't leave those babies in her care when I know they would be neglected. I try not to see them as a mill stone around my neck but there are days I feel like I'm drowning.

It's heartbreaking to see the woman she's become when I remember the girl I once loved and married over twenty years ago. Please take this in the spirit it's intended. Don't rush into marriage. I'm sure Patricia's a lovely girl but people change for better or worse. I know the stresses of my abductions and Sydney's death played havoc on your mother. Be sure Patricia knows what she's getting into in regards to the aliens. It takes a special kind of person to handle it, I hope she's that kid of person.

Love,

Dad

Standing up to stretch, Robert wished there was something he could do to help his Dad besides offering his support. He knew his Dad would never leave that woman not if it meant leaving his kids behind. There welfare was more important than his own. Should he forget his plans and move back home to help his Dad with the little ones? Would Patricia wait for him?