It was a dreadful place. Not much living happened there. Dad was always out at the office, mom would be gone with her boyfriend on some fancy date, and needy younger siblings were waiting for me. I was the oldest by a few years but was understood the least. I pulled into the empty driveway, leaving room for dad. My jeep idled and I sat staring at the living room window with my hand on the wheel. It took a lot of willpower to exit the vehicle.

The first sight I saw when entering was my two younger brothers, Jack and Tommy, in their pajamas eating ice cream on the couch. The TV was set to the Disney channel and playing at a volume that was too loud for human ears. My little sister Diana came squealing in from the kitchen, her very own set of

soiled pajamas and a bowl of mint chocolate chip ice cream.

"Sissy!" She shrieked, dropping the bowl and bear-hugging my leg.

I patted her head, a tangled mess of brown and crumbs. I forced a playful smile and bent down to remove the parasite. Her ice cream was totally ruined now, half-soaked into the carpet. Another chore for me to do later, I groaned inwardly. Diana laughed and ran away.

"Welcome home," Jack said absentmindedly as twelve years old do while glued to a screen. Tommy waved.

I came around the side of the couch. Putting both hands on my hips, I put on a stern face and blocked the TV. "Shouldn't you be doing homework?"

"It's not due till tomorrow!" and "Get out of the way!" drowned out the TV. Little protesters and pests.