Sympathy Chapter 4

I followed behind the boys as they piled out the back door. They were carrying on and pushing each other I got the first chance to really look at them without being noticed. You could tell just by glancing at them that they were brothers and that they enjoyed being around each other. I found it slightly amusing that while Jordan and Eric looked just like Henry while Jared and Marc mostly took after Linda.

" Hey are you coming or what?" Jordan called

I realized that I had at some point that I had stopped walking. I hurried up to catch up with them as they walked towards a large barn.

" This is where we store the sod that we dig up to to ship out. That building over there is where we keep all of the equipment." Marc pointed to another big building a little down the way

"Hey you wanna go shoot some pucks before we have to do our chores?" Marc asked the other boys

" Why do you want to? You're just a stupid defenseman?" Eric shot back at him

" Whatever. I'm going to be the next Bobby Orr when I get drafted next year."

" Not with hands like that you aren't" Jordan chimed in

" Then let's get some practice in."

They started to walk away but Jordan stayed back with me.

" You guys go ahead. I'm going to show Melanie around some more. Is that okay with you?"

I shrugged my shoulders in away that I was hoping would come of as not caring. I followed him into the big barn that I had just been told held all of the equipment.

" These are the tractors. That over there is the cutter and that big thing is a seeder."

I watched as he climbed up onto the nearest tractor.

" You can come up here if you want. There should be enough room for you."

I contemplated his offer. The idea of climbing onto the big greasy contraption didn't really appeal to me but when he leaned down and offered me his hand I found myself taking it. He practically hefted me up into the seat next to him. I was sitting uncomfortably close and I started to pick at my nails.

" So now that my mom isn't here to smack me upside the head what is your deal?" he asked shifting around so he could look at me.

" Didn't you hear your brother? I'm a trouble maker." i mumbled angrily

" There has to be more to it than that."

I looked up and saw him examining me with his bright blue eyes. I saw the look of pity in them and it just pissed me off.

" There isn't anymore to it than that. I'm a trouble maker and a fuck up. That's pretty much my whole story. "

" Sometimes talking to someone can help." he offered trying to be nice

" If I wanted to talk to someone I'd see a therapist." I all but spit in his face

I made my way off the tractor and he didn't try to stop me. I didn't really want to be around the other boys so I made my way into the house and closed myself in my bedroom again. I was asked to come down to dinner but I begged off, saying that I wasn't feeling well. I could hear all of the noise as they all made their way to bed. I muffled my crying in my pillow as everyone else went to sleep