The years were early and hazy. Chance Frigewalt, newly married and thrust into the arms of motherhood just as early, sits on the couch. Her hair is nestled in curlers and she tunes into Ricki Lake with a bored expression. She knows second hand smoke isn't good for the kids in the back of her mind, but she lights up anyway. Smokes weed and eats chips out of the bag. Takes a trank later in the evening so she can sleep. Abner sits on the floor, young and buck-toothed, talking to himself avidly. A few dull coloured crayons are nestled in three fists, and he scribbles in his dollar store sketchbook. He narrates as he goes, like he's the sole inhabitant of his own private universe. In this universe he is king of the jungle gym, conquerer of monsters and debt-collectors, and just as rich as the Nereid boy next door. It's mostly nonsense, little kid bullshit, but Chance can pick out words like "Dad" and "Ma". And sometimes the subject of his baby sister would crop up too. Soft and conspiratorial. What Chance doesn't know is, whilst she's taking her afternoon nap in the living room, Abner will find his mind wandering, find himself glancing at the cradle in the corner of the room. Make his way over to it, all seven year old curiosity, and stare into the alien eyes of his little sister. If the mood strikes him, and he feels particularly bold, he'll scoop her out of the cot, (gently gently support the head) and show her all his drawings. She's too young to give her opinion, but that's okay, because she'll grow up looking at them, grow up listening to his older brother stories.
"That's you, Minny." He holds up a crumpled sketchbook sheet in another hand. Points at a vague pink scribble, plump and wrapped in a floral swaddle. He whispers this, so he doesn't wake Chance up. She gurgles like she's heard a great joke, and satisfied, he puts her back in the cot so she can go back to sleeping.
The years slog by, slow and difficult. Minerva turns seven, Abner turns fourteen, (for his fourteenth birthday he gets a comic book and a pat on the back), and Charlie leaves for college.
The Abner in the present- the one with more dark circles under the eyes, the version with less optimism and childhood spark -smiles.
"I'm ready."