My Mother's Boyfriends : 5. Recycled Teenagers

Well, hello to all of you who have been waiting for the next episode (im)patiently.

 I did leave you at a cliffhanger in the last episode. Believe me or not, the puzzle I mentioned earlier is getting more and more intricate. But let's shove it back for now.

Who knew lying to keep your family together would be so difficult?

Yes, you're thinking right, I lied to my Papa till he found out for himself.

On looking back, I wish I had come clean. At least to him. I owed him that much.

Then again, I liked the guy Mom was dating. He was a nice person. My equation with him was really amicable and somehow, I considered him family. Albeit I was the referee in this case too, but he was more reasonable and that made Mom a bit reasonable too.

Though she never acted like a grown-up despite my multiple efforts and suddenly, I realised that I am the only one with justifiable modus operandi in my little family. Though barely 16 at that time, I felt like a 45yr old who had been entrusted with a pair of recycled teenagers. One was more foolish and dreamy than snow white, while the other grumpier than the dwarf (and definitely much taller).

Worse effect? None, absolutely none of them would make dinner. And I hate the induction oven. 99.99% of what I made was part uncooked. I wish I had thrown tantrums to get them in line, but leadership came to me naturally-Papa always said that it runs in the family.

I had to lie so much in a span of six months that I'm sure, if there's a place in hell reserved for liars alone, I will be staying there forever in my afterlife.

I did have friends I shared my concerns with. My biggest mistake. Because almost every friend becomes a competitor after a certain span of time, I guess. 

But that's a story for another day.

Meanwhile Mom attempted a copycat suicide and beans had started spilling. Papa smelled the fish. 

What was I about to do now?