Chapter 1

 

'Come on Linda, go easy on your sister, she is still settling into a new way of life,' I found myself appealing to my long term girlfriend.

'Nathan trust me you don't know what Claudia is like, she'll take advantage of the both of us if we let her. I used to tell my parents not to pamper her so much, they never used to give her any discipline when she was younger, I guess it's because they had her so late in their lives and thought she was some miracle child, but they ended up creating a nineteen-year-old monster whom they now want me to look after!' My girlfriend still sulked as she made her thoughts and feelings very clear to me.

'Please calm down, and don't raise your voice so high you don't want her to hear us.'

'I don't care if she hears us, I really don't!' Linda replied back angrily but to my relief reduced her volume.

'Linda be more reasonable it's not like we have to look after Claudia forever, your parents only want us to provide some support and guidance for her until she finds her feet in the city which may be a bit taunting to someone from a small town background which you both grew up in. Surely you can understand that? And in any case it's not like we can go back on our promise to your folks not when they helped us purchase this fabulous apartment we are now both standing in?' I outlined all my rationale arguments as a way to make for some peace between the warring sisters.

'Oh okay, I suppose you're right...' Linda conceded reluctantly with a sigh.

'Great Linda, I am glad you are being the better person.'

'Wait a minute....I haven't finished what I am about to say, I agree to hold my tongue, but you need to have a word with her, about some ground rules. No more not cleaning after herself and bringing random friends home that we haven't at least met ourselves first....heaven forbid we end up robbed while we are in our beds!'

'But she's your sister; don't you think it would be better coming from you?' I spoke with uncertainty as I imagined my words going down like a lead balloon with the rebellious teen.

'No actually I think she would be more inclined to listen to you more than me, she seems to look up to you somehow, and you know how of late it's been difficult for us to be in the same room without one of us itching to pull the other's hair out,' she spoke dramatically for effect, leaving me no room to wriggle out of.

'Okay...Okay, I will talk to her.'

'Today?'

'Yes, today if you like.'

'Great stuff....let me know how it goes.'

'Wait a minute where are you going?' I noticed her well manicured hand position itself on top of the door handle, she looked eager to get outside.

'Oh have you forgotten it's my girl's night today....and I am running late, got to dash or I won't make the film on time before heading off to the bar for food and drinks....don't wait up,' she kissed me quickly on the lips before disappearing out of the door.

'Linda....bye then, have a nice time,' I called out to her in vain, 'and thanks for leaving me with the hard work of trying to make your sister see sense,' I mumbled the end of my sentence with a sigh as I closed the front door and turned around to find myself in an empty hallway.