The Life of Marie Maelien Katheder by A. D. Knight (classic reads TXT) 📕

My life was never perfect. In fact, it was plain shitty. The date was April 1st, 2005. April fools day and at school it sucked. I was the butt of every joke. My siblings; Scott, 21; Seth, 20; Jacob and Conner (aka the Twins) 18; Anna, (my twin) 10; Drew, Sammy, and Dean (aka the Triplets) 5; were all away at fancy boarding schools. Well Except for the Triplets. The Triplets were always getting into trouble at boarding schools.
Everyone, but my dad, was home for the weekend and we were grilling. Daddy was supposed to be home in one week. He said he'd call on April fools day. I was a huge Daddy's girl, and I still am. I sat by the phone waiting for his call. Of course when the phone did ring, I was in the bathroom and Mom answered the phone.
I raced out of the bathroom and to my mom. She stood frozen, her face blank showing nothing. Her eyes were wet. Of course, Mom had many death threats, and everytime she got one she went on lock down. This was different, I realized as Mom sank to her knees crying. The phone was still in her hands as she glared at it and threw it at the picture of her and Daddy getting married. Glass flew everywhere as I screamed.
My older brothers all raced inside as I picked up the phone. The lady on the other line was still speaking as if it were a recording and if I look back on it, it probably was. The lady sounded heartless as she repeated the message again.
"Mrs. Katheder," she said. "I regret to inform you that your husband Henry Rey Katheder was killed in action this morning. A fueneral will be held this next weekend provided by our home troops."
I froze. Daddy, killed? It had to be an April Fools prank. I felt the tears run down my face. I felt cold all over as Scott shook me. I could see his lips moving, but I couldn't hear a word he said. Then I screamed. Scott flinched away from me as I poured all my heart and soul into that scream. Then everything went black.
I woke up a few hours later, I could hear but I couldn't quite open my eyes yet. I could hear Seth and Scott talking as they waited for me to wake up. I don't know if they ever knew I was listening, but I always had a hunch they did.
"She'll be okay, Scott. It's not your fault," Seth said.
"How? It hurts us to lose dad, and we're adults. She's just a kid. Plus she was more attatched to him than any of us," Scott argued.
"She's tougher than she looks," Seth argued back.
"Yes, but what kind of emotional stress does it put on her," Scott snapped back.
I drifted off after that and the weekend went by quick. I hid my pain by asking Scott and Seth to teach me how to fight. I also watch the cheerleaders. Oh, how I envyed them, I even do now. They seem to have no worry, no care in the world as they flip and chant with a smile.
By Monday, everyone at school seemed to hear what had happened and decided to give me fake sympathy. Well, they tried to. That's when I started throwing punches. I got sent home and had to walk home. I opened the door and my heart felt like it had turned to stone.
My mother froze, mid-kiss when she saw me. Anger filled me as I saw her holding this complete stranger. I glared at her as I slammed the door.
"Who the hell is he," I demanded.
"MAE," My mother gasped at my temper.
"Daddy isn't even in the ground a day and you're all over another man," I asked angrily.
"I should go," the man said staring at me like I was his girlfriend.
"Damn right you should," I snapped giving him the finger.
"MAE," my mother growled angrily.
"Now, Meredith I told you she was going to be a little touchy with being so young and losing her father," he said.
"You," I hissed pointing at him. "Stay the hell off my side."
"Mae, behave yourself," mom said.
"No," I snapped.
"I am your mother," she snapped back.
"You are NOT my mother, Meredith," I growled.
"I AM your mother and Mark is going to be your stepfather," she snapped.
"MY WHAT?" I shrieked. "Daddy has been dead for three fucking days. You've already decided to marry this bastard? How could you? Did Daddy mean nothing to you? Was he just some man to take care of you, you whore?"
"Do NOT talk to your mother like that," Mark snarled as he struck me across the face.
Now I'm not a big person, I'm tiny in fact. His blow threw me back and made me fall on my knees. I knew for a fact that it was going to bruise by tomorrow, maybe even an hour. I felt dizzy as I got to my feet and punched him in the gut. I'm guessing my punching skill wasn't as good then as it is now, because he didn't even flinch as he shoved me away.
I spun and tried to keep my balance. Balance has always hated me. I lost my footing and fell. My head erupted in pain as everything went black. I felt cold and angry. Angry because my mother didn't even lift a finger to help me. Cold because I always got that feeling when I was knocked out. I still do, just back then I didn't realize that I would be very cold until I felt better.
When I came to I was in my room. Seth, my favorite brother was watching me with pity. I couldn't stand to see the pity that filled his eyes, but I didn't have to for long because the triplets rushed in and hopped on my bed. They seemed happy enough.
"Mommy said you fell," Drew said sitting on my lap.
"I fell alright," I said sarcastically.
Seth looked at me with a question mark written on his face. I shook my head at him, it'd do no good to tell him. He's overprotective. On top of that, my father, my one and only real father, taught me to fight my own battles.

Weeks passed, and Meredith became insufferable.

Publication Date: 12-05-2011

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Dedication:
To Marie Maelien Katheder, you are an inspiration.