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Aleena shuffled in the house with her three year old triplets after picking them up from daycare.
Sonic squirmed in Aleena’s arms. “Put me down.” He protested. “I wanna run.”
Manic cried and held his little CD player up in an attempt to get his mom’s attention.
“I’ll change the batteries in a minute.” Aleena said exasperatedly. “Please stop crying.”
“Mother?” Sonia asked. “I’m hungry.”
“Hush.” Aleena snapped.
Sonia whimpered.
Aleena shut the door, then set Sonic down. “Go watch the videos I bought you.”
Sonic, Sonia, and Manic hurried to the living room.
Manic turned on the tv and put in their Animaniacs video.
Aleena sighed. “Your dad needs to quit that second job.” She muttered under her breath as she started dinner.
*
Aleena woke up to the sound of her bedroom door closing. “Tell Manic to turn his music down, Sonic.” She said groggily. She realized it was her husband Brenden. “Oh, it’s you.”
“Sorry, work was crazy.” Brenden replied. He sat down on the bed.
Aleena turned over to face Brenden. “Is there any way we can get by without you working at Taco Bell?”
Brenden took his shoes off. “Yeah, if we take the kids out of daycare.” He said, getting up to change into his pajamas.
Aleena sighed. “But they’ll be here all day.” She replied. “Sonic is a handful now that he’s walking.”
“Then I can keep working two jobs.” Brenden said. “Look, it's just for a few months until they can start preschool. I’m tired of working at Taco Bell anyway.”
Aleena turned over, her back facing Brenden. “Fine, whatever.”
Brenden rolled his eyes. “Whatever.” He said, sitting down on the bed. “I only took a second job to help pay for your rehab.”
“I’m so sorry I had traumatic experiences that led me to self-medicate.” Aleena replied.
Brenden sighed. “Okay, I’m sorry.” He said, laying down.
“It’s fine.” Aleena mumbled.
*
Aleena quietly swept the floor early that Monday morning. “Please don’t wake up yet.” She whispered.
Sonic, Manic, and Sonia hurried out of their rooms.
Aleena grit her teeth, cursing under her breath.
“I’m hungry.” Manic whined.
Aleena sighed. “I’ll make you some cereal.” She replied. “Go watch Animaniacs.”
Sonic, Sonia, and Manic cheered as they ran to the living room.
Aleena trudged into the kitchen.
Brenden came out of the bathroom, straightening his spines.
Aleena poured cereal into the bowls.
“Cereal?” Brenden asked. He poured coffee into his travel cup.
“I’m trying to clean and make breakfast alone.” Aleena replied. “Give me a break. They’re too little to help and I have to take them to the grocery store today.”
Brenden put the lid on the cup and went to tell the kids goodbye.
Aleena walked into the living room with the bowls of cereal. “Kids, sit down and eat.”
The kids immediately stopped bouncing around and sat down on the floor behind the coffee table.
Brendan looked at the tv. “Isn’t this a little above their age level?”
“Yes, but it’s the one show they all agree on.” Aleena said, handing the cereal bowls to the triplets. “Trust me, I didn’t enjoy taking them to the doctor and Sonic and Manic saying ‘hello nurse’ every time they saw a nurse.”
Brenden shook his head. “Whatever’s easier, I guess.”
Aleena gave Brenden a dirty look.
“We’ll talk later.” Brenden said. He kissed Aleena. “Love you, see you tonight.”
“Love you too.” Aleena muttered.
Brenden kissed the triplets on their foreheads and left.
*
Aleena came into the house with her crying triplets after running errands.
“I know you’re hungry.” Aleena said exasperatedly. “Give me a minute. I’ll get lunch started as soon as I put up the groceries.”
The triplets continued crying.
“I’m sorry, we can’t afford daycare.” Aleena replied. “Go take a nap or watch videos.”
The triplets whimpered as they headed to the living room.
Aleena leaned against the wall, nearly dropping the bags of groceries. “I need a drink.”
*
Brenden walked in and found Aleena, who was drunk, laying on the couch. “Are you kidding me?!”
“What?” Aleena asked. “The kids are in bed.”
“What if they wake up?” Brenden asked. He groaned. “Well, we can’t afford rehab, so you better figure out how to stop this yourself.”
“Fine.” Aleena muttered.
Manic walked in. “Ma?”
Brenden turned around. “What are you doing up, Manic?”
“My CD player broke.” Manic said.
“Why are you listening to music?” Brenden asked. “It’s bedtime.”
“It helps his anxiety.” Aleena slurred.
“Ma?” Manic asked. He stepped closer and placed his hand on her arm. “You okay?”
“She’s drunk.” Brenden replied. “Now go back to bed.”
Manic furrowed his brow. “What does drunk mean?”
“She’ll be fine.” Brenden said exasperatedly. “Go back to-”
Manic looked over at Aleena, who had passed out. “But-”
Brenden smacked Manic on the back of his head. “Be quiet and go to bed.”
Manic yelped and ran to his room. He cried as he tucked himself in his bed.
Sonic woke up. “Bro?” He asked. “What happened?”
“Dad hit me.” Manic whimpered.
“What?” Sonic asked.
“He hit me and Ma’s sick.” Manic cried.
Sonic got up and sat down beside Manic. He stroked Manic’s spines until his little brother fell asleep.