Categories > Games > Sonic the Hedgehog > Life isn’t fair
The triplets followed Aleena inside after Uncle Chuck’s funeral.
Aleena sat down on the couch.
Sonic and Sonia headed to their rooms.
Manic sat down beside Aleena. “Ma? You’ll be home more now, right?” He asked. “I mean, Maria is sick and… Unc’s gone. You won’t work as much, right?”
Aleena sighed. “I’m sorry, Manic.” She replied. “I haven't found a new job yet.”
Manic curled up. “It’s not fair, Ma.” He sobbed. “We never see you anymore. We don’t have any family.”
“I’m sorry, Manic.” Aleena said, hugging Manic. “I’m sorry. I don’t like this either.”
*
Three weeks later
Aleena dropped the triplets off at Gerald and Maria’s home. “I should be home before their bedtime.”
Manic flopped down on the living room floor, in a corner, and curled into a ball.
Maria glanced at Manic. “I’m worried about him.” She said, leaning closer to Aleena. “I know he’s still grieving, but he’s shutting everyone out and doesn’t want to do anything.”
Aleena looked at Manic, who barely acknowledged Sonic and Shadow’s efforts to get his attention with a new game. She knew it was serious when Shadow (who was nearly antisocial) was concerned.
“I need to take a vacation, spend some more time with them.” Aleena said.
Manic uncurled a little. “When, Ma?”
“I’m not sure.” Aleena said. “Be good for Maria, I should be home before your bedtime.”
“Bye, love you.” Manic muttered.
Sonia and Sonic ran over and hugged Aleena. “Love you.”
“Love you too.” Aleena said.
Maria showed Aleena out, then turned her attention to Manic. She walked over and knelt down beside him. “Hey, do you need to talk?”
Manic looked at Maria. “You’re an orphan.” He said. “It kind of feels like that for me. Does it ever stop hurting?”
“It hurts less over time, but some days are better than others.” Maria replied.
Shadow huffed. “You still have your mom, Manic. My family abandoned me because I was sick.”
Sonic, Sonia, and Manic looked at Shadow.
“He had NIDS too, but Grandfather’s treatments completely cured him without the side effects I have.” Maria said. She touched Shadow’s shoulder. “Shadow, I know your situation is different and I don’t think Manic believes he’s the only one who’s going through a difficult time. Try to be understanding of his situation. He’s hurting too.”
Shadow nodded. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay.” Manic replied. “I’m sorry about your family. That’s awful.”
Shadow sat down beside Manic. “It is.”
Sonic rubbed Manic’s shoulder.
“I’ll get some art supplies so we can draw or write.” Maria said. “Maybe it’ll help you, Manic.”
Manic half smiled. “Thanks, Maria.”
*
Nighttime came and the triplets were still waiting on Aleena.
“Come on, kids.” Maria said. “Your mom said I should take you home if she wasn’t home for your bedtime.”
Gerald got out of his armchair. “You stay with Shadow, Maria.” He said, tucking his book into his pocket. “I’ll take the triplets home.”
“Yes, Grandfather.” Maria replied.
Gerald gathered the triplets and led them out the door and to their home.
After getting the triplets settled down into their beds, Gerald sat on the couch and read five chapters in his book until the front door creaked open.
“Maria?” Aleena called.
“I stayed with them, Aleena.” Gerald said, getting up. He met Aleena in the kitchen. “I didn’t want her to try to cross the street alone.”
“Oh, that’s fine.” Aleena replied. “I’m sorry, I wasn’t thinking it wouldn’t be a good idea to let her take them home. Thanks for staying with them. I’m sorry I’m late.”
“You’re welcome.” Gerald said. “It’s no trouble. They’re good kids, though Manic worries me. Even before Chuck died, Manic was acting like he had given up on life. He’s gotten worse. He had a hard time trying to say how he was feeling, but he basically said he feels dead inside.”
Aleena glanced at the hallway. “I’ll have to talk to him later.” She replied. “Thanks again.”
Aleena showed Gerald out, then headed to her bedroom.
She heard soft crying and whispering coming from Sonic and Manic’s room and sighed. “I’ll have to talk to him tomorrow.” She thought. “I’m too tired to give him the attention he needs.”
She felt guilty about leaving Manic to cry and poor Sonic to tend to his brother, but she was so exhausted, her vision was blurred and it was a miracle she had made it home.
*
Manic woke up the next morning, hoping he would at least see Aleena before she left for work.
Aleena’s bedroom door was wide open and she didn’t seem to be in there.
“Please be in the kitchen.” Manic muttered as he walked into the kitchen.
No one was in the kitchen or living room.
The living room window was open to let some natural light in, which revealed Aleena’s SUV was gone.
Manic sighed. He noticed a note on the kitchen table.
“There’s oatmeal in the cabinet and berries in the freezer, love you.” The note read.
Manic rolled his eyes and headed to the fridge. He found the container of eggs and decided to make scrambled eggs for his siblings.
Since Manic was sick of eating cold or microwaved meals all the time, he and his siblings learned to use the stove with Maria’s help.
Sonic and Sonia finally made their way into the kitchen.
Sonia looked at the note, then to Manic. “You didn’t want oatmeal?”
“Did you?” Manic asked.
“No, not really.” Sonia replied.
Sonic made coffee.
“Coffee?” Sonia asked.
“Why not?” Manic asked. “Shadow drinks it.”
Sonia got dishes out of the dish rack. “I was just asking.”
“Sis, even if it was a rule, it’s not like Ma is home to make sure we’re behaving.” Manic said, adding bacon bits to the scrambled eggs.
“We have rules for a reason, Manic.” Sonia replied.
Manic turned the stove off. “Yeah, yeah.” He said, scraping the eggs into a bowl.
“She’s right, bro.” Sonic replied. “Remember when we ate all the ice cream and got sick?”
“I get it.” Manic muttered. He served everyone their scrambled eggs.
“Sorry, bro.” Sonic said, setting the coffee cups down on the table. “I wasn’t trying to lecture you.”
Manic flopped down at the table and sat down with his siblings.
“So Mom won’t be home for a while, we can go to the park with Sally.” Sonic said.
Manic shrugged. “Yeah, whatever.”
Sonic sighed. “I know, but-”
“It’s our eleventh birthday.” Manic said. “It’s another birthday where she won’t be home to celebrate.”
Sonic and Sonia slowly nodded.
“What do you want to do, Manic?” Sonia asked. “We-”
Someone knocked on the door.
Sonic raced out of the room to see who was knocking.
Sonia and Manic quietly waited to see what Sonic had to say.
Sonic opened the door. “Hey, Shadow.” He said. “Come in.”
Sonic led Shadow into the kitchen.
“What are you doing up so early, Shadow?” Sonia asked.
“Maria noticed your mom went to work.” Shadow replied. “Was she doing anything for your birthday?”
Manic scoffed. “Hell hasn’t frozen over yet, Shads, so no.”
“Manic Edsel Hedgehog.” Sonia scolded.
“What?” Manic asked. “She didn’t even leave us a card or write happy birthday on our note.”
“Then you can come over around lunch time.” Shadow replied. “Maria and Gerald got an ice cream cake and chili dogs for your birthday.”
Sonia got up and hugged Shadow. “Thank you.”
“Thanks, Shadow.” Manic and Sonic said.
*
Aleena came home from work at six o'clock, an oddly early time for her. She walked through the door and looked around the room. “Kids?”
The front door opened.
Sonic, Sonia, and Manic walked in.
“Mom, we’re home.” Sonic called.
“In the kitchen.” Aleena said.
Sonic led his siblings into the kitchen.
Manic looked from Aleena to the empty table. “Did you forget something, Ma?”
“No, why?” Aleena asked.
“It’s our birthday!” Manic yelled. He stormed off to his room, cursing under his breath.
“Manic, you don’t talk like that.” Aleena scolded. “Where did you even learn some of those words?”
Sonic leaned closer to Sonia. “Shadow.” He whispered.
Sonia nodded.
“You shouldn’t forget your kids’ birthday.” Manic yelled. He slammed his door, rattling dishes in the dish rack.
Sonic and Sonia looked down the hall, then to Aleena.
“Mother, I don’t agree with how he acted, but it does hurt that you forgot our birthday.” Sonia said. “Maria, Gerald, and Shadow gave us a party.”
“I’m so sorry.” Aleena said. She checked her watch. “It’s Friday night. You three can stay up later. I’ll order a pizza and let you three watch your favorite movies.”
Sonic and Sonia hugged Aleena.
“Manic, come here for a minute.” Sonic called.
Manic walked in. “What?”
“Mom’s gonna order a pizza.” Sonic said. “We can stay up late and watch our favorite movies.”
Manic half smiled. He walked over to Aleena and gave her a weak hug. “Thanks; I'm sorry, Ma.”
“It’s okay.” Aleena said, ruffling Manic’s spines.
*
Manic woke up, finding himself in bed. Either Sonic or Aleena had put him back in his bed after he fell asleep in front of Jurassic Park.
He got out of bed and crept over to the window seat. He sat down, pulling his knees to his chest. He stared at the stars, thinking about his family life.
A shooting star zipped across the sky.
Manic half smiled. He used to laugh at Sonia when she would make wishes on shooting stars. He understood it now. He wished his family could be normal.
He missed when his dad would sit with him on the couch when he couldn’t sleep. Brenden would hold Manic and stroke his spines until he fell asleep.
Uncle Chuck used to do those things.
Aleena used to do those things too until Brenden died.
Manic sighed. He missed his mom. He tried to say he was done with her, that he didn’t care. But he did.
Manic sniffled and roughly brushed a tear out of his eye.
“Bro?” Sonic asked softly.
“Don’t laugh.” Manic replied.
Sonic got up and sat down across from Manic. He draped his legs off the seat. “So why are you up?”
“Just… I wish things were normal.” Manic said, dipping his chin to his chest. “And… I think I hate Ma.”
“No, you don’t hate her.” Sonic replied. “You’re angry, hurt. That’s okay, I feel the same way. I don’t hate her. It’s weird; you love your parents no matter what.”
Manic nodded. “S’pose so.”
Sonic slid closer to Manic. “It’s okay, bro.” He said, hugging Manic.
Manic cried on Sonic’s shoulder until he wore himself out.
Sonic slowly slid off the seat and carried his sleepy brother to his bed. He tucked Manic in, then got back into his own bed. “I hope you get this straightened out, Mom.” He whispered. He fell asleep.
Aleena sat down on the couch.
Sonic and Sonia headed to their rooms.
Manic sat down beside Aleena. “Ma? You’ll be home more now, right?” He asked. “I mean, Maria is sick and… Unc’s gone. You won’t work as much, right?”
Aleena sighed. “I’m sorry, Manic.” She replied. “I haven't found a new job yet.”
Manic curled up. “It’s not fair, Ma.” He sobbed. “We never see you anymore. We don’t have any family.”
“I’m sorry, Manic.” Aleena said, hugging Manic. “I’m sorry. I don’t like this either.”
*
Three weeks later
Aleena dropped the triplets off at Gerald and Maria’s home. “I should be home before their bedtime.”
Manic flopped down on the living room floor, in a corner, and curled into a ball.
Maria glanced at Manic. “I’m worried about him.” She said, leaning closer to Aleena. “I know he’s still grieving, but he’s shutting everyone out and doesn’t want to do anything.”
Aleena looked at Manic, who barely acknowledged Sonic and Shadow’s efforts to get his attention with a new game. She knew it was serious when Shadow (who was nearly antisocial) was concerned.
“I need to take a vacation, spend some more time with them.” Aleena said.
Manic uncurled a little. “When, Ma?”
“I’m not sure.” Aleena said. “Be good for Maria, I should be home before your bedtime.”
“Bye, love you.” Manic muttered.
Sonia and Sonic ran over and hugged Aleena. “Love you.”
“Love you too.” Aleena said.
Maria showed Aleena out, then turned her attention to Manic. She walked over and knelt down beside him. “Hey, do you need to talk?”
Manic looked at Maria. “You’re an orphan.” He said. “It kind of feels like that for me. Does it ever stop hurting?”
“It hurts less over time, but some days are better than others.” Maria replied.
Shadow huffed. “You still have your mom, Manic. My family abandoned me because I was sick.”
Sonic, Sonia, and Manic looked at Shadow.
“He had NIDS too, but Grandfather’s treatments completely cured him without the side effects I have.” Maria said. She touched Shadow’s shoulder. “Shadow, I know your situation is different and I don’t think Manic believes he’s the only one who’s going through a difficult time. Try to be understanding of his situation. He’s hurting too.”
Shadow nodded. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay.” Manic replied. “I’m sorry about your family. That’s awful.”
Shadow sat down beside Manic. “It is.”
Sonic rubbed Manic’s shoulder.
“I’ll get some art supplies so we can draw or write.” Maria said. “Maybe it’ll help you, Manic.”
Manic half smiled. “Thanks, Maria.”
*
Nighttime came and the triplets were still waiting on Aleena.
“Come on, kids.” Maria said. “Your mom said I should take you home if she wasn’t home for your bedtime.”
Gerald got out of his armchair. “You stay with Shadow, Maria.” He said, tucking his book into his pocket. “I’ll take the triplets home.”
“Yes, Grandfather.” Maria replied.
Gerald gathered the triplets and led them out the door and to their home.
After getting the triplets settled down into their beds, Gerald sat on the couch and read five chapters in his book until the front door creaked open.
“Maria?” Aleena called.
“I stayed with them, Aleena.” Gerald said, getting up. He met Aleena in the kitchen. “I didn’t want her to try to cross the street alone.”
“Oh, that’s fine.” Aleena replied. “I’m sorry, I wasn’t thinking it wouldn’t be a good idea to let her take them home. Thanks for staying with them. I’m sorry I’m late.”
“You’re welcome.” Gerald said. “It’s no trouble. They’re good kids, though Manic worries me. Even before Chuck died, Manic was acting like he had given up on life. He’s gotten worse. He had a hard time trying to say how he was feeling, but he basically said he feels dead inside.”
Aleena glanced at the hallway. “I’ll have to talk to him later.” She replied. “Thanks again.”
Aleena showed Gerald out, then headed to her bedroom.
She heard soft crying and whispering coming from Sonic and Manic’s room and sighed. “I’ll have to talk to him tomorrow.” She thought. “I’m too tired to give him the attention he needs.”
She felt guilty about leaving Manic to cry and poor Sonic to tend to his brother, but she was so exhausted, her vision was blurred and it was a miracle she had made it home.
*
Manic woke up the next morning, hoping he would at least see Aleena before she left for work.
Aleena’s bedroom door was wide open and she didn’t seem to be in there.
“Please be in the kitchen.” Manic muttered as he walked into the kitchen.
No one was in the kitchen or living room.
The living room window was open to let some natural light in, which revealed Aleena’s SUV was gone.
Manic sighed. He noticed a note on the kitchen table.
“There’s oatmeal in the cabinet and berries in the freezer, love you.” The note read.
Manic rolled his eyes and headed to the fridge. He found the container of eggs and decided to make scrambled eggs for his siblings.
Since Manic was sick of eating cold or microwaved meals all the time, he and his siblings learned to use the stove with Maria’s help.
Sonic and Sonia finally made their way into the kitchen.
Sonia looked at the note, then to Manic. “You didn’t want oatmeal?”
“Did you?” Manic asked.
“No, not really.” Sonia replied.
Sonic made coffee.
“Coffee?” Sonia asked.
“Why not?” Manic asked. “Shadow drinks it.”
Sonia got dishes out of the dish rack. “I was just asking.”
“Sis, even if it was a rule, it’s not like Ma is home to make sure we’re behaving.” Manic said, adding bacon bits to the scrambled eggs.
“We have rules for a reason, Manic.” Sonia replied.
Manic turned the stove off. “Yeah, yeah.” He said, scraping the eggs into a bowl.
“She’s right, bro.” Sonic replied. “Remember when we ate all the ice cream and got sick?”
“I get it.” Manic muttered. He served everyone their scrambled eggs.
“Sorry, bro.” Sonic said, setting the coffee cups down on the table. “I wasn’t trying to lecture you.”
Manic flopped down at the table and sat down with his siblings.
“So Mom won’t be home for a while, we can go to the park with Sally.” Sonic said.
Manic shrugged. “Yeah, whatever.”
Sonic sighed. “I know, but-”
“It’s our eleventh birthday.” Manic said. “It’s another birthday where she won’t be home to celebrate.”
Sonic and Sonia slowly nodded.
“What do you want to do, Manic?” Sonia asked. “We-”
Someone knocked on the door.
Sonic raced out of the room to see who was knocking.
Sonia and Manic quietly waited to see what Sonic had to say.
Sonic opened the door. “Hey, Shadow.” He said. “Come in.”
Sonic led Shadow into the kitchen.
“What are you doing up so early, Shadow?” Sonia asked.
“Maria noticed your mom went to work.” Shadow replied. “Was she doing anything for your birthday?”
Manic scoffed. “Hell hasn’t frozen over yet, Shads, so no.”
“Manic Edsel Hedgehog.” Sonia scolded.
“What?” Manic asked. “She didn’t even leave us a card or write happy birthday on our note.”
“Then you can come over around lunch time.” Shadow replied. “Maria and Gerald got an ice cream cake and chili dogs for your birthday.”
Sonia got up and hugged Shadow. “Thank you.”
“Thanks, Shadow.” Manic and Sonic said.
*
Aleena came home from work at six o'clock, an oddly early time for her. She walked through the door and looked around the room. “Kids?”
The front door opened.
Sonic, Sonia, and Manic walked in.
“Mom, we’re home.” Sonic called.
“In the kitchen.” Aleena said.
Sonic led his siblings into the kitchen.
Manic looked from Aleena to the empty table. “Did you forget something, Ma?”
“No, why?” Aleena asked.
“It’s our birthday!” Manic yelled. He stormed off to his room, cursing under his breath.
“Manic, you don’t talk like that.” Aleena scolded. “Where did you even learn some of those words?”
Sonic leaned closer to Sonia. “Shadow.” He whispered.
Sonia nodded.
“You shouldn’t forget your kids’ birthday.” Manic yelled. He slammed his door, rattling dishes in the dish rack.
Sonic and Sonia looked down the hall, then to Aleena.
“Mother, I don’t agree with how he acted, but it does hurt that you forgot our birthday.” Sonia said. “Maria, Gerald, and Shadow gave us a party.”
“I’m so sorry.” Aleena said. She checked her watch. “It’s Friday night. You three can stay up later. I’ll order a pizza and let you three watch your favorite movies.”
Sonic and Sonia hugged Aleena.
“Manic, come here for a minute.” Sonic called.
Manic walked in. “What?”
“Mom’s gonna order a pizza.” Sonic said. “We can stay up late and watch our favorite movies.”
Manic half smiled. He walked over to Aleena and gave her a weak hug. “Thanks; I'm sorry, Ma.”
“It’s okay.” Aleena said, ruffling Manic’s spines.
*
Manic woke up, finding himself in bed. Either Sonic or Aleena had put him back in his bed after he fell asleep in front of Jurassic Park.
He got out of bed and crept over to the window seat. He sat down, pulling his knees to his chest. He stared at the stars, thinking about his family life.
A shooting star zipped across the sky.
Manic half smiled. He used to laugh at Sonia when she would make wishes on shooting stars. He understood it now. He wished his family could be normal.
He missed when his dad would sit with him on the couch when he couldn’t sleep. Brenden would hold Manic and stroke his spines until he fell asleep.
Uncle Chuck used to do those things.
Aleena used to do those things too until Brenden died.
Manic sighed. He missed his mom. He tried to say he was done with her, that he didn’t care. But he did.
Manic sniffled and roughly brushed a tear out of his eye.
“Bro?” Sonic asked softly.
“Don’t laugh.” Manic replied.
Sonic got up and sat down across from Manic. He draped his legs off the seat. “So why are you up?”
“Just… I wish things were normal.” Manic said, dipping his chin to his chest. “And… I think I hate Ma.”
“No, you don’t hate her.” Sonic replied. “You’re angry, hurt. That’s okay, I feel the same way. I don’t hate her. It’s weird; you love your parents no matter what.”
Manic nodded. “S’pose so.”
Sonic slid closer to Manic. “It’s okay, bro.” He said, hugging Manic.
Manic cried on Sonic’s shoulder until he wore himself out.
Sonic slowly slid off the seat and carried his sleepy brother to his bed. He tucked Manic in, then got back into his own bed. “I hope you get this straightened out, Mom.” He whispered. He fell asleep.
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