HOUSTON

           Back in 2011, I was a senior in high school and had moved in with my older sister Deanna because our mama, our stepdad, and our little half-sister Tiara had moved out of state for our stepdad’s new job. I didn’t want to move during my senior year so I moved in with Deanna and her boyfriend, Kenneth. I was always close with my big sister but our relationship became a little strained when she got with Kenneth. He had a problem with me being gay but always played like he was cool with it whenever Deanna was around. Whenever she wasn’t around; however, he got on my damn nerves. One cold Tuesday in January that year, I was stuck at home because it was a teacher’s workday. It would have been great had Kenneth not been at home with the flu.

           “I already gave him his medicine, Deanna,” I told my sister over the phone. “Your raggedy ass man is doing okay.”

           “He told me you’ve been being mean to him,” she said on the other end. “Can you at least be nice to him while he has the flu?”

           “Had his dumbass gotten a flu shot like we did…”

           “Darnell!”

           “What else do you want me to do?”

           “I bought some Vicks VapoRub for him. Rub some on his chest after you heat up the chicken noodle soup I made for him.”

           “Alright.”

           “And make sure he’s wearing his socks so his feet won’t get cold.”

           “Okay.”

           “And don’t forget to refill his cups with apple juice and water because he’s gotta drink lots of fluids.”

           “Damn, sis. You want me to stick a thermometer up his ass, too?”

           “Darnell, I know he’s a big baby when he gets sick but it’s not like you’re doing anything else. You don’t have school today and I know you’re not going anywhere since it’s only fifteen degrees outside. You only have to put up with him until I get off tonight at nine.”

           “Yeah, I know.” I got a text message and quickly told her, “I gotta go, Deanna. I’ll call you if I need your help.”

           “Alright. See you when I get home.”

           “Bye.” I ended the call and checked the text message I’d just gotten.

           It was a message from Antwan Stringer, a boy on the football team that I’d been messing around with for a few weeks. We hadn’t gone all the way because I was still a virgin but he did rim and finger me and I sucked him every now and then. He texted me asking if he could come over and I told him he couldn’t because my sister’s boyfriend was home. He then asked me to send him a pic of my asshole so he could jackoff. Teasing him, I sent a pic of me lifting my shirt instead.

                                                Me (Darnell)

           “Darnell,” Kenneth called out while coughing. “I need more water.”

           I ignored him and continued texting Antwan. When I heard a loud thump coming from my sister’s bedroom, I quickly left my room and headed across the hall into her room. When I saw Kenneth holding onto the bed to stay up, I asked, “What the hell are you doing?”

           “I’m trying to get some water,” he replied angrily. “I told your gay ass I needed water!”

                                                Kenneth