A Way Through

BEEP BEEP BEEP. The smoke alarm rang through the kitchen as Haisley desperately typed on her keyboard. “Almost there….” she muttered as she raced to finish the assignment due in only five minutes. The burnt toast sprang from its slot in the toaster, adding an acrid smell to the kitchen. “Done!” she exclaimed as she hit the send button. She turned around quickly, ready to give her full attention to Elliot’s breakfast now. She moved across the kitchen from the island to the counter and plucked the burnt bread away from the machine. “Darn it,” she said. She placed the toast on a napkin and grabbed another couple of slices from the bread bag. Turning the setting as low as possible, Haisley made another attempt while praying she didn’t need to replace the toaster. She just had to put two new tires on her car after having a blowout, and she was more than tapped out now. She moved back over to the stove where the sausage was smoking but luckily not burnt. Haisley turned the heat down and grabbed the scrambled-up egg to start cooking. “Honey, I’m home!” her best friend called, coming in from the front door. This was very normal for them. “Kitchen!” Haisley called to Addison. “What are you burning?” Addison said, rounding the corner. “Toast,” Haisley shrugged. Addison rolled her eyes as she went over to the cabinet and grabbed a glass, and she filled it with water from the sink. “That’s not a lot of food,” Addison observed as Haisley cooked the eggs. “I know; It’s not for me,” she said. “You are eating, right?” Addison asked pointedly. Haisley pointed to the toaster where the burnt toast lay on top of a napkin. “Jesus, no! Make some more toast!” “I only have enough left to make Elliot lunches for the rest of the week,” she said. “I’ll just scrape off the black. I think we have some jam in the fridge too.” “Haisley, what did you and Elliot eat for dinner last night?” Addison asked. Haisley froze momentarily. She wasn’t given the opportunity to answer, though, as Elliot walked in. “I had some reheated pasta with meatballs,” he answered Addison. “I don’t think Hais ate anything.” Haisley cheeks warmed in embarrassment. She didn’t think she had made it so obvious. “Seriously? Why are you bringing home your meal plan stuff to feed him?” Addison asked angrily as she went to the fridge. Opening it, she found her answer. “Hais, when are you going grocery shopping?” Haisley pulled the eggs and sausage off the stove, slipping them onto a plate. She snatched the less charred toast from the toaster and handed the plate to her little brother. “Payday is Friday. I’ll go after class,” she answered. Haisley grabbed the burnt toast from the counter and a butter knife from the drawer. She moved over to the trash can, scraping as much of the burnt layer as she could from the toast. Addison sighed and pulled out her phone. “What are you doing?” Haisley asked. “Ordering you some groceries. You guys can’t survive on a half-pound of bologna, some sliced cheese, and a quarter gallon of milk. There are like four eggs left in there.” “No, it’s fine. We’re fine,” Haisley insisted. “Turkey or Ham?” Addison directed at Elliot. “Turkey!” he said with a smile. “Can you get more mustard, please?” “Sure thing, kid,” she said as she scrolled through the grocery delivery app. “You like the green apples, right?” “Addison….” Haisley groaned. “Just hush. Elliot’s a growing boy, and you need to feed him,” Addison said dismissively. “I am feeding him!” Haisley argued back. Elliot was quiet as he shoveled his breakfast in his mouth. Haisley gave up, grabbing the pans to wash. When he was finished, Elliot came over and deposited his plate into the sink. He kissed his sister on the cheek. “Thanks, Hais,” he said, giving her a bear hug from behind. Although he was her younger brother, Elliot was bigger than Haisley. He was broad with a muscular build. His golden skin was much tanner than hers as well, but that was probably due to playing football. The thing that made them look alike was their hair. They both had wavy, messy, dirty blonde hair. Elliot went over to Addison, giving her a quick hug as well, whispering something in her ear. She nodded, and Elliot ran from the room. “Going to school. See you tonight,” he called as he rushed out the front door. Haisley finished washing the breakfast dishes and turned to her best friend with her hand on her hip. “It’s already paid for and will be delivered when he gets home from school, so don’t even try to send it back,” Addison threatened. “Thanks,” Haisley sighed. She appreciated her friend’s kindness, but she knew she needed to do better. “Why are you so bare? You are so good at budgeting,” Addison said. Haisley started packing her laptop into her backpack so they could leave for class. “When I was studying for midterms last week, I fell asleep in the library. Some Freshman came through the aisle I was sitting in and kicked me. When I realized what happened, I raced to work, but it was too late. My manager was pissed and took away the next two shifts I had. So, my check was like half of what it should have been.” “Why didn’t you tell me?” “Because I don’t need charity, Addy,” Haisley said defiantly. “I’m supporting us just fine.” “Hais, you’re eating burnt toast for breakfast and taking home meals from the school cafeteria to feed Elliot,” Addison said dryly. “It’s not charity; it’s help.” “Can we just go?” Haisley said, slinging her backpack over her shoulder. “Yea, but you’re eating your lunch today.” - Haisley dragged herself into the house after a long day at school and work. She made it home just in time to see Elliot before he needed to head to bed. She still had some homework to work on before she herself could sleep. Elliot was on the couch, eating some popcorn and watching TV. He turned his head when she entered through the front door. “Hey,” Elliot called to his sister. “I already put all the groceries away.” “Thanks,” Haisley grumbled. “How was practice?” She walked into the living room and flopped down on the end of the couch, depositing her backpack on the floor next to her. “Great! We’ve been working on some new plays that are going to completely blindside Riverview on Friday!” Elliot gushed. “You and Addy are coming, right?” “Wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Haisley said, smiling tiredly at her brother. He gave her a bright smile before turning his head back to the TV. Elliot was probably the most well-adjusted high school junior she had ever met. You would have no idea he is technically an orphan. Haisley pushed herself up from the couch, heading towards the kitchen. She ruffled her little brother’s hair on the way out. “Don’t stay up too late,” she said. “Your dinner is in the microwave. I know you didn’t eat!” he called after her. Elliot knew she rushed from school straight to work on Tuesdays and never made time for lunch. Haisley found a BLT with apple slices all banded together to keep them from turning brown in the microwave. She couldn’t help the smile that stretched across her face. ‘Just like Mom used to pack in our lunches,’ she thought. She grabbed the plate and sat down at one of the stools along the island. They barely used the dining table anymore since it was just the two of them plus Addy sometimes. Finn hadn’t returned home since the incident. Haisley felt that was for the best anyway. He made the house payment every month to keep a roof over their heads, but she had to manage everything else. Haisley ate her dinner appreciatively. They only had bacon when Addison put groceries in the fridge, or it was Elliot’s birthday. She had to be very careful with the grocery budget, with every budget for that matter. Haisley would find a way to pay Addison back for at least some of it later. Elliot came into the kitchen and deposited his bowl in the sink before giving his sister another bear hug from behind. A quick peck on her cheek, and he was off to bed. Haisley washed her dinner plate and Elliot’s bowl before heading out of the kitchen to do her homework. Haisley was looking forward to Friday like she did every week. Watching her brother play football brought a smile to her face amidst all the other stressful things in her life. Elliot getting to be a normal kid and not worry about life yet was worth it, though. She may have stolen things from him, but she did her best to make up for that. Haisley knew it wasn’t fair to hope that she was making their parents proud after everything that happened. Deep down, she only hoped that one day she would have done enough to earn forgiveness.