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   Chapter 14: Travis
   "Travis!!!!! WAKE UP! Wakeupwakeupwakeup!" the high-pitched, young voice of Travis' little sister Josie broke into his heavy sleep. He muttered something unintelligible and rolled over, his face buried in the pillow. "Traviiiisss! It's my birthday, and Mark is sleeping and yelled bad words at me and I'm going to go wake up Chloe after this!! Please get up...Mommy and Daddy are gone." Travis snapped up at that, his hair disheveled but his eys now alert and wide.
   "What do you mean they're gone, Jo?" he asked, his tone demanding answers. She shrugged in reply and got off his bed, satisfied that he was now awake. She wrinkled her nose at jis bare-chested state.
   "Ew! What are those lines on your tummy? And I don't know where Mommy and Daddy are. I just went into their room and they weren't there for my birthday, so we're going to have a party without them." she informed him. "Ewie, and get a shirt on, Trav!" then she stomped out and into Chloe's room next door. Worriedly, he dressed--putting on jeans over his boxers and a tee. He didn't brush his teeth, 'cause what was the point? He was at home anyway. Chloe emerged from her bedroom the same time he did, in flannel pajamas and slippers. Her black hair was a rat's nest and she had sleep in her eyes.
   "Josie said Tracy and Keith are gone." she said, and he nodded in agreement. Clo hardly ever called their parents "Mom" or "Dad," because she didn't feel as if that was what they had been to her. Josie squeezed in between them and grabbed both of their hands, tugging them towards the kitchen. Her eyes were bright, happy that she was turning six upon the occasion--Travis thought. Maybe she was seven....
   "Guys, can you please make me breakfast?" Josie pleaded, and Travis turned to Chloe and raised his eyebrows im question.
   Travis' cooking skills consisted of pouring cereal and making cold sandwiches, so this question was mostly directed towards his older sister. Chloe put on a happy facade and nodded, smiling. She took Josie's hand and pulled her over to sit in a chair, and Travis tried to ignore that it was the head of the table--where his dad always sat.
   "Of course, Jo. Happy sixth, sweetheart," --so she was turning six--"I'll make your favorite. Bacon, eggs, and pancakes. Then you can open your presents and I'll make cupcakes for later. Okay?" Josie was beaming now, nodding vigorously. Her pink nightgown was far too small, but his parents didn't care enough to buy her a new one. His dad worked as a part-time mechanic, of which paid pretty much crap and his mom was a "stay-at home mom" which basically meant she took lots of trips to Vegas with their dad. This was probably just another visit--although they almost always told them that morning they were leaving, or left a note or somehting. Sure, it was pathetic, but this time they got nothing.
   "I'm so glad you guys are here with me," she said, smiling even wider. It looked as if her cheeks might rip if it stretched wider.
   "Of course, Jo. We'd never miss it." Travis told her. Soon the smell of bacon grease and pancake batter was sent through the air and into Travis' nose, making his stomach growl ferociously. Chloe laughed and flipped faster, then removed more pancakes and made a plate for all three of them. They ate in silence, which wasn't abnormal and not in the slightest bit awkward.
   When they finished Chloe set to work on the cupcakes, while Travis took Chloe's car to go buy Josie a gift. Travis made pretty good money at Kirk's, so he had a little spending money for her. He got her a plastic doll and a new nightgown, along with a new brush since hers had broken long ago. When he arrived back home lunch was ready and Josie was seated again, and Chloe was about to light the candles. Travis snuck in quietly and began singing as Clo lit the six candles on the cake.
   The cupcakes were amazing, just like all of Chloe's cooking, and josie squealed at all her presents from both of her siblings, at least the two who cared.
   Travis leaned over and kissed his little sister's head.
   "Happy Birthday, Josie."

Description
   Chapter 14: Travis
   "Travis!!!!! WAKE UP! Wakeupwakeupwakeup!" the high-pitched, young voice of Travis' little sister Josie broke into his heavy sleep. He muttered something unintelligible and rolled over, his face buried in the pillow. "Traviiiisss! It's my birthday, and Mark is sleeping and yelled bad words at me and I'm going to go wake up Chloe after this!! Please get up...Mommy and Daddy are gone." Travis snapped up at that, his hair disheveled but his eys now alert and wide.
   "What do you mean they're gone, Jo?" he asked, his tone demanding answers. She shrugged in reply and got off his bed, satisfied that he was now awake. She wrinkled her nose at jis bare-chested state.
   "Ew! What are those lines on your tummy? And I don't know where Mommy and Daddy are. I just went into their room and they weren't there for my birthday, so we're going to have a party without them." she informed him. "Ewie, and get a shirt on, Trav!" then she stomped out and into Chloe's room next door. Worriedly, he dressed--putting on jeans over his boxers and a tee. He didn't brush his teeth, 'cause what was the point? He was at home anyway. Chloe emerged from her bedroom the same time he did, in flannel pajamas and slippers. Her black hair was a rat's nest and she had sleep in her eyes.
   "Josie said Tracy and Keith are gone." she said, and he nodded in agreement. Clo hardly ever called their parents "Mom" or "Dad," because she didn't feel as if that was what they had been to her. Josie squeezed in between them and grabbed both of their hands, tugging them towards the kitchen. Her eyes were bright, happy that she was turning six upon the occasion--Travis thought. Maybe she was seven....
   "Guys, can you please make me breakfast?" Josie pleaded, and Travis turned to Chloe and raised his eyebrows im question.
   Travis' cooking skills consisted of pouring cereal and making cold sandwiches, so this question was mostly directed towards his older sister. Chloe put on a happy facade and nodded, smiling. She took Josie's hand and pulled her over to sit in a chair, and Travis tried to ignore that it was the head of the table--where his dad always sat.
   "Of course, Jo. Happy sixth, sweetheart," --so she was turning six--"I'll make your favorite. Bacon, eggs, and pancakes. Then you can open your presents and I'll make cupcakes for later. Okay?" Josie was beaming now, nodding vigorously. Her pink nightgown was far too small, but his parents didn't care enough to buy her a new one. His dad worked as a part-time mechanic, of which paid pretty much crap and his mom was a "stay-at home mom" which basically meant she took lots of trips to Vegas with their dad. This was probably just another visit--although they almost always told them that morning they were leaving, or left a note or somehting. Sure, it was pathetic, but this time they got nothing.
   "I'm so glad you guys are here with me," she said, smiling even wider. It looked as if her cheeks might rip if it stretched wider.
   "Of course, Jo. We'd never miss it." Travis told her. Soon the smell of bacon grease and pancake batter was sent through the air and into Travis' nose, making his stomach growl ferociously. Chloe laughed and flipped faster, then removed more pancakes and made a plate for all three of them. They ate in silence, which wasn't abnormal and not in the slightest bit awkward.
   When they finished Chloe set to work on the cupcakes, while Travis took Chloe's car to go buy Josie a gift. Travis made pretty good money at Kirk's, so he had a little spending money for her. He got her a plastic doll and a new nightgown, along with a new brush since hers had broken long ago. When he arrived back home lunch was ready and Josie was seated again, and Chloe was about to light the candles. Travis snuck in quietly and began singing as Clo lit the six candles on the cake.
   The cupcakes were amazing, just like all of Chloe's cooking, and josie squealed at all her presents from both of her siblings, at least the two who cared.
   Travis leaned over and kissed his little sister's head.
   "Happy Birthday, Josie."