Uncle

The bus home was always something wild. The kids on the bus you had to take were always so rowdy. Sometimes there would be a fight, other times you would hear conversations regarding gossip or personal tastes.

There were a few free seats towards the back of the bus. You decided to take them. A few more students filed in and did not seem happy. They were the dickhead seniors, always causing trouble.

"Hey it's John!" the guy's face lit up, smiling at his friends.

You were confused. How did they know you?

"How do you know me?"

The guy sat down in the free seat next to you. You squash in towards the window trying to avoid shoulder to shoulder contact.

"Man, you're so scrawny compared to your brother."

Wait, how was my brother friends with people 3 years older than him?

"Get the fuck off my seat" he shouts at you.

His voice startles you. You grab your bag and jump out of the seat, and stand at the front. You only hear laughs from behind you.

"Hey Jake, look at that. Jerry was right." they scream.

Eventually, you get off at your stop and head home. As you enter, you see Uncle Ben and mum at the dinner table.

You go on to greet them before moving into your room.

Not long after, Uncle Ben enters your room.

"Hey little guy. What are you up to?"

"Nothing much, just doing some work"

"You're really working hard these days aren't you? I'm proud of you"

You thought he was being a lame uncle. As a brother of dad, he looked nothing like him. In fact, he had a very slender figure and very light and somewhat feminine voice.

"Your mum's been talking to me about your brother and you. I just want to let you know that I understand how you're feeling very well. Reminds me of your dad and me."

You never really thought of him as your dad's brother, but you noticed that they were very distant from each other.

"You and dad don't seem very close" you comment.

"We're not. We've had our differences. He's been the more stubborn one over the years." he replies. "I have to go, but if you ever need anything, just give me a ring." He passes a piece of paper in which you grab and see a mobile phone number. You put it in your drawer after he leaves.

How weird, you thought.

The rest of the day is uneventful. You finish your work for the day and get into bed. It's pretty late. Almost 2AM.

After laying in bed for half an hour, you hear a car pull up in the driveway. It must be dad, you thought. You confirm it when he makes a commotion opening and closing the front door. He comes up the stairs.