The first year I attended University was the year I met Diedrich, Penthea, Toya and Reem. It was almost too much for me, but I can’t imagine not knowing them, it wouldn’t feel right, there was no ‘what ifs’, there was only us. That year I came home looking for peace. I had spent a grueling four and a half months under Reem’s constant pranks and whims, Diedrich’s inexcusable excuse that when I wanted Reem to stop victimizing me, I would and that at the moment I was being masochistic. “I am not! Why would I want to be humiliated and tormented by him? He won’t listen!”
“When you no longer want Reem around, he will no longer be around.” Diedrich said sternly. I was surprised at his sudden change of mood but knew it was best I keep my complaints to myself for the most part.
Penthea helped me through those months with love and affection that I was sure to my very core, was desire for me. She consoled me about the other’s, enlightened me to a different view of their characters, (the one I was going for was some form of Anime re-enacted to fit real lives) and showed me that Diedrich was able to see past obvious judgment and only interfered when it was necessary. Toya was detached and independent in her nature but if she really didn’t like you, she would have disposed of you a while ago. When it came to Reem, Penthea just smiled and said I would have to stick around to understand, and if after I still didn’t understand, I wasn’t suppose to be here in the first place.
When I was finally in my room and my bags were scattered around me, Sarah and Ryan were at my door curious to see what changes I had undergone while away.
“You look thinner.” Sarah noted. She did a 360 around me and then sat on my bed in front of me. “Have you been eating well?”
“I eat three meals a day when I can.”
“Any girlfriends?” Ryan asked as he began rummaging through my bags.
“Why are you going through my bags?”
“Looking for gifts. You usually get those after long absences and special occasions, in which case we get two because A, it’s the Christmas holidays, and B, you’ve been gone for a long absence.”
“Ah well point taken, however you will find nothing but dirty socks and study papers in there and there, that one too. Ryan don’t you have something better to do?”
“That’s a no to the girlfriend Ryan.” Sarah commented at which pointed Ryan stood and sat beside her, looking at me quizzically.
“What now?” I asked. I knew my siblings too well to know that they weren’t going to leave me alone even if I offered cash to go away.
“We want you to tell us about University.”
“I need to sit down.”
They watched me walk across the room to my old desk and sink sulkily into my desk chair. Patiently they waited as I made myself comfortable; turning this way and that, putting my legs atop my desk, one cross the other, until finally I gave up and leaned back eyes closed and muttered, “Ask away.”
