CHAPTER SIX
pure boredom

Pure boredom was a real thing, and Winnie was affected by it so much she wanted to flop on top of Dwayne ( who was reading ) and just let out weird noises in hope for some sort of entertainment. She could if she wanted to but she didnt know why she didnt do it.

Anyway, even if she saw a bug crawl across the ceiling she would feel so much happier. But there was nothing. Absolutely nothing. Not even a spider or some random butterfly or anything.

She wondered if Dwayne liked butterflies, or if he preferred moths. Maybe he was scared of bugs.

She was so so bored.

She had tried writing, drawing, coloring, doing sit ups, reading, but it was all so boring. She wanted to hang out with Olive and Edwin but they were busy rehearsing. That seemed boring too.

I want to run away to Greece.

That was her 27th place she wanted to go to. She made a list because what else are you supposed to do?

I could cry, or scream, she thought. Or I could go watch TV.

As soon as she sat up from her laying position on the floor, the door opened and she met eyes with Sheryl and who she assumed was Frank. The uncle who tried to kill himself.

She sent a polite smile and waved as the woman talked.

"Uncle Frank's here," she told Dwayne, sending Winnie a wave. "He doesn't mind frank, we talked."

The man seemed upset yet curious when he met Winnies eyes.

"That's Winnie and I'm sorry Frank but its doctors orders."

( ☀ )

Winnie felt very awkward.

She didnt know how to act around new people and she couldn't pick up on the vibe well enough to determine what to do. So she just sat in front if Dwayne in silence as him and Frank were in a conversation. Though it seemed a bit one-sided. You know, with the whole no talking thing.

Her notepad began to dig in her skin so she took it out from her waistband and placed it underneath her thigh.

"You got a girlfriend?" Frank asked, making Winnie look up to see Dwaynes reaction. He just shook his head no, avoiding eye contact with the girl in front of him. "Boyfriend?"

Dwayne looked at the man with pure annoyance on his face making Winnie bite her lip to contain her smile.

"What about you? Winnie is it?" he asked her.

Her eyes widened and it was Dwaynes turn to look at her reaction.

She nodded her head and he asked the question again. .about the boyfriend and girlfriend thing. She shook her head no.

"So who do you guys hang out with?" he asked, assuming they had more friends.

Dwayne pulled out his notepad and wrote before showing it to him.

Just Winnie.

Her cheeks got red when she saw.

"Do you not have other friends?"

I hate everyone.

"What about your family?"

That prompted him to underline everyone.

"Frank hey!" Richard said, walking into the room.

Dwayne rolled his eyes before sharing an annoyed look with Winnie. They did not like his stepdad.

"Richard. . .good to see you," Frank replied.

It really wasn't good to see him. So Winnie found herself zoning everything out again. Even when Sheryl placed a water bottle down in front of her instead of giving her sprite with everyone else. She hated the carbonation.

"So Sheryl, I couldn't help but notice Dwayne had stopped speaking."

Dwayne and Winnie shared a look. Wow I didnt even realize he stopped speaking, she thought, smiling to herself. How funny.

"Oh yeah, he's taken a vow of silence," she explained, a laugh escaping past her lips. "He's gonna join the air force Academy and become a test pilot and he's taken a vow of silence until he reaches that goal. Winnie decided to do it to for encouragement."

"You're kidding."

"Hi Uncle Frank," Olive said when she walked into the room.

"Oh hey olive you're getting big. . .like a real person."

She noticed his bandages on his arms and looked confused as she sat in the extra chair next to Winnie. "What happened to your arms?"

"I had a little accident," he replied. "I'm okay though."

"How's your routine coming honey?" Richard asked Olive. "When you going to show it to us?"

"I don't know, it's up to grandpa."

Winnie looked up to Edwin and they shared a nod of acknowledgment.

"A couple of days, it still needs work," the older man said. "What, is that chicken?! Every night it's the fucking chicken holy god almighty! Is it possible for just once we can get something to eat for dinner around here thats not the goddamn fucking chicken?"

"Dad!"

"I'm just saying-"

"Dad!"

Winnie sighed and ate her chicken quietly while they conversed. She wasn't supposed to stay for dinner, Dwayne asked her to and she did as he asked.

She should've stayed home.

She stared at her plate while she ate only picking up on the words 'Dwayne' and 'dream' coming out of Richards mouth.

"How did it happen?" Olive asked making Winnie tune into the conversation.

"Olive, Uncle Frank didn't really have an
accident." Sheryl spoke. "What happened was.....he tried to kill himself."

Ope, Winnie thought averting her eyes but still listening in.

"You did? Why?" Olive asked.

"I'm sorry, I don't think this is an appropriate
conversation." Richard interrupted.

"Why did you want to kill yourself?" Olive
continued ignoring Richard.

"I wanted to kill myself-" Frank tried to finish but Richard interrupted yet again.

"He's a sick man, he's sick in the head."

Winnie felt her chest closing in on her and she had no idea why. All she could do was sit there and glare at Richard as if it would fix anything.

"Well I tried to kill myself because someone I
loved didn't love me back," Frank continued.

"Who?" Olive asked.

"One of my grad students. I was very much in
love with him." Frank replied.

"Him? You fell in love with a boy? That's
silly," Olive stated.

Winnie found herself pushing away the feeling of her aching chest and pulled out her notepad to write.

"Very silly," he said, watching Winnie as she frantically wrote.

What did it feel like?

Everyone read her words and looked at frank.

"What did what feel like?" he asked.

Falling in love.

"Maybe we should let him finish his story first Win," Sheryl smiled and Winnie nodded understandingly.

"It felt terrible," Frank answered quickly before continuing his story.

He went on about losing his
house and the number one title and how he
ended up in the hospital.

"But it wasn't all bad," He said.

"But Olive you should understand that Uncle
Frank gave up on himself. He made a series of
foolish choices which is something that
winners never do," Richard told her.

That's bullshit, Winnie thought as she shared an annoyed look with the boy in front of her.

She kicked his shin and he glared at her, kicking her back. She smiled mockingly at him and kicked him again.

"You know there was actually a message from
Cindy on the machine. Something about a
Little Miss Sunshine," Richard spoke making the two teens stop and look at him.

"Little Miss Sunshine?" Olive yelled running
over to the answering machine as quickly as she could.

Without warning Olive rang a high pitched
scream causing everyone to cover their ears.

"I won I won I won I won!" She yelled
running through the house.

Winnie watched as the two parents talked and began to raise their voices. How entertaining.

She looked at Dwayne and smiled softly before a box of popsicles were placed in front of her making her jump.

"Alright Ill drive the bus," Richard spoke.

"Richard I was told explicitly not to leave Frank by himself," Sheryl replied.

"Well we can't go then unless they come with us," Richard said, pointing at Dwayne and Frank.

Winnie wanted to curl up in a ball.

Dwayne began shaking his head.

"Frank," Sheryl said.

"Okay," the man replied.

Dwayne just shook his head faster.

"Oh Dwayne come on this is your sister," sheryl sighed.

Dwayne looked at Winnie, who was staring at the popsicles in front of her and began writing.

This isn't fair all I ask is that you leave me alone.

It was quiet as Sheryl thought before she got an idea.

"Dwayne, flight school. I'll give you permission for flight school."

Winnie watched him think. . .it was his dream, he had to say yes. So she smiled when he banged the table and held out his hand. They shook hands and the deal was settled.

But i'm not going to have any fun.

"Are you wanting to go Winnie? We'll very much like you there," Sheryl asked making Dwayne look up in hope.

I'll ask.

( note. )
long chapter and then short one bc idk