A Family At Odds

1 year earlier: May 27, 2013


It’s been said the best family secrets are kept from hurting those around you. In my case the secrets were kept from me. My name is Nick Carrington 18, 6’2, 198 lbs , with medium length red hair and blue eyes. It was three days until the last day of my senior year and to my surprise I was home alone. I was out of smokes and thought I’d see if my parents had any in their room. I went to check around. Looking through their side tables by their bed , the dresser, even their closet, but never found what I was looking for. I stood at the foot of the bed and thought for a moment. Knowing how sneaky they were it came to me to look under the bed. I went to my dad’s side of the bed. I got down on my knees and lifted the cover that was draped on the side. I smiled when I noticed his carton, but what caught my eye was a metal cash box. I took a pack of smokes along with the cash box. I sat Indian style on the floor by the bed and notice the lock on the metal box. I knew a little on how to pick locks from my best friend Dwight ( I will tell you about him later). I had a paper clip that was always on me just incase I needed it. I pulled the paperclip from my back pocket and shaped it. I looked at the lock real well and started. It took awhile to open the safe box, but finally open I looked at all the paper work that was inside. There were documents about his business and some about his holdings in the stock market. I knew he was loaded but damn he was overloaded. I came to a envelope that showed the words Department of Child Adoption. My eyes grew wide reading those four words. I checked the time to make sure I wouldn’t get caught. Their clock showed 4 p.m. so I knew there was time for me to read what was in the envelope. Pulling the envelope open I took the document inside out and started reading.

What I read hand me floored and in shock. I found out that my real parents were none other then my Uncle Gray and my Aunt Tessa. I didn’t know how to feel except upset. I kept reading to find out there was a mutual understanding that I would never be told. I stopped reading and sat there in my thoughts wondering what the hell and why would they have me adopted. I went back to reading and seems I was adopted at the age of 3 months old. I couldn’t read anymore, but placed the paper back in the envelope and folded it up to put in my back pocket. I placed everything back in the box and locked it. Placing it back under the build where it was. I left what now I knew wasn’t my real parents room and went to mine. With my bedroom windows open I took a smoke out of the pack and lit it with my zippo. The same zippo that my Uncle or birth father Gray gave me two months ago on my birthday. With cigarette between my lips I sat on the edge of my bed thinking. All these years of knowing four people you loved to find out they hid a big secret from me. Even my sister’s were not of my blood. I knew my so called ‘ mom ‘ was a sister to my so called ‘ aunt ‘. I didn’t know how to get the truth out of any of them at this moment. I took a puff off my cigarette and held it between my thumb and index finger on my right hand. I noticed the time on my clock on the side of my bed and it showed 5 p.m. Shortly everyone would be home from their jobs. Let me describe who after all these years I thought was my family. Karl Carrington 50, 6’1 210 lbs, short blonde hair with blue eyes, Gail Carrington 45, 5’10, 167 lbs, long red hair with hazel eyes, Sasha Carrington 24, 5’9, 162 lbs, long blondish red hair with blue eyes, and then Lucy Carrington 23, 5’10, 159 lbs, long sandy blonde hair, with hazel blue eyes. Like I said I thought they were my true family , but after what I found things felt different to me now.


With my windows open I heard car doors open and shut. Voices were heard coming through my window. My bedroom was over the living room so the windows faced the street. I got up to look out and saw all four of them walking up to the front door to come in the house. I still didn’t know what to do with the information I held in my back pocket. I let out a deep sigh and went back to the edge of my bed and sat. I heard foot steps in the hallway , but stayed where I was. I didn’t know if my eyes could look at them the same. What caused my birth parents to give me up. Let me describe the two I thought was my Uncle and Aunt. Gray Covington 75, 6’3, 215 lbs, long red hair and blues eyes, Tessa Covington 45, 5’10, 175 lbs, long blonde hair and hazel eyes. They have two daughters Shelby 22, 5’8, 162 lbs, long auburn red hair, and Lisa 23, 5’9, 169 lbs, long blonde hair with red streaks, green eyes. Gray was leader and member of his own Biker club. Tessa was a successful lawyer and never hardly lost a case. They were good people, but still never knew why they would give me away. I’m not saying Karl and Gail didn’t take good care of me raising me like they did, but it’s just the why that never left my mind. I guess being deep in thought I didn’t hear the knock on my bedroom door, or the person that sat next to me.

I felt a hand on my shoulder and turned my head to notice Gail ( Who is now my aunt to me god this was going to be confusing now) sitting by me. She had her normal smile on her face looking at me. She asked how my day went and all I said was it was ok. I don’t know if she picked up on the way it came out , but all she said was that is good. She asked what would sound good for supper. My eyes met hers and I responded saying I wasn’t all that hungry. She must of thought something was up , because the next thing that came out of her mouth was of concern. She asked what was wrong all I could do was shrug my shoulders and tell her again my stomach just wasn’t up for food. She gave me a motherly look which made me cringe inside for I knew she wasn’t my real mother. She told me maybe I needed to lay down and take a nap. My response was telling her no that maybe some air would be better. Gail said ok but not to be out to late since it was a school night. I replied saying ok and she gave me a hug in which I returned but not a hug my arms usually gave. She got up and left my room. After I heard her footsteps hit the stairs to go down I reached for my cell phone and texted my best from Dwight. Dwight and I grew up together. In fact I stood up for him against a bully everyone called Eight Pack ( E.P. for short). Dwight Andrews is 18 same age as me. 6’0, 185 lbs, short black hair and he is African american. He has a sister named Savannah she was 20, 5’10, 170 lbs, long black hair with blue eyes which was rare. She was my beautiful girlfriend and loving. I sent him a text.

Me: Hey man you busy?

It was a few minutes later he text me back.

Dwight: Just working out with E.P. and Jax. Why what’s up bro?

Me: Nothing much. Hey is it ok if I come over for awhile?

Dwight: Bro you know you don’t have to ask get over here.

Me: Ok on my way. And coming on my bike.

Dwight: Sweet see you soon.

I grabbed my bike keys, wallet , cell phone and helmet. Went out of my room and down the stairs. Once in the living room Sasha and Lucy asked me where I was going. I told them over to Dwight’s and be back later. They both gave me a odd look which I shrugged off and went out the front door. On my bike which was a 92 kawasaki Vulcan. Gray helped me get it for my birthday. So I guess he was there for me at that time. Just wish I knew the truth I hate secrets all they do is hurt someone or the people around you. With my helmet on and the kickstand up I backed my bike out into the street and started it up. I revved it up a few times and then kicked it in gear. I rode down the street and on my way to Dwight’s. It was 5:45 p.m. when I left what has been my home for years. Which now only felt strange to be in. The ride felt refreshing as I pulled up in front of Dwight’s 10 minutes later. With my bike parked and kickstand down I took my helmet off and placed it on the right handle bar and grabbed my keys getting off. Dwight, E.P., and Jax were coming out of his garage and walking over to me. We shook hands and half hugged. E.P is 19 at 6’3, 225 lbs, short black hair also African american. Jax is 18 , 6’2, 205 lbs, short blonde curly hair. Us four have been best of friends for years. We train and work out together daily after supper, but today they wanted a early start as they told me. They walked me in the garage and we started our work out. After the day I stood up to E.P. he changed his out look on life. He noticed it was better to help those smaller then him then bully them. So since then the past 5 years we work out and train together. We spar in the yard getting our techniques to where no one can just take us down without a fight.


Dwight was spotting me on the weights while E.P. held the punching bag for Jax. We would switch after thirty minutes at a time so to keep our bodies going. Dwight asked me why I came over. There was a hint of concern in his voice that I stopped my work out. E.P. and Jax even stopped to listen. I sat up on the weight bench and lowered my head. Dwight stepped in front of me as my other two friends came over standing on either side of him. I gave out a sigh and reached into my back pocket and pulled the envelope out. I just stared at it and handed it to Dwight. His Dad was a attorney also as Tessa was , so Dwight knew a little of the law. He pulled the paper in the envelope out and started to read it. E.P. and Jax also read it over Dwight’s shoulders. After a few moments all their eyes went wide and jaws dropped. E.P. and Jax gave me a shocked look and I nodded my head. Dwight read it over again then handed the envelope with document inside back to me. Dwight shook his head and sat in front of me. I knew right then he was upset along with E.P. and Jax.


” So Nick bro what you going to do?” Dwight asked very concerned

” I have no earthly idea man. You three know I hate secrets shit us four don’t keep any from each other.” I exclaimed whole heartedly

” You got that right why keep secrets they just hurt.” Jax chimed in responding to my words

” Nick that document is totally fucked up. I mean damn why does birth parents have their kid adopted to relatives at that age. I would understand if your real parents were dead , but it seems their not.” E.P. tells me irritated


” I know E.P. bro , but I have no clue how to bring it out in the open.” I was telling them with a sad expression

All three thought of how I could get the truth. Sitting there on the bench watching my three best buddies thinking made me start thinking. It was a few minutes later Dwight spoke saying that the only thing he knew was wait until a moment shows it’s self. He then added maybe catch them off guard or wait until everyone is in the same room. I gave him a look that he saw and nodded. I thought about it and decided to go with what he said. Jax also exclaimed that if things come to worse I had a place to stay since all their parents cared for me like I was their son. E.P. and Dwight agreed. I gave them a small grin in agreeing also. I asked Dwight where Savannah was and he answered telling me she was at Yvonne’s staying the night. Yvonne was Dwight’s girlfriend , she was 19, 5’9, 165 lbs, with long black hair and Asian. We all four got back to our work out and training. it was awhile later my cell went off and I pulled it out of my front left pocket and seen it was a text. The text was from Gail and I let out a sigh. It read it was getting late and I had school tomorrow. I showed Dwight and he just shook his head. I looked at the time on my cell and it showed 10 p.m. I gave My friends that were like brothers to me a hug and left for home after.


Once home I was given the riot act by my so called parents that I should of been home for supper or I should of called home. I just agreed to get them off my back about it all.