Family Tragedy

Jack and Kelly had always been normal siblings. They grew up five years apart so they didn’t have much in common but they still found a way to get along despite that. Their parents were middle class but always made sure they gave their kids everything they ever needed. Kelly was now 19 and off at her first year of college and Jack was married with a baby on the way. The two siblings lived on opposite sides of the country and usually only spoke when they were both at home together.

Kelly was in her dorm room studying when the call came in. She actually dropped the phone when her dad told her that her mother had passed away suddenly from a stroke. She cried for over an hour with her dad doing his best to be strong and try to comfort her. She bought a plane ticket home as soon as she was off the phone and didn’t sleep the entire night.

When she touched down in her hometown late the next night she was emotionally drained and dead tired. Jack and his wife were there to pick her up and they had long hugs in the airport while Kelly fought back more tears. Her brother was being strong for her but was obviously just as broken up about their mother’s passing. They made small talk on the drive to parent’s house and Kelly was happy that her sister in law spent most of the time talking about her pregnancy as she couldn’t find any words of her own.

When they arrived at the house Kelly found her dad on the couch and just sat down and held him while they both cried. Jack got his wife settled and did some cleaning around the kitchen to try and help out.

After a few hours her dad fell asleep on the couch so Kelly got up and went into the kitchen. She saw her brother helping out like he always did. She grabbed a tissue to blow her nose and Jack turned to her and gave her a brave smile

“How’s it going kiddo?”.
“Oh I guess as good as it’s going to be… you?”
“I miss her a lot. It’s so weird being in the house without her” Jack said with a big sigh. “I’m so glad you’re here… you look so much like her”

Jack looked his little sister over as she blew her nose again. She had soft brown hair just like their mother and so many features of her face were the same. Kelly had just thrown on a pair of jeans and a tank top before getting on the plane and it didn’t do much to hide her white bra. Jack smirked.

“What is it?” Kelly asked curiously.
“Oh nothing. I was just remembering how mom would yell at you whenever your bra was showing”

A little smile crept over Kelly’s face “ya, she always said a woman should be properly covered up. She was always so carefully dressed” she remembered thinking about how her mother’s outfits were chosen to be ultra conservative. At the first sign that one of her tops or bras might be getting stretched out she would toss it and go shopping. She had such a particular way about her.

Jack thought about his mother too and how she always seemed to have every last button done up just right. As a child he would be shocked to go to one of his friend’s homes where their moms wouldn’t be shy about showing a little cleavage.