Tales of the New World Chapter 5: Runt of the Litter

                Unlucky, that was the word that best described him. As Tyler lay on his back he stared grimly at his ceiling tracing the cracks as they ran through connecting with other cracks that spread in a web pattern. Streams of light poured through his window covering the room in a striped pattern from the blinds. It was morning but he didn’t want to get up and face the day, face his life. Then his room shook. He grumbled turning over in his bed. It shook again. He pulled a large pillow over his face to block out the noise. It shook one more time now with the force of an earthquake and he had to grab his headboard to keep himself from falling off. He looked on in anger as his dresser fell over and his bookshelf stuffed with comics, dvd’s and anything else a sixteen year old boy might have crashed to the ground.

                “I’m UP!” he shouted. “For Christ’s sake I’m up!”

                Then he heard the familiar crunch as pieces of drywall fell onto him from the ceiling and he could see more cracks appear adding to the web pattern. Suddenly his room was flooded with the light of day except for one singular shadow that draped over him.

                “Mom says it’s time for breakfast.” Said Sammy the youngest daughter of the Walters household, she was only five but still she towered over him and his room when she stood on her tiptoes.

                “Okay!” he spat irritated. “Just let me get dressed first.”

                “Righty-O, little bro!” she chimed before unceremoniously dropping his ceiling down with a hard thud. Suddenly a rain of dry wall fell covering him, his bed, and virtually everything else in a thin layer of itchy crust. Ryan hated when she woke him up she was considerably less gentle than his other sisters.

                Tyler quickly got dressed putting on a pair of swim trunks and a loose fitting black tank top grateful it was the weekend and he didn’t have to bother getting dressed for school. After putting on a pair of ankle socks he headed for the door. He turned and looked back at his room. It was a mess. In the course of thirty seconds his sister had managed to completely trash it. Her wake-up call had created a carnage that would take him hours to clean. And would anyone help? No. He reached down to pick up a collector’s edition pewter dragon he had sniped off an auction on Ebay. The left wing had snapped in two. Yes unlucky was the perfect word indeed.

                Christine Walters busied herself with the eggs. Each one of her five children preferred them in a different style and being a good mother she took the time to make each. For Megan two eggs raw in a glass of milk. Her little athlete always went for a morning jog and needed something she could eat on the go; easy enough. For Lauren sunny side with plenty of red pepper, she was just like her father in so many ways. Sam got scrambled mixed with everything but the kitchen sink and just a dash of honey for sweetness. Emily was home for once so she got her eggs poached with just a dot of ketchup. For Tyler one tiny hardboiled egg simmering in a miniscule pot in the corner of her electric stove. She fished out a pair of tweezers she kept in her apron at all times and gingerly place it on a normal sized plate for him to enjoy. When she was finally finished she took a deep breath.

                “Breakfast’s ready!” She shouted in her standard sugary tone.

                Immediately her children flooded the downstairs kitchen. Megan of course was first.

                “Thanks mom!” she said downing the whole drink in one swig before rushing out the door for her jog.

                Next was sweet little Sammy. She rushed over to hug her mother around the leg.

                “Good morning angel.” Christine smiled. “Did you get your brother up?”

                “Yes!” she chirped brightly.’

                “Are you hungry?”

                “Yes!” she repeated with a grin. Christine could see the gap in her mouth from a baby tooth that had fallen out a week ago.

                “Then go eat!” Suddenly Sammy squealed rushing over to her seat at the table.

                Then Lauren and Emily emerged from upstairs.

                “Hey mom.” Lauren grumbled eyes half dead. She wasn’t a morning person just like her father. She grabbed her plate and a glass of orange juice. Once she sat down she immediately buried her face in her tablet checking on the day’s news.

                Then she was embraced from behind and lifted up in a hug.

                “Good morning mom!” Emily beamed placing her back down.

                Christine smiled looking up at her oldest daughter. It was always a pleasure to see her. She was often so busy and never seemed to have the time to live in her own house.

                “Thank you.” Christine said looking up.

                “For what?” her daughter smiled down.

                “For letting us stay here.” Her mother elaborated. The family house was still being remodeled and it would take another three months at least.

                “Please mom I have plenty of room.” Emily bent down to pick up her plate and took her seat at the table for some reason laying her chest on the top.

                Now only Tyler was missing. As if on cue a small ding was heard in the kitchen. On the counter next to the sink two metal doors opened up and out emerged Tyler her pride and joy. She reached over extending a hand for him to climb up on causing him to instinctively recoil. He looked at her and she could see the apprehension in his face.

                “It’s okay honey?” she reassured. She couldn’t blame him she was the last in the family to elevate. For the longest time it was just him and her living in their old home while the family bunked at Emily’s. Then one evening less than a month ago she elevated. In the night while they both slept a sudden wave of heat surged through her body and it expanded almost instantly flattening half the house with it. She had been grateful his room was on the other side and they had even managed to salvage it from the wreckage. Now she looked down on him like everyone else in the family and the bond that hand been so close seemed to widen every time he saw her. She could tell he felt betrayed.

 He cautiously took a step onto her hand and she used her index finger to help him up. She knew he didn’t like that he was now shorter than even her fingers but she couldn’t help but smile a little. She enjoyed having her little man in her hands were he was safe and protected. Plus he was just so adorable like when he was a baby. She chuckled before giving him a light kiss on the forehead before placing him on the table. Then she went to grab her own plate of eggs a simple scramble with onions and spinach and went to eat breakfast herself.

                Tyler sat with his legs crossed next to his mother the top half of his head covered in her saliva. He peeled the shell of his egg and took a bite as he watched his family go about their meal. His mom went all out, not only had she made each of them their favorite egg dish but in the middle of the table was a large platter containing a giant stack of pancakes and waffles. There was also bacon, apple slices, toast, and a large picture of orange juice arranged around it. If everyone where still normal it would have been enough food to feed the entire family for a year. He wasn’t sure where to start first. He rose to his feet and all at once every member of his family stopped what they were doing and focused on him. Well everyone except Lauren who was still deep into her tablet.

                This is what Tyler hated the most. It was hard enough being the only man in a family of women. It was made even harder when every single one of them elevated to the giant class 2, but none of that truly bothered him, at least not as much as the way they all acted around him. Even his mother who was with him the longest now treated him like he was made of glass.

                “What do you want little guy?” Emily asked.

                “Need anything honey?” went his mom.

                “You can eat off my plate.” Sammy informed.

                Even Lauren who was normally aloof took a minute to peak away from her tablet to check on him. It was so annoying.

                “Just let him be!” said a new voice. It wasn’t very loud and went almost unheard.

                “What?” Emily asked her cleavage.

                “None of you realize just how obnoxious your being.” A woman emerged from Emily’s robe. She was in what looked to be her late twenties, had red hair tied back into a ponytail, and was dressed in blue pajama’s with purple ponies and rainbows on it. She looked tired like she hadn’t slept much. The woman slumped toward the platter of bacon ripping a piece off to nibble at.

                “Emily!” Christine said her voice suddenly harsh. “You didn’t tell me Mary was visiting.” Her face immediately switched from scolding to sweet as she went to address the tiny women. She always liked seeing Mary. Besides being Emily’s best friend the woman had been a huge help in the moving process and helping the family cope with their new elevated status as well as managing Emily’s celebrity career. As far as Christine was concerned their hospitality was the least she deserved.  

                “Can I get you anything dear?”

                Mary’s face was unreadable. She shook her head as she continued to peck on her piece of bacon. “When I need something I get it myself.” She walked over to Tyler placing a hand on his shoulder. “Right Tyler?”

                He smiled happy to have someone understand him. “Right.” He agreed before heading toward the pancakes. He grab at a piece with hand. It took considerable effort but he managed to yank off a piece twice the size of his fist. He looked on to inspect his handiwork to see his portion wasn’t even a corner of the pancake as a whole. It was personally amazing. He was learning in school that radiation from the sun was making food grow to insane sizes but it was humbling to see the result in such a common way.

                For the moment the family just sat and ate enjoying each other’s company. Tyler sat in front of the pancakes just observing and listening to idle chit chat. Lauren was going on about how Tolli manufacturing stock had increased yet again, Emily seemed locked in some rather serious conversation with her secretary, and mom was busy cutting Sam’s waffle and listening to her talk about how she was going on a field trip to see the Hensen crater and hoped she could sit next to Ryan a rare class 2 boy the family knew.

                Suddenly the side door burst open. It was Megan back from her jog. As she stood for a moment jogging in place Tyler was certain only he and Mary could feel the tremors from her foot falls.

                “How was your run sweetie?” his mom asked.

                “It was…good.” She answered before taking a seat at the last remaining spot on the table. She was right in front of Tyler and could see the bead of sweat glisten on her body and her soaked sports bra cling to her chest.

                “What are you looking at squirt?” she asked staring down at him with a smile. Tyler didn’t know why but he liked her the most. Maybe it was because they were so close in age her beating him by two years but she seemed to treat him the most like a person. She brushed him aside with her wrist causing him to slide across the slick wooden table and into Sammy’s hand as she went to reach for three pancakes including the one he’d just ripped a piece from.

                “Megan!” his mom gasped. “You need to be mindful of your brother!” she chastised.

                Sammy laughed. “Hey that looks like fun!” Before Tyler could react she pressed two stubby fingers into his chest pinning him before sliding him across the table once more. He continued at a much faster velocity right past another plate he tried to reach a hand out to grab it and maybe stop himself but he was going too fast and inertia caused him to spin around in circles before finally idling in front of Lauren.

                “Sammy don’t do that!” Christine warned.

                “But Megan did it.” The young girl defended.

                Lauren for her part hadn’t been paying attention and absentmindedly slid her cup of juice over to make room for her tablet. She was startled by her hand bumping into something but it was too late and Tyler was sent flying once more.

                “See even Lauren’s doing it!” Sammy whined.

                Now going even faster Tyler slid across the table in a blur no longer certain where he would end up next. Then his collided with something soft and warm. He was surrounded on two sides by warm pliable material and his face turned red when he realized where he was.

                Emily blushed as she fished her brother from her prominent cleavage. She looked down and could see he was just as embarrassed. He stared up at her nervous as her hand loomed over him. She’d seen him sliding across the table and was excited it was now her turn. She looked to see her mother glare at her with disapproval but she didn’t care. It wasn’t fair everyone else got a turn. She couldn’t hide the mischievous smile from her face.

                “Remember that time you put worms in my shampoo bottle?”

                Tyler in fact did remember. It was a harmless prank and over five years ago. Still he couldn’t help but laugh at the memory of her scream when she went to shower that morning.

                “Maybe?” he said playing coy.

                “Well consider this.” She pressed her index finger against her thumb.

                “Please sis, you wouldn’t.”

                “Payback.” She flicked him softly yet with enough force to send him clear across the long side of the table and into his mother’s waiting hands. She immediately gripped him tight in her fingers.

                “Are you okay sweetie.”

                “Please mom he’s fine.” Megan defended. “We were just having a little fun.” She put special emphasis on the little.

                “I’m very disappointed in all of you.” Christine snapped.

                Tyler’s face turned red in anger and embarrassment as Megan, Sam, and Emily laughed at their little game. He turned and could see even Lauren trying to hide a smirk. He’d played pranks on most of them when he was younger and he was sure they had enjoyed their little bit of revenge. Over protective one minute and patronizing bullies the next, why was his family so infuriating? When his mom finally decided to put him down he marched to the center of the table to retrieve his plate. He sat and munched on it with angry bites.

                “You guys are assholes!” He shouted. Everyone at the table recoiled slightly at his outburst.

“Sorry!” His four sisters said in unison. All at once they reached toward him and stroked him with their fingers in apology.

He just sighed knowing it was pointless to stay angry. He considered his situation. The one normal male in a family dominated by class 2 elevated women. He snickered unlucky was absolutely the perfect word.

                After breakfast Tyler waited for his mom to finish the dishes so he could be placed back on the counter and take the elevator back to the second floor and his room. It was exasperating having to wait for someone and he silently wished they would install a bridge or latter so he could walk around the kitchen more freely. Unfortunately dad was in charge of projects like that and he was currently overseas helping with some construction work for a wedding. Tyler had heard about it on the news and apparently is was a big deal. Megan seemed to sense his unease and soon Tyler found himself slowly rising into the air plucked by her thumb and index finger. With just as much care she carried him over to the counter and gently set him next to his door.

                Tyler was taken off guard but the sudden kind gesture. “Thanks.” He said with a tad of apprehension. He was still a little wary thanks to the previous rough treatment. He knew they were just having fun and he was in no real danger but that didn’t stop it from being scary or prevent his body from instinctively going into fight or flight by her presence.

                “Sorry squirt.” She said anxiously rubbing the back of her neck. “You know we’d never hurt you right? It’s just been so long since you’ve joined us like that, we wanted to have a little fun.”

                “I know.” He stated. “It’s just that-“ he stopped.

                “What?” Megan inquired.

                “I’m scared.” Tyler admitted. “I’m scared of everything, and everyone. Do you remember what it was like before you elevated?”

                Megan had to think back. She was the first one to elevate in the family and when she had it was still pretty new. Before that she’d only seen other class 2’s on the news so there was a degree of separation.

                “I guess I can’t really relate.” She gave him a somber smile.

                “It’s not you or them.” He said pointing to his family. ‘Here I know I’m safe but outside or at school.” He paused again shaking a little. “Last week a girl spent all of third quarter under another girls butt!”

                Megan recoiled raising an eyebrow at the new information.

                “It was an accident and the girl was a class 1 so she was fine but, anyone else would of died just because a student decided not to watch were she was sitting.” Tyler told his sister. She stared back completely focused on the story. “And I’ve been.” He stopped again catching himself. He wasn’t going to admit what was happening to him at school.

                “It’s okay Tyler.” Megan tried to reassure. “They have rules and stuff to protect you normals and you could ask mom to maybe transfer you to one of those schools or something.”

                Tyler winced at the thought of one of the schools for normal humans. They weren’t bad but most promoted an anti-elevated agenda plus he didn’t want to leave his friends many of whom were elevated themselves.

                “No, I don’t think I want to do that.”

                Megan sighed. She wasn’t sure what to say. She wasn’t smart like Lauren or compassionate like Emily. She saw her brother and cared for him but it was hard to see him as a person at least not the way she defined it now. How could she tell him it was safe and that he could still have a life when a large part of her just wanted to shove him in a box and keep him under her bed where he’d be protected?

                “I don’t know what to say squirt. It’s tough for you and it’s only going to get tougher.” She placed a finger on his head moving it in small circles. “But you’re a tough kid I know you can handle it. You can go anywhere when you graduate. There are still plenty of places where you can live a good life, and plenty of things you can do. So people can fly now, so some people are giants, so some people can move superfast and shoot lasers from their eyes.”

                Tyler rolled his eyes at his sister obvious exaggeration.

                “Don’t let it stop you.” She continued leaning down to look at him eye to eye. “And remember you have a whole family of giants ready to stomp flat anyone who messes with you.” She ended the statement with a toothy grin.

                Tyler looked at her feeling strangely better. It wasn’t the best pep talk but he couldn’t find it in himself to feel so bad anymore. He decided Megan was definitely his favorite sister. He walked back toward the door and entered the elevator. As it closed he saw Megan sticking her tongue out at him and scrunching her face in a sour look. Maybe he was luckier than he thought.