Osmin was in the kitchen, making some Mac and cheese for his 419 siblings, one whom was at work and the other 418 being too young for even first grade. He was only 16, and his dad was too much of a bum to even get up after their mom died due to the Blot Illness. He and his sister, Oona, have been handling everything since. His sister oona works long hours to pay the bills and keep the house running, Osmin sends his younger siblings to kindergarten every day while he goes to school, then comes home and takes care of them, and then does a night shift once they’re all asleep. Not an ideal teenager life, but they had to make it work.

He gave all 418 of his younger siblings a plate of the Mac n cheese, plating some for himself last and saving the rest for his sister when she gets home. He sat on the floor as his siblings sat at the table or any chair so they wouldn’t have to sit on the floor. He ate slowly, thinking of how life would be if his mom didn’t die. He let out a sigh and mumbled to himself,

“I miss you, Mom. . .”