Chapter Three - Family Drama

Jasmine was waiting for us in the lounge when we got home.

“So?” She said with a sly grin.

I grinned back and shook my head.

Jordan said, I’ve gotta finish packing. He kissed her on the forehead, then walked down the hallway to his streaming room.

Nadia said, “Ma, it started incredible. So many interesting people. We saw the new mayor sworn in. Then…It got bad. Miss Miroi died.” She hung her head after saying the last part.

I doubt Jasmine knew who Miss Miroi was, but she still rolled close to Nadia and put an arm around her to console her.

Then Jasmine said, “Now you know what it’s like. Hopefully you’ll make good money, so you don’t need to go to another election.”

“Mum says I’ll be earning more than most people in my new job. I can even get you guys over to visit.”

“What job?”

“Working with her. For the Kanine Krew.”

“What do you mean?”

“Her new boss wants young talent. I think I’ll be on their streaming shows. She said they’ll pay for enhancements and everything.”

“And what will you do?” asked Jasmine.

“I’ve only heard bad things about the Kanine Krew. They do adult stuff. You shouldn’t be working for them. You’re too young.”

She glared at Jasmine. “Gran, I’m almost fifteen.”

Maybe homeschooling hadn’t been a good idea after all? We’d taught her the best we could to be smart and a good person. But she was also naive and had little exposure to the cruel world out there.

She was a kid after all and probably didn’t know the details of what she’d be doing. I was pissed off at Sandy for getting her involved in her work, but I also understood they couldn’t live with us in a collapsing house forever.

Jasmine’s eyes narrowed, and I could tell she was getting angry. It was only a matter of time before we had drama today, and the show was about to start. I was in a no-win situation and powerless to stop it. I could tell her to calm down and trust my son and his wife to make decisions for their family’s future. Trying to calm her down always had the opposite effect and usually made her more pissed off. I kept my mouth shut and watched things play out.

“So you’ll be performing with your mum?” said Jasmine to Nadia, her face turning into a sneer.

“Ya, mum signed a contract and everything. We’ll be rich soon.”

“And your dad knows about this?”

“Ya. Why?”

Jasmine didn’t answer. Her sneer turned to a growl, and she rolled her wheelchair down the photo-lined hallway, then slammed her fist on Jordan’s door.

“What’s up, mum?”

“We need to talk”

Jordan opened the door and popped his head out. “Now what?”

“Nadia says she’ll be performing with Sandy. She has a contract.”

“Ya. Sandy couldn’t get the deal without her. They need new natural talent, and she’s the perfect fit.”

“What’s wrong with you? She’s only a kid. It’s disgusting.”

“Relax, it’s not what you think, Mum. I won’t let anything bad happen to her. Trust me.”

“Trust you? Why did you hide this from us?”

“I knew you’d make a big deal about it. They’re professionals. Like the biggest company out there. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and you’re not going to mess it up for us.”

“I can’t allow it. They’ll mutilate her and make her perform disgusting acts. It’s your job as a father to protect her.”

“I want to provide the best for my family. This is our only way out of here. I can’t keep her locked up here, away from the world her entire life.”

“Life’s not just about money and fame. Don’t you have any decency or self-respect? Selling your daughter like a pimp.”

“Now you’ve gone too far and crossed my boundaries.”

Nadia and I sat in the lounge, staying out of the drama. We were used to it and knew better than to get involved. Tears ran down her face. So much for having a pleasant last day together as a family.

“Can’t you see how disgusting it is? There are better ways to make a life for her.”

“Playing the same video game for years isn’t work, and it’s gotten you nowhere. It’s time to start living in the real world.”

“Like what? The days of full-time jobs are over. I’ve done my best to support you and Dad for the last few years, and this is what I get? This toxicity is why I can’t wait to leave.”

“I’m so disappointed that you’re abandoning your sick mother and old father to run after that whore wife of yours. After everything we’ve done for you.”

“How can we live with you when you are so condescending and disrespectful to us? This is a toxic environment, and you’re a manipulative person who pushes everyone away. We’re leaving to build a better life and get away from you. Something we should’ve done years ago.”

“You couldn’t move because you couldn’t afford to. We were good enough when you had nowhere else to go, and now you’re going to rip our family apart at the worst time. You know I won’t be around forever.”

“I won’t fall for you guilt-tripping me. I love you, Mum, but I need to be free. You can’t treat us like shit and expect us to stay.”

They both made valid points. All I wanted was peace in my family. Life’s too short for constant issues, and it’s so draining. Jasmine was on the attack as usual, and her sickness hadn’t slowed her down a bit. I didn’t agree with Jordan’s lifestyle choices, but I let him make his own decisions.

She said, “Go start your new life. Just don’t let Nadia perform with those sickos. You can’t do that to her.”

Sandy’s studio door opened. Two muscular men stepped out in matching black leather vests and shorts. Their bodies glistened with baby oil, and each carried a gym bag. Sandy walked out after them in a pink silk nightgown barely containing her breasts. Her hair was disheveled, and the immaculate makeup from earlier was smudged and running down her face.

The two men nodded and smiled at Jordan as they walked past us toward the front door, followed by Sandy. She gave each of them a hug and a kiss on their cheeks before letting them out.

The moment they were gone, she turned to Jasmine and said. “I’m done fighting with you. I want to move on and have peace in our lives. I appreciate all you’ve done for us, but life is about change and progress, and it’s time for us to move on.”

Jasmine had barely concealed her hatred for Sandy all these years and viewed her as the person responsible for ruining our son’s life. There was an element of truth to it, but you can’t hold onto the past forever.

Jasmine wasn’t having it and said, “You’re trash, and I’m happy you’re finally leaving. But I won’t let you turn my grandchild into a despicable person like you. It’s not right.

Sandy didn’t fall for the bait or raise her voice. “I’m leaving for a better life soon and hope we can make peace between us for the sake of the family. Remember, we’re Nadia’s parents and make the decisions for her. You don’t have a say in anything. You can call me a whore or whatever you like. I don’t care. I’m the one paying for your treatment and keeping the lights on. I’m making a better life for my girl so she doesn’t end up like you. Sick and old with a wasted life.”

Jasmine rolled closer to Sandy and would’ve probably slapped her if she could. Jordan saw his mother clench her fists and tremble with rage, and stepped between them.

He faced her and said, “Enough. This is why we’re leaving.”

His brow was furrowed, and I could see the pain behind his eyes. He loved his mother and wished she was soft and kind. It wasn’t in her, and the pain of her sickness only made her angrier and more bitter at the world.

He said, “I wish things were different. I wish you’d understand.”

Sandy put her arms around him and leered at Jasmine.

She said, “We don’t have time for this. Let’s grab our things and go. They walked away, leaving Jasmine fuming in the passage.