Jack’s Pile by C.A. Vileta

“Jekkie… You buttoned your shirt wrong.” I sighed as I approached the little boy wearing his misbuttoned shirt. Jekkie laughed and started to pick my nose. I had to huff his finger away, causing him to squeal in mock distaste before laughing to himself.

“Ready for school?” I asked him enthusiastically. He took his bag and held my hand. I ruffled his hair and grabbed my own school bag before turning to the girl in her pajamas sitting by the dining table.

The girl was very sleepy. Her name was Janine and she was three years younger than I was.

“Remember, keep the door locked. Food is in the fridge. All you have to do is heat it up. Mom’s meds are in the cupboard and…”

“…she’ll take it three times a day, I know, Jack.” She said in the middle of a huge yawn. Rubbing her eyes, she looked at me and smiled sleepily before giving me a lazy thumbs up.

“Alright. I’ll check on your homework when I get back. Bye.” I led Jekkie out of the apartment and waited to hear Janine lock the door behind us, before carrying Jekkie down the steps to the front door as it was too steep for his legs.

Jekkie and I would go to school while the others were left behind at home. Jekkie was on his last year of kindergarten while I was on my third year in college. Our other siblings had to stop schooling because we could not afford much anymore since Dad died five months ago at the construction site collapse. I tutor them instead. The only reason why I was still studying was because I was an academic scholar. Jekkie continued also because his was the cheapest at the moment.

I had just dropped Jekkie off to his class when I saw an angry Kylie stomping towards me in the school hallway. She was a constant pain in the arse. But, it could not be helped. It must be really hard and stressful to be editor-in-chief of the school paper.

“Jack!” She called to me as she struggled to carry a bunch of filled folders tucked underneath her arm. I stopped and waited, adjusting the position of the straps of my backpack on my shoulders.

“Where are those photos? We need to finish everything by Tuesday! I better have them on my desk by the end of the day.” She stormed off. “Want help with those folders?” I called as I started to catch up to her. She just raised her hand and dismissed my offer before disappearing around the corner.

Before my first period after lunch, Janine texted me that she already fetched Jekkie home from school. I did not bother to reply. I barely have any prepaid load left so I’m saving it for more important texts.

“Mr. Bateman! It is about time that you showed up on schedule!” Professor Richards announced mockingly as I appeared by the door of the classroom.

“Sorry, professor.” I mumbled.

“This is irresponsible behavior for a scholar! And I just learned that you only cut during my class! What show is that? Is my class too inferior?”

I stayed silent while my classmates looked at me as I was being dished out. What was I suppose to say? That my mom goes crazy during this time of the day? That I had to rush home to control her as she laments over Dad’s death? It was during that time when the collapse happened. Mom was depressed. She started to drink and wallow in her own sorrow, refusing to get herself out of it. That continued until something in her snapped. It was clear from then on that she was no longer reliable. I couldn’t tell him that. If I did, I would surely be reported. Social services would break us and sort us into different facilities and families because Mom was clearly incapable of taking care of us. I could barely sustain myself. I just can’t let them separate us.

“One more absence, Mr. Bateman, and I will make sure that you’re out of the scholarship program!” Professor Richards threatened before officially starting our class.

Cursing myself for forgetting to pass the photos to Kylie as I was nearing the apartment, I wondered if that would be reason for her to take me out of the school paper aside from other missassignments. Because of that, I did not notice the darkness inside until I opened the door. I saw my three younger siblings trying to practice the lessons I gave them with two candles as their only source of light. Mom was in the corner, looking out the nearby window.

“What happened?” I asked Janine as Jekkie raced to greet me.

“The landlady cut our power supply. She could not wait for the payment anymore.” She answered as I ruffled Jekkie’s hair.

Another one of my siblings, Josie, approached me from her seat and handed something bulky. My heart sank. It was Dad’s old film camera. The lens was shattered and there was a crack on the body.

“Mom went haywire again. I’m sorry, Jack. We tried to control her.” I noticed the slight inflammation of her lower lip as it quivered.

I looked at them and sighed. They were too young to experience this. Heck, I was too young myself to handle our family on my own. What if I just call social services? We would be separated but we would be better off to have our needs met. Or what if I give up studying and freelance photography, and just work? Or I could just leave them all behind? I could run away. Or if my conscience would allow it, I could just follow Dad to the afterlife.

I held the camera, trying to control my tears. It was my only remembrance from him. He taught me how to use a camera. This was all too much.

Lowering myself to their height, I called the attention of my sisters.

“This has been hard for all of us. I have a suggestion and I want your opinion on it.” I spoke with such solemnity that I knew that the two already knew what I was going to say.

“We will stick together, Jack! You promised us.” Josie whined quickly.

“I know but—”

“Jack, please. Don’t. We can help too, you know.” Janine’s voice was already breaking. I did not allow them to work. I did not want to expose them to too much hardship.

Small arms held mine and I looked down to see Jekkie silent as he pressed his cheek against my sleeve.

I wriggled away from him and marched to where Mom was sitting by the window.

“Mom?” I called as I knelt in front of her. She did not look at me. Her focus was by on something distant.

“Mom? Why won’t you fight? You need to get better. Don’t leave me hanging, please. You’re supposed to take care of us, not me.” I pressed my face against her lap as I shed silent tears. She did not budge.

“It is just… I don’t know if I can do this anymore.” I mumbled in defeat.

————————————-
I was serving coffee at the local shop as a part-time barista the next day. After Dad died, it was our only source of income besides the rare occasion of photography services.

My mind wandered to how was I going to pay the electric bill and to how was I going to squeeze the money left for groceries. I did not even hear someone call my name until the nth time that it was repeated.

“Hello. Anybody there?”

I snapped into reality and was faced with a familiar-looking girl. I remembered attending class with her and she was also a frequent customer.

“You’re Jack Bateman, right? I’m Helen.” She introduced.

“Imma make this fast. My dad owns a photography company and he saw your work in the school paper. He asked me to offer you a job. We have a wedding to cover later today. He’ll pay you to join us. $70.00. If he likes you then there will be more gigs after that. Like regular gigs. What do you say? You can take a ride with me to the site. What time does your shift end?”

My mind was blank as if it was trying to register if what I’d heard was a pigment of my own imagination or not. She looked at me with expectation. I nodded eventually then we made the arrangements. That nod was half-hearted as I was scared to stay out of home longer than usual.

I texted Janine that I would be home late as I was just offered a job. Once done, I watched Helen sit down on one of the lounge chairs to wait for me. All I could do was hope for the best, silently thanking Dad for that opportunity.