Runaway Hazel

Her Story

            Everyone knew I would be different from the moment I was born. No, I didn’t have a kind of spectacular beauty. I was never really that talented. I was just a twin. An older twin actually, by two minutes. I was born on May 9, two minutes before my little sister Roxanne and that made me my parent’s oldest child.

            I was also #7 of my Grandma’s 33 grandkids. That made her a built in babysitter.

I had my first kiss there, my first dance, and I began to walk there. Grandma was my first word. My parents were workaholics.

“Hazel, can you cook dinner tonight and make sure Darren J., Raymond, and Ray eat?” my mom Kimberly asked me. I called her Kimi; she’s more like my oldest sister than my mom. Darren J. was my eleven-year-old little brother, named after my dad. Raymond was named after my uncle and he’s 10 and Ray was 8 at the time.

“Why can’t Roxy do it?” I whined. I always cooked and cleaned. Kimi always tell Roxanne to do them but she doesn’t. When I do them however, she claims my victory and steals my shine. I never told on her because she’s my little sister and only sister.

“She’s doing the dishes remember?” Kimi answered.

I groaned. “Why aren’t you at work like usual?”

Kimi rolled her eyes. “I don’t have to tell you my business. But if you must know, I’m going out with your Aunt Megan and Uncle Daniel. Which brings me to remind you that Angelica, Paige, and Mackenzi are coming over as well.”

“Mo-om,” I whined. “Why?”

“I thought you liked hanging with your cousins.”

“Angelica and Paige but Mackenzi is annoying!”

“She can play with Ray.”

“Like he’s gonna play with a girl,” I rolled my eyes.

“Who’s gonna play with a girl?” Roxanne walked into the room and eyed Kim and me.

“Ray,” Kimi and I answered in unison.

“What are you guys talking about?”

“Your father and I are going out with your uncle and aunt and your cousins are coming over,” Kimi answered.

“Oh, by the way Hazy, guess who I have a date with?” Roxanne squealed.

“Who?” I said acting as if I cared.

“Dave Chandlers!”

She exclaimed excitedly.

“Hey, isn’t he the cute one with the blond hair?” Kimi asked.

Roxanne nodded and soon mom joined her acting crazed and retarded.

I felt terrible though. I had a crush on Dave ever since I was in fifth grade. Roxy didn’t even know he existed until eighth.

*Flashback*

Mrs. Simmons, the fifth grade teacher eyed the two girls. They were twins who had just transferred from a private academy. “Girls, how about you take a seat away from each other? Roxanne, you go sit over there next to Brittany and Hazel you sit…next to Dave—Dave, raise your hand.”

“Mrs. Simmons, call me Roxy.” Everyone laughed.

            ***

            “Hazel, wake up. It’s me Roxy.”

            I slowly opened my eyes and stared at my sister. I had fallen asleep on the couch. Roxanne was standing over me, her mouth formed in a wide smile.

            “What do you want?” I asked.

            “Mom and dad just left. Guess what though?”

            “What?”

            “Angelica is going to drive over here!”

            “So?” I said. I didn’t care, I just yawned.

            “So? She’s only fifteen. She’s younger than us.”

            “By a few days?”

            “That’s not the point Hazy. The point is it’s not fair. They have the best parents in the world. Aunt Megan and Uncle Daniel rock.”

            “Come on now,” I said. “Mom and dad aren’t that bad.”

            “Oh come on. I mean really though, don’t even say that. They always spend tons of money on us if we go shopping with them and Uncle Daniel takes us on shopping sprees on our birthday. Aunt Megan always takes us to do awesome things. The only thing mom and dad do is buy our cake.”

            “Be nice Roxy,” I ordered.

            “What makes you think you can tell me what to do?” she snapped. “I’m trying to have a good time. Dave and I are going out tonight and I don’t want it to be ruined by a silly argument.”

            “You think you are so mature then?” I asked her.

            “Maybe I do,” she yelled.

            “Let’s not yell,” I said quietly.

            “Don’t tell me what to do. I already have a mom and I don’t need two!”

            “Shut up with that already Roxanne Williams!” I yelled right back. “If you don’t want me to tell you what to do than act like that. I don’t want to be your mom. I’m already pissed that I’m your sister, let alone your twin! You steal everything from me. My clothes, my boyfriend and my identity! Damn you Roxy! Get your own life and quit taking what’s mine.”

            “Well I—” she started but then she just let out a frustrated humph and ran upstairs.

            Right after that our doorbell rung. I sprung to answer it and I heard an excited howl.

            “Hey cuz,” Angelica said pulling me into a hug.

            “Yeah, what’s up?” Paige asked.

            Mackenzi was the one who howled and she smiled as she stared at me. “Hi Roxanne,” she said. I frowned and Paige and Angelica turned towards her with surprise.

            “This is Hazel, Mackenzi,” Angelica informed her.

            “I’m sorry,” Mackenzi said frowning. “You guys just look so much alike and I shouldn’t have assumed…it was an honest mistake.”

            “That’s okay Mackenzi,” I said. “Come on in you guys.”

            “Hey,” Mackenzi said. “Where’s Roxanne?”

            “She’s in her room,” I answered.

            “Really Mackenzi, you are just so rude sometimes,” Paige said.

            “And that’s an understatement,” Angelica added.

            Mackenzi just rolled her eyes and ran upstairs to see Roxanne.

            Angelica waited until Mackenzi was out of earshot when she said, “Roxanne must be in a bitchy mood.”

            Paige, who was only twelve years old, heard everyone around her cuss. She never did it of course, but she never squealed or anything. She cool and she is kind of mature so we let her hang with us.

            “She is. We just got in a fight actually. I said some pretty mean stuff but she deserves it. She always put Kim and dad down and I hate it. She never does her chores and she stole my future boyfriend! She always ruins my life. I never got anything for myself even when we were babies,” I exclaimed. “We share rooms, parents, we even shared the womb!” I put my hands in my hair as if it would help. It did a little bit.

            “What exactly did you say?” Paige asked. She stared at me, making me even more nervous and I remembered she wanted to be a psychologist. No wonder she asked me that question.

            “I told her that I hated being her twin and that she stole my identity,” I answered honestly.

            “Well, do you mean that?” Angelica asked.

            “A little,” I said. “I am older and she stole my Dave. She knew I liked him.”

            The two sisters just looked at me before shaking their heads.

            Just then Mackenzi began storming downstairs. Her face was red and she looked mad, at me.

            “Why did you make Roxanne cry?” she demanded.

            “Mackenzi, get out of here,” Paige snapped.

            “Why did you make her cry Hazel? You’re so mean, Roxanne told me what happened. You attacked her with words for no reason.”

            “I said get out!” Paige yelled. She grabbed Mackenzi by her neck. “Apologize to Hazel. This is her house, not yours.”

            “This isn’t Hazel’s house, it’s Roxanne’s and she told me what happened. You are so mean Hazel Williams.”

            I felt my anger boil inside and I went after the seven-year-old. I grabbed her by her arm and yanked her so Paige would let go.

            “This is not Roxanne’s home first of all. This is your aunt and uncle’s home. Second of all, Roxanne was the one who yelled at me so whatever she said she lied. I did not make Roxanne cry. She did it to herself by messing with me. I’m her older sister and I know how to brake her,” I whispered loudly in Mackenzi’s ear. “So don’t come down here assuming she’s right because she’s your favorite.”

            Angelica and Paige looked on as I held their sister until she cried.

            “Now hush up and go outside and play with Ray and Raymond.”

            It was about midnight when Kim and dad got home. Angelica, Paige, and Mackenzi had left hours ago so Mackenzi could get in the bed. Paige was going to baby-sit her and Angelica was going to the movies with some friends.

            I felt bad about making Mackenzi cry. She didn’t say another word to me for the rest of their visit and Angelica and Paige kept apologizing for her behavior. They also felt a little jittery around me and that’s why I think they left when they did.

            Roxanne had left the house a little before they did. Her blond hair was in a ponytail and she was wearing a short blue dress.

            When Dad and Kimberly walked in they spoke to me and then they retreated to their bedrooms. That’s when I knew that I had to get out. I wouldn’t do it without a reason but if I stayed then I would probably kill myself.