PROLOGUE

Negotiations

My mind is set on overdrive
The clock is laughing in my face
A crooked spine
My sense dulled
Passed the point of delerium

"Brain Stew" by Green Day

"And whatever you do, don't get kids. They don't earn a thing and they eat all the time."

Wow...mom ought to hear that one. Maybe the Sims can teach my bother something about himself.

"Whats that, Bill? Say that again... SAY THAT AGAIN... Yeah, well that's what yo mama said last night."

Gawd, I hate it when he cracks those jokes.

"Naw...should keep quiet, man...the sister's sleeping."

Ahhh...he noticed.

"HAHAHA!!! DUDE! SHUT UP!"

Okay...THATS IT!

"CAN YOU PLEASE HOLD THIS CONVERSATION ELSEWHERE?! AS YOU CAN SEE, I AM TRYING TO SLEEP!!!" I yelled this the loudest I could from the pillow I had stuffed my head under to block out the noise.

"YEAH, WELL I AM BEING QUIET!"

I pulled myself out of bed and hurtled myself at my elder brother. The pillow I had shoved my head under was now being used as a major weapon to eliminate the said victim. But in this case, the victim was not a ninety eight pound weakling to begin with.

In this case the victim was more powerful than the killer.

So I did the next best thing.

Negotiations.

"Hang up the phone."

"No."

"Hang up the phone!"

"No"

"HANG UP THE PHONE!!"

"NO!!!"

That does it!!!

I'm calling in the thought police!

"MOM!!!"

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I gritted my teeth as I got up for the thirteenth time that night.

Distractions, distractions and more DISTRACTIONS! At this rate I should have been born a watch dog! Why the hell was I born a light sleeper?

I can actually count these things.

Now I know why mom and dad didn't want the master bedroom!

At exactly 11:00, I go to bed.

At 12:30 a.m. on the dot, the neighbor's dog starts howling which is obviously a mating call to the dog on the street across my house, because that causes her (I think its a her) to start howling as well. Very a la Romeo and Juliet.

At 1:30 a.m. when the howling finally stops, everyone in the neighborhood is yelling profanities at the two dog owners. This happily continues to 2:00 a.m..

At 2:00 a.m. the college kids at the other end of the street decide its time to party which means loud, loud, LOUD music. That throbs on for...oh I dunno...SAY THREE HOURS??!! (Yes, I am going to get that paper bag, right about now.)

Mom and Dad wondered why they got the house so cheap.

I guess this answers their questions.

And people think I'm an insomniac.

LIKE I HAVE A CHOICE!

Oh...wait...I'm sorry...I haven't introduced myself. My name is Rita. Rita Gill.

A short, simple name to a very complicated person such as myself.

I have just shifted to America from India. No, correct that. I have just been dragged from my home in India all the way to America for my own good.

Because if you think that getting no proper sleep (EVER!) is my biggest problem, then stick around.

You ain't seen nothing yet.