Just like every day before this one, the sun rays beamed through the broken blinds. My eyes were squinted as I opened them slowly, rolling around in bed to see my youngest cousin, Lilly, asleep across the room.

I untangled myself from the blankets and sheets, reluctantly heading downstairs to the kitchen. Where was breakfast?

My aunt Missy slept on the couch with an empty bottle on the floor next to her. I checked for a pulse, and grabbed the bottle to throw it away. I rolled my eyes as I grabbed a bowl to make pancake mix. I should have known it was my turn, again, to make breakfast for her children. The counters were even covered in last night's dishes, like nobody cared but me.

I muttered under my breath as I looked for a spot to place the bowl, "Nobody does shit here."

I angrily pushed the dirty dishes into the sink, causing them to clash and cling on impact of the others. I heard footsteps upstairs immediately afterwards.

"Why are you doing that?" I heard a soft voice speak from the stairs. Lilly was awake, carrying her blanket into the kitchen with her.

"Sometimes the dishes forget to be cleaned, so you gotta help them into the sink."

I glanced at Missy, turning the knob on the sink so water would flow over the piled dishes. Lilly watched.

"Okay." She blinked a few times, sitting down at the table, staying silent as Missy started to snore in the background. I cracked the eggs into the bowl, which barely fit onto the counter. Next the milk, then the mix. Lilly watched from the table.

"Do you ever wish Missy made breakfast for you?" Lilly stuck her thumb in her mouth, looking at me while I spread batter onto the hot griddle.

Of course I wish she made breakfast. "Yes, everyday," I told her.

Lilly is only six, she just doesn't understand.

The pancakes were finished by the time the rest of my cousins woke up.

Lilly, Joyce, Levi, Danny, and Melanie. In that order. We all sat at the kitchen table, enjoying our breakfast before school and work. Missy remained asleep, gasping for air between snores.

"I think she'll wake up before noon today." Joyce slipped a quarter onto the table.

"No way, I think she'll wake up after three," Levi smirked and slapped a five dollar bill on top of the quarter. Danny's eyes got wide.

"I say 2:00!" Danny exclaimed, contributing another quarter to the pile.

I watched their predictions, exchanging glances with Levi. We both knew she was not waking up until dinner time. More importantly, we both knew that $5.50 would be ours to use towards bills.

"Come on guys, time for school. Don't want to be late again. I'm sick of getting calls from that old principal," I rolled my eyes and abruptly ended the betting.

I slipped a cigarette between my lips and stood up to collect plates and utensils. More dishes. Levi escorted the kids outside, throwing the utility bills at me on the way out. More bills.

Once the dishes were barely in the sink, I had to head outside and make it to work on time today.

The weather was warm for fall. I didn't have to stick my hands in my pockets to keep them from freezing. I tried to ignore the envelope of bills in my back pocket, since getting to work on time was way more important.

I rounded the corner to the stupid, ghetto gas station I worked for.

"Hey kid, you're a minute late," someone said from not too far away.

I heard the familiar voice creep from around the corner while I opened the door to the gas station. I let go of the door, letting it slam shut instead of walking inside.

"What was that? You're gonna bust my ass for being a minute late?"I turned to face my boss who was on his smoke break.

"Don't do it again, white boy."

I glanced at Jose through the glass once I got inside. He was still smoking a cigarette, which I wanted to shove down his throat at this point. The store was dead, and there was practically nobody getting gas outside. I removed the envelopes from my back pocket and opened them up carefully at the register.

"Shoot," I muttered, staring at the amount due. I did a few calculations in my head which showed that we needed 120 dollars to make the payments. Levi hasn't worked since last week and Missy is unemployed because she is engaged to a bottle. I thought moving here after my grandparents died was going to be a good thing.

"Keep an eye on the store," Jose's head popped in through the door. His girlfriend was attached to his side, already kissing his neck and pulling him towards her BMW parked in front of the entrance. I didn't say anything. My head dropped into my hands as I took another look at the bills.

I was hoping that at one point, I wouldn't have to do this. I haven't got caught yet, and this is the only way we would afford the payments. I punched the no sale code into the register, popping the drawer out. I counted out 100 bucks in cash, slipping it into the savings envelope which was torn and crumbled.

That should do it, I thought, not my fault my boss is a horny mexican.

I got done with my shift at five. I wasn't supposed to close the store but Jose never returned, so I did anyway. My eyes felt heavy inside of my head at this point. I carefully kept my cash tucked inside of my hoodie pockets. On the way home, I passed the bar which Missy visits nightly. Peering into the darkened window, I couldn't see her.

She was home.

I started running.

I was out of breath, when I finally got home, quickly forcing myself through the back door.

Missy was in the shower, and Levi seemed to have pretty good control over the younger kids.

"Wow, way to do your homework," I laughed and started the stove, noticing everyone sitting at the table with textbooks. I put a pot on to boil, walking over to Levi's chair.

"Look, I got this today from the register. Should help," I whispered and showed him the tattered envelope full of money. I was still trying to catch my breath.

"Good job, I'm proud of you," He grinned and nudged my side.

I threw my jacket and bags onto the counter, running my fingers through my hair anxiously. "Could one of you start the pasta once this water boils? I have to go talk to Missy."

Joyce immediately got up and walked over to the water, "I'm on it, captain."

I sprinted up the stairs, sharply turning the corner to the bathroom. The door was locked, but the shower wasn't running anymore. I hit the door with my fists a few times, "Missy, open the fucking door. Please."

I pounded the door with my fists again, "I even said please."

My knee rammed into the door this time. Missy finally answered, a towel wrapped around her body. Her eyes looked sunken and baggy, and her voice was worn out.

"Seriously, Hale. Shut up. My head is pounding." Missy threw ten dollars out the door, shaking her head.

"I gave a blowjob last night to some man on the sidewalk. This is all I have left from it."

The door immediately slammed closed again.
I picked up the money, adding it to the rest in the envelope.

After dinner, Levi and I got all of the kids up to bed as Missy left for clubbing and vodka again. That was her family.

"Well, Missy gave me ten bucks. This and the register cash is all we have to pay it."

I spread the money out onto the bed and looked up at Levi.

"Don't forget this," he fished around in his pocket, eventually adding the $5.50 from this morning.

"I'll take care of it tomorrow. I'm exhausted and Jose left with his girlfriend right when I got into work this morning, I had to do everything."

My head was pounding as I ran my fingers through my hair. Levi was already collecting the money back into the envelope.

"You sure you got it?" He asked, taping the envelope shut once again before handing it back to me.

"I'm sure." I sleepily left his room, heading for my own bed.

The next morning I went straight to city hall the minute after it opened, carrying the bills and cash with me. Here goes nothing.
I entered the building. It was dark and smelled like old feet, but that was nothing new.

"Hello, Hale. I see you're back with your bills," Steve chuckled from behind his desk, chewing on the end of his pen, "I can take you back here."

Fucking creep.

Steve led me to the back conference room. I put my hood up, looking around at the empty cubicles.

He shut the conference door and locked it with his key. I looked up at him, no expression on my face as he loosened his belt. His brown eyes stared into mine, and I broke the contact with him immediately, turning my head to look at the wall.

"You look good today," He cooed, the belt dropping on the floor. His tone reminded me of something you'd hear spoken to a child.

"Let's just get this over with," I got down onto my knees, staring at the floor.

"I like to take my time, Hale."

Now, his pants dropped onto the floor of the conference room. Then, his boxers. I knew what I had to do. It was unfortunate, but people around here were desperate and lonely.

"Damn, that didn't take long," I mumbled while I exhaled a shaky breath.

I was giving sexual favors in exchange for lower bills. This wasn't the first time I've done this, and I wasn't too proud of it.

My eyes were watering a little as I stood up from my knees, wiping my mouth on the back of my hand. I handed him all the cash I had. He counted it, smiling happily, and winking, Just enough."

"This is ridiculous," I pushed my hoodie off my head, walking towards the door. His key was still inside of the lock. I twisted it and opened the door, Steve gasping and pulling his pants back up when the door exposed the room we were in, making him visible to whoever was outside.

"Thank you for your time, Mr. Granger," Steve exclaimed once I opened the door to leave.
I slipped my hands into my hoodie pockets and headed back home.

Missy wasn't home when I got there, but I got back just in time to see Levi and the rest of my cousins.

"I took care of the bills, don't worry about it. I found extra money on the way there. Some kinda fucking miracle I think," I poured some orange juice into a cup, sipping it as I looked at Levi, waiting for a response.

"That's great, actually. I have a few tests today and it's great I don't have to think about tryna make up the money." He packed a few things into his backpack, helping Lilly get her jacket on afterwards.

I finished my juice, setting my cup in the sink.
"Great. Good luck. I have off today, probably gonna sleep a little longer and see if Missy ever shows up."

Levi laughed at my plan and took Lilly's hand, leading the kids outside for school once again.

I was alone for a while.

**
SIMS 3 FINALLY COMES IN HANDY! I created my characters using mods and custom content, they're not perfect and probably a little silly looking (because it's SIMS 3!) but I'm very happy with the outcome.

ANYWAY, thx for reading!! any feedback/comments are encouraged! i know this kind of sucked and is only the first chapter and i hope the coming chapters are better but drop a vote and have a good day/night/whatever :-)