Aprilise's Blog

Dear Diary,

I guess I’ll keep writing in this, lets see, I left off with dad’s death. I wish I could say things got better, but really they didn’t.

A month after Dad died, mom had had enough. I guess she couldn’t handle the reminders anymore. As soon as the bus dropped me off she loaded everyone into a van and took us all to a new house.

A house without the slightest touch of dad in it. Music was banned from the house, along with any musical instrument. No one talked about him, there were no pictures, it was like he didn’t exist. She fired the help from the old house. The only things I had left from there that she didn’t sell was the bedroom set Dad had bought and set up the day he died. Mom moved that to our new house and set it up for me, with other toys. She gave me whatever I wanted, except time with her. Everyone else in the house had their own lives, and I didn’t want to make them upset, so I tried to stay out of their way.

Lexy got a boyfriend Thomas James, he’s ok, not that I’ve talked to him much, but he treats Lexy well. Mom even let him move in.

Emmanuel doesn’t like him, more times than not they end up in fistfights in the kitchen. I’m surprised they can even share a room, but then both of them are usually too busy to do more than sleep in that room.

Mom only gets involved when they disrupt her writing.

That’s not often, Mom spends most of her time at work, or on her computer.

Emilie buried herself in her sculpting.

I spent most of my time out of everyone’s way. Usually after school I’d grab my bike and go to a local playground. On weekends I go there after breakfast.

Sometimes I go to the local library. The books ts here became my friends. I always imagine my family is like the families in the books, together and happy. Sometimes I imagine I had a sibling near my age. I’m lonely sometimes. I have no friends, the others at school make fun of me for my glasses and for not having a father. I feel invisible to the teachers, and to my family, but I won’t say anything to Mom or my siblings. They need me to be a good girl. They need me to be strong and stay out of trouble. Mom needs me to help around the house, and stay quiet so she’s not sad anymore.

You are my best friend Diary.

Love,

Jaz King

Family First Generation 6.1

Dear Diary,

I guess I should start at the beginning. My name is Jasmine Aleyna King and I am 10 years old. My counselor at school thought that this would be a good idea to put my thoughts into words. I guess I should start at the beginning.

When I was born both my parents adored me. At least that’s what I’ve heard. Mom took care of me as much as she could. While my Dad adored me and could barely put me down only his music could pull him away from me, but never for long. Then Dad died.

I was very young when Dad died, too young maybe. I remember that he loved me more than anything, my first memories are of him talking to me, and playing, then he was gone. It’s hard being so young with a family so much older. Dad was an elder when I was born, mum an adult, I was a surprise.

My brothers Rock, Roland, and Rhythm, had already moved out and had started lives of their own. Cousin Lexy was a teen and stayed out of the way for the most part. Mom moved in with my sister Emilie and later my brother Emmanuel a teen and a child, while I was still an infant. By the time I was two the rest of the “kids” in the house were teens and everyone had lives beyond the needs of a toddler. Even Mom had to go back to her work as a journalist and writer.

I remember it was dad who was home with me most of the time, Dad and the butler Carlos. Then Dad died.

It was my fifth birthday when he died, Lexy, Emilie, and Emmanuel were at prom, mom was at work.

But Dad was home, he’d wanted it to be a great birthday with just me and him. He’d bought a cake and everything, he read me the newest Jimmy Sprocket story, then stopped. Being young, I went to play with a toy table, then I remember Dad gasping, then a black cloaked man. When Mom and my siblings came home, they found me, Carlos, and his urn.

I don’t blame them really for forgetting. I don’t think any of them realized that I saw when he died. It wasn’t a surprise when I grew up everyone else were mourning and no one was around. I just wish they would notice me now.

I wish Dad were here Diary.

Love,

Jaz King

Generation 5 Part 17

With three teenagers and a child to support by myself, I threw myself into my music. It helped me to escape for awhile. I started going to the theater and park and giving concerts again like I had as a teenager.

It was during one of these events that I met her. Betty Markx, she was in the process of divorcing her husband. She had a child daughter Emilie, and a toddler son Emmanuel. At first we just talked. Two lost souls finding comfort in each other and helping each other through the pains of life.

And our relationship grew from there. It wasn’t as easy or short as I’m making it sound, but our relationship grew and before I knew it we were in love.

She was shocked when I got my old body down on one knee and proposed to her. She accepted and moved in with her now teenaged daughter, her son was in the temporary custody of her ex husband.

We were married in a small private ceremony on the beach. My boys were happy for me, they’d been worried that when they became young adults I would be alone. They liked Betty. Lexy just wanted to be sure I wasn’t going to abandon her like her father and grandmother had. I assured her I would not.

To our surprise soon after our marriage Betty became pregnant.

We sat everyone down and explained to them our news. Our family was happy for us. Rock, Roland, Rhythm, Emilie, and even Lexy were thrilled to know they would be getting a younger brother or sister.

Soon it was time for my boys birthdays. My boys would be adults. First up was Rock.

Then it was my Roland’s turn.

Finally it was my Rhythm’s turn.

My boys were so handsome and they weren’t the only ones who had a birthday.

Little Lexy was becoming a teenager.

She turned into such a gorgeous young woman. Still insisted on the green hair dye though.

A few days after the birthdays it was time to go to the hospital for a different kind of birthday.

Our daughter Jasmine Aleyna King was born smiling and happy.

My boys decided that since they were young adults now, they wanted to try life on their own. I was sad to see them go but knew I’d see them again. My sons deserved the chance to live their own lives.

Just after my boys left, Betty got news that her son Emmanuel was now in her custody, the last time Betty had seen him he’d been a toddler, now he was a young boy. I couldn’t tell my wife he couldn’t stay, so he moved in. We had the money, we had the room, and we had the love.

Generation 5 Part 17

Life continued, and although the pain of losing our family members lingered we learned to move on. Lexy was such an easygoing toddler, content with her books and her toys.

The boys spent their time enjoying the pool and hot tub in the backyard or exploring the neighborhood.

When I wasn’t making sure the family was ok, or working I was usually in the music room practicing. Ashlynn spent her time writing, and James…James spent most of his days out of the house.

It’s amazing how life can be settled into a calm secure routine and then something happens to break it. It happened just before Lexy’s 4th birthday. James came home and for a week spent all the time he could with Lexy. We couldn’t know what he was planning we had no idea, until the day before the joint party for Ashlynn and Lexy’s birthday. James had gotten a job in Bridgeport, as an actor. Appearently ghosts were popular choices in the movies and he’d gotten a good sum of money to sign up. The only problem was he couldn’t take Lexy and wouldn’t be able to get her for awhile. Bridgeport was so far away, and his hours would be so hectic he wouldn’t be able to care for her properly. He was sad to have to leave her, but knew Ashlynn and I would give her the best life she could have.

He left us all of the money he’d received for signing up for the job, kissed his mother and Lexy, and then just like that left. It left another hole in our family that would never be filled. Sure he promised to keep in touch, but Bridgeport was so far away he didn’t know when he would be able to.

Ashlynn tried to keep things as normal as possible for Lexy, and we spoiled her even more than she ever had been.

And she tried to put on a happy face as she and Lexy had their party. But I could see the growing sadness in her. Ashlynn had never gotten over Mom’s death, Aleyna’s Death, Dad’s leaving, or the teasing and pain she had endured over the years. She’d never really gotten over what the Scientists had done to her. I was afraid James’ leaving was just one more block on her tower and I was so afraid that soon it would topple and we would lose her as well. I prayed to whoever was listening that Lexy would be enough to keep her with us.

After Ashlynn it was Lexy’s turn to grow up. My great niece was to be a child.

Lexy was adorable, though she insisted on dying her blue highlights green.

As a birthday present we redecorated the room Lexy had shared with James. We had thought Ashlynn would take that room and give Lexy the smaller one, but Ashlynn insisted.

Shortly after the redecorating was done Ashlynn started typing on her computer. Typing a letter detailing all the pain she had suffered over the years, typing a letter saying how sorry she was to leave us, but that she couldn’t handle the pain anymore. Typing a letter saying goodbye and asking me to care for Lexy as if she were my own.

And just like that she was gone. My baby sister was gone, and I was the only one left.

Generation 5 Part 16

Since the boys turned into teenagers they refused to dress alike anymore and insisted on buying their own wardrobes and choose their own haircuts. I can’t say I entirely approve of their choices but they were growing up, and I had to let them have some responsibility. I still worried that Roland was seperating himself from his siblings.

Time flew by and soon it was time for little Lexy’s birthday. Ashlynn was such a great grandma taking the time to set up a party for her.

Lexy looked a lot like her mother, but she got what we think is her father’s natural blond and blue streaked hair color.

James was such a good father. Lexy never wanted for anything, and was spoiled as the only little one in the house. The boys treated her like a princess, Ashlynn got her everything she even thought of wanted, James and I just plain spoiled that girl rotten.

As much as I loved the cozy little house we lived in it was too small for our family. So I did some research and found a great house.

The house was big enough for all of us, with room to grow with 6 bedrooms, and a huge yard.

There were enough rooms for the boys to have their own rooms, but to my surprise they insisted on sharing. The second basement bedroom was turned into a storage room. Two bathrooms and easy access to the backyard made this floor perfect for the boys.

The first floor had a big living room, with a fireplace.

Down the hall from the living room was a full dining room, kitchen, and even a laundry area.

The fourth floor had a bedroom I turned into a music room, I spent some of our money to buy some new instruments.

My bedroom is on this floor too, along with a bathroom.

The attic had a small room that Ashlynn claimed as hers and a larger room that she left for James and Lexy. A large bathroom was on this floor as well.

The backyard had a large pool, a hot tub, and a outdoor fire place. We all agreed to install a playground for Lexy as soon as we could.

I enjoyed my new instruments, and spent a lot of time on them, learning new songs and making up my own. But I loved my piano, my boys had bought it for me in honor of my birthday.

My whole family was there for the occasion, except father, father and my niece and nephew couldn’t make it because the police were doing another investigation of the fire and had Judy in for questioning.

And just like that I was an elder, my life was nearing it’s end.

I didn’t look too bad, I did insist on dying my hair back to close to it’s original color.

Generation 5 Part 14

My sister is dead. I cried when I got the news, cried so hard I had to miss a few days of work. My older sister, the one who always seemed so indestructible was dead. When the tears slowed I ran to the park and began to play. I needed that to try to make sense of what had happened. How our lives and family could go from happy and content to devastated and broken in just a few days.

Dad had been fishing when he got the call on his cell phone. He rushed to the scene as soon as the first words were spoken to him.

No one knows exactly how it happened. Judy and Benny said they woke up to their parents arguing. There was a crash, and then screams. They said their doors had been locked.

By the time they unlocked their doors and got downstairs it was too late. Their mother was dead, their father burning. They said they tried to save him, poor Benny was even burnt a bit, but their efforts were in vain. The firemen pronounced both Aleyna and Jude dead on the scene.

When father got there he found Judy and Benny in shock and being questioned by the police and fire investigators. Social services was there as well, since Judy and Benny were only teenagers they wouldn’t be allowed to live by themselves. Dad convinced them, My father who spent most of his life ostracized for being a ghost stood up for his family and convinced everyone that he would be a great guardian for them. And to everyone’s surprise they agreed.

Father moved in immediately. Aleyna may not have been his child biologically, but she was his in every way that matters. He loved all his grandchildren, and Judy and Benny were no exception.

Generation 5 Part 13

I was glad my boys got along so well. They were always willing to help each other with homework. My little Roland and Rhythm were much more diligent at it than Rock.

They were each other’s best friends and I think that suited them.

They were different but all agreed on the western theme for their bedroom.

Soon after my boys grew up, my nephew, James, became a young adult.

He turned into a handsome young man.

James was so unlike his mother, while Ashlynn preferred staying in the house and working on her writing, my nephew preferred going out and trying to change peoples perceptions of him and his kind. It was during one of these excursions that he met Catherine Unger and slowly he began to get to know her.

He saw her almost every day after she got off work. And they seemed to be getting along very well.

Maybe a little too well. Her family wasn’t as accepting of the relationship though. While we were happy he found someone to love him for himself, her family treated him like a freak and constantly were setting Catherine up with other men on blind dates.

Life seemed to be going well for us. My children were happy and healthy. My sister was a bestselling author, my nephew found love, and my own career was growing. And then we got some news that changed our family forever.

Generation 5 Part 12

My boys were my world for those months after their birthday, so much so I almost got fired from my musician job for bad job performance. They were worth it though, and they got along remarkably well for three such different children.

Raising triplets as a single parent is hard, luckily I did have a lot of help from Ashlynn and James. The boys had us all wrapped around their fingers.

Even Dad helped out with their upbringing.

I tried to spend as much time with the kids as I could, individual time, but usually that ended up with me teaching them skills. Especially when I had to start focusing more on work. I did the best I could with the boys. I couldn’t have done it without my family’s help though.

I couldn’t believe it when I realized the boys would soon be turning into children. It seemed like only yesterday that my Rock, Roland, and Rhythm were infants.

First up was my Rock. The older he got the more I thought he resembled old pictures of my uncle Hakim.

My Roland still seemed to be a mix of me and Beth.

While Rhythm, despite having my hair and eyes, looked ever so much like Beth it hurt.

Generation 5 Part 11

The arrival of the triplets meant some remodeling. James, Ashlynn and Dad redid one of the bedrooms to be a cute little nursery for the boys.

The boys were surprisingly healthy despite being born early. Rock Miguel King was the first one born and the first one to come home.

Second born and second to come home was Roland Tarrant King.

The youngest, last to be born and last to come home was little Rhythm Aidan King.

I was surprised at how much I loved those boys. Instead of the burden to my music career they improved it, as I fought to make music my kids could enjoy when they grew up and to provide a good life for them.

Ashlynn too adored her nephews and they adored her.

Even James took a liking to the boys. Everyone in the house loved them, everyone was willing to care for the. Everyone except Beth. She refused to even look at them, hadn’t held them since she placed them in their cribs when they came home from the hospital.

I had hoped it was just some sort of depression, that she would snap out of it. Those hopes were dashed just before the triplets first birthday. I returned home from performing a concert to find Beth waiting for me.

She told me she was leaving, that she’d expected a mansion and money when she married a musician, not a small dumpy house in the suburbs. She’d expected to be a successful businesswoman and not a stay at home Mom to three screaming infants. She told me she was done. I was taken aback, I begged her to stay, then I asked about the boys. She said she didn’t care what happened to them, they didn’t exist to her. Then she left.

I tried to keep my spirits up for the boys, and when their birthday came about I threw them a family party. I did invite Beth, but she refused to come, refused to answer my calls. So it was up to me to give my boys the best birthday I could. First up was Rock.

I was secretly thrilled when he turned out to have Mom’s purple eyes, his hair was a surprise but it did run in the family.

Next up was Roland.

He too had my Mom’s purple eyes, but his hair was his Mother’s. His skin tone and features did resemble me a lot though.

Then my youngest, Rhythm, had his turn.

Rhythm, like his brothers, had Mom’s eyes, but my hair and his mother’s skin tone. I thought all three of my boys were adorable.