playing house

my parents have been on holiday since last sunday. it's the first time i've been left alone in the house as an adult. the last time they were both gone was in 1998. I was still in high school, so obviously my sisters were in charge.

It's very different now, because I am equally responsible for running the house and even just my own daily routine, which is galaxies more complicated than my high school activities. While normally my dad always brings me to the FX terminal and picks me up just outside the village, I now have to take into consideration how to avoid the much-hated tricycle ride. This means heavily coordinating with my sisters on who's leaving at what time, going where, and who's coming home at what time and coming from where. Of course there's food, and then there's shopping for food. There's locking up and checking the gas before going to bed, there's telling the helpers whom to expect home at what time for meals.

I have to say I'm really impressed and happy at how my eldest sister is behaving. She is generally viewed as a flake around here, but she is actually generous and reliable. She gives us a ride whenever it's convenient. Even now that she has to stay home because of her pregnancy, she brings us to the highway whenever we need to commute. She asks us to join her and her husband to go malling, and gamely accepts shopping duties for the household if we don't go.

Meanwhile, it's Lala who hasn't stepped up to the plate, and hasn't adjusted any of her actions to make it easier for us. Case in point: My parents don't give us keys so that they can keep tabs on what time we arrive home. As sisters, we don't really fucking care. We just want to sleep. In any case, it's our one shot at freedom to go home at whatever time we want. Guess what? She FORGOT to bring the keys to the house on TWO occasions. At least I only had to open the door for her once.

As for me, I think my parents would say I've exceeded expectations for responsibility. At least, that's what I hope they think. It makes me more confident to consider moving out. edit: My parents had better think i'm responsible, after all, i'm the one arranging for the confinement of my grandfather while everyone else goes their merry way. goddammit, i'm the youngest!!

But I also realize that I'm actually relatively close to my parents. It's only now I notice how much time it takes up when I talk to them on a daily basis. Nowadays, dinner is shorter (less stories to go around I guess, plus my brother-in-law has to leave at a specific time). After that, we all just mind our own computer-tv-book-business.

My dad's coming home on Tuesday. The party's over, and it's somewhat a relief.