"Big brother, I am hungry!"
"Me too!"
"We haven't eaten all day and my stomach has been grumbling."
"Jeremy, if we don't eat, we might end up not waking up tomorrow."
I sighed, staring at the faces before me. My name is Jeremy Jordan and it just happened that I am the eldest son of our dead parents... Or should I say, disappeared parents.
Yeah. Sounds ironic, right?
It was one day. One sunny day and we just arrived from school. We searched around the house but strangely we found no traces of our parents. Not even their properties were in the house —it was just an empty house.
Then our eyes caught sight of a paper — letter. Probably left behind by them and so we opened it and read the content. — I read it out aloud for the five of us to hear.
"We are sorry, children but we are tired of being poor. Things were all fine but ever since we have birth to the five of you, things have been rough. Too rough for us to handle. So we decided that we will pack and leave. Move to another country entirely and start all over again. Jeremy, make sure to take care of your younger siblings. Jack, don't trouble your big brother and always be helpful. Stop being stubborn and assist. Cassy, be a good girl and stop crying unnecessarily. Elina, help your sister with her assignment and also take care of the house when your brothers are out. As for Daniel, be a good little boy and listen to your elder ones. ~love, mom and dad~"
After reading the letter to them, I looked up and saw them returning to their rooms without a word. It was contrary to what I was expecting from them.
Initially, I had wanted to question them, to know what they were thinking but then, I concluded that perhaps, keeping quiet was the best choice.
Ever since then, I have become a father, a mother, and a brother to my siblings. I had to drop from school so that I could get a job but even at that, nothing seemed to be working perfectly well for me. Even the job I'm doing doesn't pay me much — I end up resorting to stealing foods and money from any source possible.
"Jeremy, do something, please," Elina, our third child and first daughter cried out.
"Fine, fine. I'll be going out," I replied, sighing inwardly. "When I'm gone, Jack, watch over the house, will you?" I turned and said to Jack, the one next after me.
"Sure, I will," he replied.
I sighed again and then left the house. Behind me, I could hear them mumbling some prayers for me to find something and I could not help but feel sad.
It wasn't an easy thing being the one catering and providing for the family. I initially resented and hated my parents for abandoning us but now that I have finally put myself in their shoes, I can not help but feel sad on their behalf. After all, things has never been easy for the family right from day on — even before giving birth to us. So they are right saying that our birth made things extra worse for them. I don't blame them for leaving us, my only sadness is them leaving us to suffer alone.
Leaving me, a seventeen years old to take care of a family of five.
I barley had time for myself. Even my relationship was dwindling due to the fact that I can't provide anything for my girlfriend... I didn't even have much time for her any longer.
I walked the lonely street full of thought until I arrived at a food store. Only if I had money and my siblings will never suffer or have to beg.
I needed to be rich but how?
I wanted to be famous but how to do it?
Sigh.
I headed to the glass window by the corner of the wall and checked it out. Surprisingly, it was not locked. I wanted to go in but then I stopped.
'Could this be a trap?' I thought.
Recently, there have been news of theft and robbery going on in the city, though I was among— there is no denial to it... It was still surprising to me because the rate of it was increasing every day. And some are bold enough to do it in the daytime.
'To hell with their trap.' I thought and pushed open the window. If it was a trap, if I am caught... I won't mind it as long as I know that I fulfilled my duty as a father and as a brother.
I put the first leg inside.
No alarm, nothing at all.
'Safe.'
I went ahead and put the second leg. Still no alarm so I went in completely and picked up a bag there. I carefully gathered everything I needed. The food I gathered would be enough for the family, this night, the next morning... And at night, I'll come back here and take some more.
After I was done, I smiled and went back to the window. I first of all threw the big bag out and then climbed out. I did not forget to close back the window.
Carrying the bag, I made a run for it. I didn't know why I was being extra lucky this night and even though I was having a strange feeling about it, I still could not help but be happy. My siblings will have something to eat tonight — that was all that mattered. I couldn't care much about other things.
Before I could reach my home, I spotted a glowing object on the road, by the corner of an old house.
Curiously, I began to head towards it and when I got there, I saw a glowing orb.
"What's this?" I mumbled and bent down to pick it up. The moment my hand touched it, it buzzed and the glow became brighter. All of a sudden, my visions began to blur and before I could realize what was happening, it turned dark.
"Jeremy," a voice called out to me. It felt as though I was in a deep sleep and hearing the voice call me a second time, I slowly opened my eyes and saw the figure of a lady hovering above me. "Make three wishes and they'll be granted to you."
At first, I felt like I was hallucinating but then my vision became clearer and the person hovering above me was a woman dressed in golden linen. On her head was a crown made out of gold and on her left hand, a golden staff.
This only happens in dreams but after pinching myself severely and feeling the pain, all doubts dispelled.
"I should make three wishes?" I asked.
"Yes." She replied.
I needed not to think twice.
I had just one wish and that is...
"I want to be rich!" I yelled.
"Is that all?" She asked me.
"Yes," I replied.
"You have two more wishes to make," she said.
"I want to be rich, extremely rich.... Richer than the richest human on earth!" I yelled.
"That's three wishes, fine. Your wishes have been granted," she said and stretched out her staff towards me. A golden ray of light hit me and my vision blurred again. "I have granted you three wishes but in return... You will not sleep with any other woman because I am a jealous being."