Free Love Me Now by Celeste O. Norfleet

and as usual, you are overreacting,” Sidney said in the monotone voice she often used when her older sister annoyed her. She walked over and peeked into the sink. “Wait, I didn’t do that,” she said, pointing to the broken glass everywhere.
    â€œNo, it broke when I turned on the cold water,” Kenya said, continuing to gather glass with the towel.
    â€œSo why’d you turn on the cold water?”
    â€œBecause the carafe was scalding hot,” she snapped.
    â€œSo you just should have let it cool. Everybody knows that. Now look what you did. You have to buy Mom another carafe.”
    Kenya looked at her younger sister. She was so much like their father. Nothing was ever her fault. She always had an excuse for everything. The fact that she created the problem was completely lost on her. But she was right about one thing—of course she knew that turning cold water on hot glass would shatter it. “Sidney, if you hadn’t left the machine on all night, then the pot wouldn’t be broken.”
    â€œI didn’t pour cold water into a hot carafe and shatter it. You did that.”
    â€œNever mind,” Kenya finally said, knowing she’d never get her to understand. Sometimes her sister’s easygoing, lackadaisical attitude annoyed her. It was matched only by their father’s. As scary as it seemed, sometimes Kenya envied them.
    â€œNeed help?” Sidney asked.
    â€œNo, I got it,” Kenya snapped, making her second trip to the trash can.
    â€œHave you heard from Mom or Dad today?” Sidney asked as she grabbed the trash can and wedged it under the rim of the countertop. She angled it, making it much easier to just scoop the broken glass directly into the trash can.
    Kenya removed the last of the glass then washed down the sink. Sidney dropped the towel in the trash and put the can back.
    â€œAren’t you going to wash that?” Kenya asked.
    â€œIt’s got tiny shards of glass embedded in it. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to take a chance on getting my hands all cut up over a two-dollar dish towel.”
    â€œDon’t you have a class this morning?” Kenya replied.
    â€œYes, mother,” Sidney said sarcastically, “but it was canceled. Did you just come over to check up on me, or is there another reason why you’re here so early?”
    â€œNo, I just needed to…” Kenya began, but stopped. Sheleaned back against the counter, watching her sister examine the coffee machine. There was no way she was going to tell her that she had been flustered by a man. She was the oldest sister, the one in charge. She was perfect, always responsible and accountable. To appear otherwise would be out of character. “Make sure you were okay.”
    â€œThat sounds a lot like checking up on me.”
    â€œDo you need anything?” Kenya asked, walking out of the kitchen. Sidney followed.
    â€œWhat’s wrong with you?” Sidney asked. “You’re all jittery and nervous.”
    â€œI’m not nervous. I just wanted to check on my younger sister. Is that so bad?” Sidney looked at her suspiciously. “Never mind, don’t answer. What’s the rest of your day look like?”
    â€œI have to study for my class tomorrow and then prepare for my internship the rest of the day.”
    â€œHow’s that going?” Kenya asked.
    Sidney smiled. “It’s an internship. I’m working for free. How do you think it’s going? But it does have its perks, so I’m dealing with it.” Sidney sat on the arm of the sofa as Kenya grabbed her purse. Kenya looked at her, then at the sofa, then back at her. “Fine, fine,” Sidney said and stood up.
    The rule had always been not to sit on the arm of the sofa. Kenya was not about to let it slide just because her mother was away. “Okay, if you need me, call me. I’ll be at the boutique all day. But I need to