Little steps forward

 "Are you sure you're OK with everything?" Bren asked Sammie who seemed to be stuck in her new room.

"I'm fine," she gave her a weak smile as she sat on her bed and looked about the empty room. Bren knew it was nothing like Sammie. She liked art. She'd brought her notebooks. Bren imagined her being someplace quiet, sketching perhaps another world.

"You can tell me more than that," Bren plopped down next to her, but Sammie practically jumped. She hugged herself.

"I..I haven't seen Mario in..in a long time," She finally looked at Bren.

"Has he changed?" Bren looked at her blankly. She couldn't imagine him ever being any different.

"Oh, you know," Sammie let a smile break to her solemn face. "He's..he's my big brother and I always thought a lot of him." But it was back to being closed lip and somber. "But, he always told me I wasn't his first little sister."

"Really?" Bren made light of it.

"You know, he's got a sister. Do you know her?" Sammie was serious as her dark eyes could be. She was so pale, like a little creature who might feel safer in a forest.

"Um," Bren nodded.

"I always wanted to meet her," Sammie said. "He talked about her so much. I always felt he was comparing the two of us. Does she live around here?"

"Not too far. She used to live close to him but she had a baby and she's in a burb near here," Bren told her.

"I see."

"She's married. Maybe you two can get together. All three of you," Bren suggested.

"Maybe." But Sammie sounded that wouldn't happen. She then mentioned a lot of things hadn't happened lately. "My mom's not even with my dad anymore. She was mad when he wouldn't let me come and stay with his new family."

"Look, we're glad you're here," Bren gave her a pat on the back. "I'm sure when Mario has more time, you two can catch up. I'll make sure he finds some time. But then again, you might not have the time, either."

"What do you mean?" She looked at her, kind of surprised as if she was too timid to be a part-timer.

"Have you ever worked?" Bren asked.

"Just babysitting." Sammie was even-lipped.

"Do you want to find a job?" Bren wanted to know.

"I dunno," she sighed as if it might make her nervous.

"It's a good start, you know, being out on your own. I mean, as in life skills. You know, working with other people, learning how to handle a cash register and customers." Bren mentioned there were some opportunities at the grocery store. "But you might want to work some other place. So you won't have to be around us, all the time."

Sammie nodded as if she'd think about it.

"But, there's no hurry. You need to get settled in school first." Bren nodded.

Sammie sighed as if she hated that idea the most.