“Oh good, you're up,” My mom said. She was still in her bathrobe, her mousey brown hair in a loose braid. I was kind of surprised by her state of undress.

“I have a late shift at the hospital today,” she said, explaining her appearance. “Do you mind dropping your—”

“Yeah. He already told me. I'm on it.” I put my plate in the dishwasher and wiped the crumbs from my hands. That was hardly the sort of bad news I’d expected. It was utterly mundane news. I was used to taking him in the mornings.

My mom filled the coffee maker with water. “Oh, before I forget, we’re going to your grandma’s house next weekend for family dinner. Eric and Joy will be in town.”

So there it was—the bad news I’d been anticipating. “Oh joy.” I rolled my eyes.

It wasn’t like Uncle Eric and Aunt Joy were my least favorite people on the planet, but they definitely made the list of top ten people I would rather not spend time with. They knew how to push my buttons without even trying.

My mom held out her hands in front of herself as if asking for forgiveness. “It’s only a meal. I know. You don’t need to tell me, and I am completely in your corner. But…”

I could tell that my mom was trying to find a diplomatic way of saying, “I know your uncle is a jackass, but he’s your dad’s only sibling and everyone’s trying their best to hold things together for your grandma’s sake.”

I pretty much got all that subtext from the tired expression on my mom’s face.

“Yeah. I got it. Best behavior.” I grabbed my jacket from a hook beside the door.

“Thanks.” My mom said as she started unbraiding her hair, combing the loose strands between her fingers. It had started graying—only a hint of silver here and there. “There’s lasagna thawing in the fridge if you can pop that in the oven when you get home.”

I shook my head. “Sorry, that’s a no-go. I’ve got robotics until eight.”

“Oh, that's right. Pete, can you get a ride home after basketball practice?”

“Maybe?” He sounded doubtful.

“That’s started already?” I groaned. My dad usually took care of post-practice pickups but he was out of town at some business conference. “Never mind. I’ll get him. I can leave robotics early.”

"Oh sweetie, you don't have to. I’m sure Pete can find another way home.” But my mom sounded uncertain.

I shook my head. “I have spoken. My word on this subject is final. Come on, twerp.” I cuffed Pete on the back of the head. Lightly.

“Hey, I’m taller than you are.” He was. When had that happened?

“Whatever. Let’s go.” I grabbed my bag and snatched my keys from the counter.

“I thought there was plenty of time for me to ‘text my little friends’ while you got your crap together.”

“Yeah, well my crap is together. Now step on it. I still don’t see why you need to be musical and athletic," I grumbled.

My brother flipped me off as he climbed into the car—the family’s old silver Honda I had kind of inherited for chauffeur duty.

After starting the engine, I cranked up the music.

If I were in a better mood, I might have opted for the standard top-40s crap that Pete liked. Or at least compromised on something we both disliked equally—like eighties boy bands or seventies disco.

Fresh from the news of the family dinner I was in no mood for anything so cheery, though. This morning called for a healthy dose of imported death metal from Sweden.

“Do you mind?” Pete dramatically clapped his hands over his ears.

“Don’t like it? When you’re the one driving to school you can pick the tunes.”

He pulled out his earbuds and jammed them in his ears in a futile attempt to block out the sound.

I pulled into the parking lot behind the row of cars dropping off kids in the morning.

“I'll pick you up right after practice,” I said as I dropped him at the front entrance. “I don’t want to waste any more time than I have to carting you around.”

Pete grabbed his cello from the back. “Yeah. I get it. Robots are more important than your own flesh and blood.”

“So you got the memo. Good.” I took my place in the long line of cars waiting to turn out of the parking lot. Sometimes having a younger brother was a real pain in my ass.

I drove a little faster than I should have, given that the road beside the school was a known speed trap.

Then I saw flashing lights in my rearview mirror and heard the briefest start of a siren. What a way to start my day.