KNOWING WHEN TO SHUT UP

[Donovan]

I had to severely limit my interaction with little brother, which was tough because due to the nature of our childhood I basically raised him on my own from the time I was 12. Blamed myself for years because of a lot of the ways he turned out were based on things I had made happen. I still see him from time to time, and we still can hang out for an afternoon and shoot the shit, but we're nowhere near as close as we once were.

[aussiefriend]

I was the eldest and was left in charge of my siblings most of the time. I just think that who we become in life is up to us. It's our decision. I don't walk around with a chip on my shoulder, I just get on with it. Anyway, my sister has taken her journey to a whole other level, it's like she embraces evil.

[Donovan]

Mine was more than babysitting, pop strongarmed my mother for custody then basically left us to our own devices for days at a time. We lived in roach motels and hooker havens in every state west of the Mississippi and dined on only the finest packaged ramen noodles our meager funds could buy. Sallie used to joke about me digging in the couch to find money for food, but that was pretty much the size of it. Except they don't have couches in roach motels so usually it was change left on countertops or in pants pockets, whatever I could hoard.