Marcy knocked on the dark oak door and waited. She looked at the dings and scratches at the door’s bottom. You’d think they could keep better care of their things with all their money.

“Hiii, welcome, welcome!” The door was flung open by her sister with a child clinging to her neck. “Don’t mind Jayden. He’s having a bit of a tantrum, aren’t you, dear?” She patted his back and kissed his head.

“I’m a little late, sorry. Traffic was awful.” Marcy walked inside. The high-ceiling living room was very untidy. It was covered in toys and what looked like a bunch of cheap blankets. She had better blankets in her apartment.

“No worries, nothing runs on time here.” Her sister laughed and walked into the kitchen. “We were just finishing up the food. Sit anywhere. I don’t know what the others are up to.”

Marcy pushed aside some toys off one couch cushion and sat with her back straight, knees touching. She didn’t want to put her purse down in case one of her sisters many kids ran off with it like last time. The TV was on, but it was muted. What a waste to have to such a giant TV and no one’s watching it.

“Do you want an appy?” Her sister leaned over the open bar that separates the kitchen.

“A what?”

“Ah kids, I’ve been talking their language. An appetizer, something to start with I meant.”

“I’m good, thank you.” Marcy felt disappointment. Her sister had a degree, not just a degree, a whole masters degree and yet here she was, living in less than cleanliness and talking like a child.

“Just a few more minutes.” Her sister walked in and collapsed her body on the couch finally letting go of Jayden, rolling him off her. “So, how are you big sis?”

Marcy watched Jayden pull himself up and sit staring at the TV. His big blue eyes looked like her sisters which looked like their fathers. Genes have been carried on.

“I’m good. You?”

“How’s Bob? Bob, wasn’t it?”

“Tom. We broke up.”

“Ah dear, I’m sorry to hear. Why so?”

“Got bored.” Marcy said nonchalantly but she remembered the tears and yelling from the last fight they had. Tom was adamant about no children and she just wanted the possibility. “What about you? Still with Mark?”

“Still with?” She slapped Marcy’s knee gently. “Of course you silly, we’re going to be ‘still with’ for the rest of our lives.”

Marcy smiled thinly. Of course. A nice house, a large family, the perfect husband. Her little sis had it all.

A timer dinged somewhere from the kitchen at the same time a loud thud came from the hall just as Mark came down the stairs and started yelling about something.

“Such chaos,” Marcy said with a sympathetic look.

“My beautiful chaos.” Her sister smiled.

Marcy watched her stand up, putting Jayden right back around her neck. The quietness of her one bedroom apartment was so much better. She really did have the better life. With a sigh, she stood up herself and went to help her sister with her struggles.