Family meeting

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The next day was Saturday with Shanell not having school they let her sleep in while the brothers and parents sat together in the living room brainstorming on what to do next. Barry looked at Andy they had tabled the discussion last night and just spent time with their sister trying to make her feel better. Now they needed to know if anything that Andy had gotten from her. “you were gone for quite a ride Andy ….”

He nodded “yes and yes she told me everything …. she also said that she thought the concert was a good idea if it worked she'd go with it....” He would have to talk to Barry about the other thing he told Shanell soon because if this concert idea didn't work they had to find another way to fix this before they went back home. “we also need a back up plan in case this doesn't work...” he looked at his parents. He wasn't sure how this was going to go over but he would have to put it out there. “I Told her if this didn't work then she can come live with me ….”He waited for the uproar, when they all started talking at once he raised his voice a bit. “hey come on keep it down she's still sleeping....look its bad …. its not just the students that are giving her a problem …. its also the teachers....”

“what do you mean its also the teachers ...” Robin frowned “and wait a minute moving in with you?” he looked at Barry who was looking at Andy. “So your place in Malibu or with you and Barry...” He shook his head “Andy … I get that you want to get her away from this .. but our sister is sixteen … she needs supervision and I don't think Mum....”

“what don't I think Robin dear ...” Barbara frowned She knew Andy had wanted to take Shanell with him when he left last year but she thought he had gotten over that. Yet he was bringing it up and had even offered it to his sister. She wasn't sure what she thought about this. She knew her daughter was unhappy and then seeing what happened at her school yesterday she knew that her daughter would jump at the chance. If she was that unhappy she looked at her youngest son who was watching her. She looked at Barry who had not said much. she knew she had this discussion with Andy when he left last year she always let her sons do what they needed for their dreams, “are you sure Shanell wants to do this Andy?”

Andy sat down near his mom he had gotten up to pace “yes mum... she wanted to go with me last year but we knew that wouldn't be a good idea I was just settling in and really working on my career … but now I have a home. …. mum.... but its only if this concert doesn't work. She wants to try the concert first but if that doesn't work … then yes she wants to come with me … I know that its a big decision mum....” He took her hand “but I rather take her with me mum... than have her deal with what I did … and then to see those girls attack her yesterday it tore my heart out … she's skipping school to avoid them mum its not good.....”

Barbara sighed “I knew it was bad sweetheart … its why I called.... but I could not get her to tell me what was going on...I had no clue she was missing school just to get away from the harassment...” She sighed looking at her youngest son his eyes worried as he looked towards the door his little sister still sleeping. “you said it was more than just the students that its the teachers also?”

Andy nodded he was not breaking his sisters confidences because she did not tell him not to tell them. He frowned “they tell her she's not working to her potential if she doesn't try out for the choir or doing something. Then if she does try it out they tell her she's not good enough or she's showing off in front of the other students” He sighed “she can't catch a break … the kids harass her because either they don't like our music …. or they like it too much. If she doesn't invite them over they think she's stuck up. They had an issue that they were not invited to her party last month but Shan said she didn't invite any of them because she wanted to spend time with us because she didn't get to see us that much and she knew how they would react.” He ran a hand through his hair looking at Barry “I know I should have asked you before I offered it to her Barry considering I am staying at your house right now.. but if you saw the tears in her eyes ...” He sighed “I couldn't leave her to deal with this … I know how bad it was when I was younger its happening all over again...... telling her that she thinks shes better than anyone just because she's our sister …. she was crying … it tore my heart out ...” He shook his head again “yesterday was just the tip of the iceberg with everything that was going on.... “

Barry nodded “I understand Andy but lets try the concert first see if it works then … if it doesn't go to the next step … I don't mind … that you told her that....” he sighed “I am not sure it will fix all the issues but we have to try....”

“give what a try?” They all turned to see Shanell standing there in her robe rubbing her eyes. She had heard them talking but couldn't hear them clearly. When Barry held out his arms she climbed into his lap resting her head on his shoulder yawning. She snuggled close as he wrapped his arms around her.

“the concert we were talking about what to do ….” Andy stated before he moved to sit next to Barry. “I told mum Starlight... that if this doesn't work …. then I want to take you with me....” He brushed the blonde bangs out of her eyes. “she wants to know if that is what you want?” He watched as she lifted her head looking over at their mother.

She frowned then looked back at Andy then up at Barry before looking at their mother again. “I do mum.... I I don't want to deal with this anymore mummy....” her voice soft almost childlike because she was one half asleep and two having it all out there now how bad it was. “I want to go with Andy if the concert doesn't work I can't deal with it anymore....” she whispered. It was no longer secret she knew her brother would have told them what she told him while she was sleeping. She cuddled close to Barry resting her head on his large shoulder.

Barbara looked at them gathered as her youngest son was set by her oldest with their little sister between them. “lets talk about that later in case this concert does work.... it might work sweetheart....” She was hoping as she did not want to see her little girl harassed anymore. She also would miss her if she left with Andy and Barry. Though she had a sinking feeling she would be leaving with her youngest son back to the states. she would not argue if this is what her little girl wanted to do she had let her sons do what they needed if this was needed to be done to make her daughter happy again then so be it.