Generation 2 Chapter 1: Amanda Vista

In the midst of my routine after school reading, Puzzle hesitantly interrupted one afternoon, “You know, you should really watch what you say to Bee and Aiden. They’re people, too. I mean, how would you like it if they talked to you that way?”

Ignoring his commentary, I continued on, eager to turn the pages more and more quickly as the climax intensified. “Amanda,” he stated, well aware I had chosen to brush of his advice.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I sighed, slamming the book shut. 

“Every day at school, you, Brian and Brianna all gang up on the two of them. It’s not fair. Amanda, you know they have disabilities.”
“How would you know that? I don’t take you to school with me.”

“I have my ways,” he admitted.

“Sure you do…” I replied, rolling my eyes in an attempt to avoid his glare.  

“Stop changing the subject!” he flared. “You need to stop it! Think about how they feel when you guys call them those names! Don’t you think they already go through enough every day?”

“Like I said, I have no idea what you’re talking about. Besides, I’m perfectly nice when I talk to them here at home. They understand that it’s what I have to do to be cool at school.”

“That’s what this all about?! Being cool?! Amanda, please tell me this is some type of sick joke! You can’t be serious!”

“I wouldn’t expect you to care, Puzzle,” I fumed. “After all, you’re nothing but a pile of rags. You probably don’t even know what popularity means.”

Puzzle’s face visibly softened. “Wh-What did you just say?”

“Oh, sorry. I forgot you have rags for ears, too!” I remarked, bolting out of the room as my anger got the best of me.

“So that would mean that 62 plus 4 is…”

“68?” Aiden guessed.

“Nope, try again. Come on, I know you can do it!” Bee coached as Aiden scribbled furiously on a pad of paper.

“66,” he stated proudly.

“Very good!” 

“Hi guys,” I greeted, internally attempting to prove to myself that I was actually capable of being kind to them.

“Mandy!” Aiden squealed. Meanwhile, Bee’s eyes were like daggers, slicing through me with little effort. Coldly, she turned back to helping Aiden and jotted something down in his notebook. It took a few moments for him to decipher what she had wrote, but soon he, too, was staring menacingly at me.  

“What?” I asked irritably. The two turned back to working on their homework as I held back the urge to punch the wall.

“Ugh! You guys are such morons! No wonder you have no friends!” I spat.

“Bee,” I heard Aiden whisper, “What’s a moron?”
“Nothing, Buddy. Just keep working.” 

As the weeks progressed, I began to feel more and more like an outcast in my own home. But it was fine, because when I was at school, I was the one who was in power. For now, though, I’ve been writing. About everything. About all the mean names I call Bee and Aiden, and why I can’t stop. About how they have practically disowned me. About how Mom and Dad have done nothing.

About how I’m going to make Bee and Aiden’s lives miserable. 

Generation 2 Prologue: Amanda Vista

 

“Wow. They’re so stupid they need each other’s help just to play on a playground!” Brian scoffed, bursting out in a fit of laughter. Brianna, his twin sister, smiled out of politeness at her brother’s rude humor while casting a sorrowful look in my direction. 

Life with Brian and Brianna as my best friends was basically a relationship constructed of lies. For all they knew, I was part of a completely normal family as an only child, much too busy on the weekends to even consider having my friends come over. But I was really just a little girl who was afraid of people knowing who she really was, that her two siblings had mental disabilities and that her mother had killed off her little brother.  

 

“Right, Mandy? Isn’t that pathetic?” Brian insisted, a cold gleam in his eyes.

“Uh, yeah. Totally,” I murmured. 
Not fooled by my answer, Brian barked, “Sometimes I don’t even know why I hang around with you guys. You’re such losers!” Bri and I watched as he stormed off in his usual fit of rage, talking to himself like a mad scientist all the while.

 

“You know he was just kidding,” Bri soothed, covering up for her brother’s behavior.

“I know,” I agreed.
“He’s just… I don’t know, socially awkward, I guess. He doesn’t really think before he says stuff,” she looked off in the distance to where my siblings were playing.
“It’s just that sometimes I feel like-” The repetitive beeping of a nearby car cut me off, leaving me unable to express how I feel.
“That’s my dad, I have to go. See you tomorrow?” Bri was already sprinting off to her car before I even had the chance to respond.   

 

Immediately after their car left the school, I trudged over to where Bee and Aiden were thoroughly enjoying themselves. “Hey guys,” I greeted.

“Hi, Amanda,” Aiden answered, too preoccupied to carry on a conversation.
“Hi Sis,” Bee chirped. “What were you guys laughing about over there?”
Her question caught me completely off guard; I had absolutely no idea how to respond. Mom and Dad always told me to tell the truth but… “We were laughing at you and Aiden,” I whispered, “And how you’re so stupid that you need each other’s help to play on the playground.”

Bee’s expression instantly hardened, and what she stated next was so monotonous it sent chills down my spine, “It’s good to know that my own sister is just like everyone else in this messed up world.”

And the Winner Is...

Congratulations to...

 

AMANDA!

 

 

That's right, Amanda won the heir vote with a total of 17 votes! Aiden was right behind her with 16, and then there was Bee with only 7!

Generation 2 Heir Vote!

All right, so it's time to vote for who you feel should carry on the Vista's legacy!

Bee~

Amanda~

Aiden~

Please leave votes here!

Generation 1 Chapter 14: Amani Vista

“Losing a child is like a broken down car. To go in reverse brings painful memories. To go forward is too scary without your child. So we sit in neutral with our hands clutched to the emergency brake, hoping someday to find a way to run again.” –Denise Bellion 



 

Nothing can ever prepare you for losing a child…

Nothing.
But once it happens, you realize how cruel the world actually is. How unfair. How heartless.
I figured the C-section would be where the complications ended, just a minor setback in welcoming the next Vista into our family.
But I was wrong… So very, very wrong.

 

After the procedure, things appeared to be going relatively smoothly given the predicament. Our bouncing baby boy was being cleansed, and Concord and I were discussing a name for our new bundle of joy.

We settled on Pratt. Pratt Vista.
Within the first few hours of my recovery, however, an anxious nurse came up to my bedside, her face contorted into a mixture of emotions. All I remember was her explaining that Pratt had passed away due to low oxygen supply as a result of heavy chemical build up in his lungs. The rest remains a blur.
I was discharged from the hospital a few days later, and Concord and I proceeded to go to routine support groups. They’re helpless things, if you ask me.
Wearing black to express my sorrow is a much more prominent method.  

 

Painting became my venting outlet, allowing me to express my emotions in a way like no other. No one could judge your interpretation of your feelings, so I felt comfortable standing at the easel for hours a day, using abstract art to exhibit how Pratt changed my life.

 

Some mornings I awake to the sound of Concord choking in between sobs, doing his best to keep his misery a secret. I don’t think he understands that he doesn’t always have to be so strong for me… I’m my own person; I can make my own decisions.

But yet again, we see where that got me.   

 

Albany’s been worried sick about me, insisting that I’m too distant and that I should invest in some professional help.

She just doesn’t understand. No one does. 
I’ll be heading back to work in a few weeks anyways, something I’ve been longing to do ever since I delivered Bee. That’s something that’s bound to help me take my mind off things. 

 

“Mom, whatever happened to Pratt?” Amanda asked curiously, interrupting her bedtime story one evening.

“What do you mean by that, Sweetie?” I asked tentatively, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
“Well, we met him at the hospital, but he never came home with us.”
I didn’t know how to answer her. “I’ll tell you when you’re a bit older, Sweetheart.”
“But Mom, I want to know now.”
“Goodnight, Amanda,” I stated calmly, flicking off the lights.   

 

That same night, while enjoying the peace and quiet of a sleeping house, Concord asked in a voice barely above a whisper, “Are we ever going to talk about it?”

“There’s nothing to talk about,” I snapped back.
“Amani, we lost a child for Heaven’s sake!”

 

“You mean I killed our child,” I corrected.

“Oh Amani…” Concord gasped, “I-I had no idea that’s how you felt.”
I glanced away, tears cascading down my cheeks.

 

The days soon started to blend together, and before I knew it, I barely knew what month it was. Bee’s grades were slipping drastically in school, due to Concord having to care for all three kids while I painted all day. Finding time to help Bee with her algebra was no longer one of Concord’s main priorities, preparing dinner and making sure Aiden had a clean diaper appeared to be more essential.

We think Amanda’s been feeling quite neglected recently, as she’s followed Bee’s example and turned Puzzle “real”. Not to mention that Bee’s addiction to Tubby has been worsening, spending hours each evening watching TV and apparently talking to him.

 

I was snapped back into reality when I woke up one morning and took a long look at Aiden. He was no longer the adorable little toddler I remembered him to be. Instead, in his place was a handsome young man, bubbling with enthusiasm and vulnerability.



Generation 1 Chapter 13: Amani Vista

 

After handling Bee during her toddler years, Concord and I had a basic system worked out on how to handle teaching life skills to kids with learning disabilities. Unfortunately, our method turned out not to be a “one size fits all” type of thing, and we were back to square one with Aiden. Concord decided to tackle talking first, and I left him to do whatever he felt necessary in that department. But whenever Concord attempted to get Aiden to form the simplest word, he’d just look up with his big eyes and guilt Concord into letting him play with Riddle some more.

It’s not my fault he’s a softie.

 

We recently purchased a costume chest for Bee to use to her little heart’s content, and I must admit, I’m having fun just watching her! She absolutely adores the princess outfit, and it’s great to see her finally playing something that doesn’t involve her doll, Tubby. She’s too attached to that thing, in my opinion. It just can’t be healthy for a girl her age.

 

Speaking of age, it has most definitely taken its toll on both Concord and I, which is to be expected, no one can stay perfectly young forever. Thankfully, I was still able to successfully conceive despite my additional years, and the entire family has been buzzing with excitement. Albany was particularly thrilled about this pregnancy, too, as she had discovered not all that long ago that she was expecting as well! What greater joy is there than being pregnant at the same time as your best friend?  

 

Amanda’s grown up quite a lot lately, too, maturing before our very eyes. She’s developed a new hobby, literature, and I’m certainly not complaining. She’s either plopped in front of the computer, typing away at her latest novel, or curled up in a ball reading the Harry Potter series.

 

The girls have been getting along great, playing make believe with their dolls and just enjoying the life of sisterhood. Of course, there’s the occasional quarrel, but that’s nothing we can’t handle. I just hope the two of them will always be this close!

 

My craving for apples from Aiden’s pregnancy has failed to go away, which I’m thinking is hopefully a good sign. Perhaps apples equal boys in the world of fertility? Who knows…  

 

Carrying this child has been excessively stressful, the back pain has been unbearable and the nausea has not been treating me kindly. Therefore, I’ve been left with that dirty internal feeling that I know so well from previous experiences. Maybe you just didn’t drink enough last time, my subconscious encouraged. I stared at the bottle of detergent in front of me, eyeing it as if it were mimicking me in the most sinister of ways. What? Are you chicken, Amani? Come on, you know it’ll work. You just know it.

So I took a swig, and I instantaneously knew my body was cleansed.
And I started early on in the pregnancy, too, early enough to maybe take a small drink every few weeks. That’ll make for a healthy baby, right?
Of course it will!  

 

Once Aiden finally had a basic understanding of talking, it was my turn to teach him how to walk. Whenever I’d let go of his hands to give him a chance to try it out for himself though, he’d grip onto my fingers for dear life, thinking it was hysterical to watch me get frustrated.

 

You may think that with three children and another one on the way, intimacy may be a rare site between the two of us. But nope, Concord and I do our best to set aside some time for just the two of us! The kids think it’s gross, but they’ll understand how important communication is in a relationship once they’re older.

 

For Bee’s thirteenth birthday we had a small party at the house, something that concerned both Concord and I. Our little girl was becoming a teenager, and not once had she ever brought up the subject of a friend, or even meeting anyone at school. Instead, she goes on and on for hours about Tubby.

Yes, the doll. 

 

Bee ended up taking after good old me. Her facial structure was exactly like mine, as were her eyes. But she had Concord’s gorgeously colored hair. What scared me the most was how she started wearing makeup… She really was getting older!

 

Things weren’t smooth sailing from that point on, like with many (if not all…) teenagers. Bee was ecstatic that Tubby was “growing up with her” and how he was always “right by her side whenever she needed him”. Her newly acquired actions started to scare Concord and I, and we weren’t exactly sure how to handle the situation.

After a while though, we noticed she started to tone it down a little bit. Plus, Tubby wasn’t anywhere to be found, Bee must’ve come to her senses and donated the doll to a charity or something.

 

Just when we thought everything was resolved, we came to the conclusion that it was far from it. Bee started talking to herself, or at least that’s what is seemed like. However, she then explained that she was talking to Tubby. Now that caught us off card. One particular incident, though, happened to set Concord off:

“I’ll make my bed in a second, Dad. Tubby was just telling me this hilarious joke! Go on Tubby,” she smiled, turning her attention to the empty space next to him.
“I’ve had enough of all this Tubby talk, Bee! You’re 13 for crying out loud! Tubby doesn’t exist! He’s a doll! Get over it!” 
“Dad! Watch what you say! He’s right next to you! Gosh!” 
Concord glanced to his right, and then his left, before calmly answering, “Sweetie, there’s no one next to me. Now what do you say we just put all of this Tubby business behind us?”
“I knew you wouldn’t understand,” she choked, pushing past him as a tear slid down her cheek.

 

After a stressful day of cooperating with Aiden as we tried our hand at walking, I was thrilled to spend my evening in front of the TV. Concord was outside working on his latest sculpture, so I pulled out a bendy straw and decided to treat myself with some laundry detergent. It had been a long day, I certainly deserved it.

 

But just as Sarah went to tell Brad she was pregnant, (hey, with kids you miss out on all of your soaps!) Concord came inside looking for his wrench. I tried my best to appear completely oblivious to the bottle of laundry detergent on the side table next to me, but Concord took one glance at me and was immediately suspicious. Once he spotted the straw in the jug he put two and two together and soon understood perfectly what was going on. He looked away, covering his mouth in horror.

 

After that, we had a nice, lengthy chat. I spilt everything, why I was doing it, how long I’ve been drinking it, and anything else that I found to be of importance. Concord tried his best to be compassionate, but it was obvious he was gravely worried. He didn’t just let me off the hook though, that night he arranged an appointment with a therapist, as well as a few checkups with my doctor.

About a month before my due date, I went into an unnaturally uncomfortable labor… I knew my age would add a few extra roadblocks, but this just couldn’t be right.