Every happy family is unhappy in its own way. Michael’s family seemed to be falling apart right in front of him. All of the lies seemed to make this “one big happy family” break into pieces.

Michael was suspicious of his father’s absences all the time, so he followed him one day after school. Michael found out his father had another wife, and three other children. All of those business trips he claimed to take every other week were all lies. It was just a pathetic excuse to spend time with his other family. Michael never felt so betrayed or heartbroken in his entire life. Tears trickled down his face as he saw his father with a smile on his face while having a baseball catch with his other son. He wasn’t sure if he should confront his father about the situation because in that moment he didn’t know who he would choose. Not in the right mindset, Michael took a bus home from Philadelphia to New York City, and told his mother about what just happened.

Once he told his mom, some sort of relief took over her face. She told Michael she already knew about the other family. Michael was confused and hurt that his parents would keep this from him. His mother told him that they haven’t been the happy family they act like they are for a long time, but she needed his money and benefits that his job secured them with.
Michael’s mom told his father that he could see other people, but they needed to stay married for the sake of him and his future. More frustrated with his father for actually going out and making another family instead of working on the one he already had, he confronted his dad with tears in his eyes and said, “I will never forgive you for this.”
“Please don’t do this Michael, you don’t know the whole story.”
“I know enough Dad. You’re a coward for actually going out and making a new family when you could have made the one you already had better.”
“Please stop Michael, you don’t understand.” He said with a worried look upon his face.
“You’re right I don’t. Just leave me alone, I don’t even want to see you right now.”
“I’m so sorry you had to find out like this.”
“I don’t care what you have to say anymore, just leave me alone.”
Months went on and Michael wouldn’t talk to either his mother or father, until one day he walked downstairs and told his dad he wanted to meet his two brothers, and his sister. His father looked shocked and excited at the same time. He told Michael he always wanted them to meet, but under different circumstances.
He continued to ramble on about how sorry he was, but Michael looked up at him and said, “Are you done yet?” His father took a step back, and said, “I know you’re mad but there is no need for the attitude.”
Michael rolled his eyes and as he walked away he mumbled the words “Screw you.”

The next morning Michaels father woke him up around seven am and told him if he wants to meet his brothers and sister he better get dressed because the next train to Philly is in a half hour. Michael wasn’t sure if he was making the right decision, he knew he wanted to meet them but he wasn’t sure if he wanted to know their ages because then it all would become real. His whole life will soon become a lie, but he was ready to face reality.

The train ride was long, and Michael is anxious. Hours pass and the train came to a halt. Everyone stampedes toward the door triggering Michael’s claustrophobia. He loses his father after being swallowed up by the crowd. He begins to wonder if he should just run instead of sticking around and waiting for his father. Michael hears someone screaming his name. He looks back and sees a girl with long blonde hair and crystal blue eyes. The world around him seemed to stop, as he focused on her beauty. People were screaming at him to move, but he couldn’t. He was hypnotized by the feeling he got while looking at her.

Michael runs to the girl, and says, “Did you call my name?” She looks at him with a horrified look on her face. Michael then says again, “Excuse me did you call my name?”

“Um… are you Michael?” She said.

“Yes, and who are you?” He said, with stars in his eyes.

“Apparently I’m your…… Wait hold on you’re telling me you don’t remember?” She said, with a mad look on her face.

“No? I have no clue what you’re talking about, but I have to go.” He said franticly.

“Don’t go wait, do you remember the party you were at last weekend? I’m the girl you kissed.”

Michael’s jaw dropped, and his eyes widened with happiness.

“You’re telling me, you and me kissed?”

“Um.. Yes I mean I know you were a little drunk but I can’t believe you don’t remember.”

“I’m so sorry! What’s your name again?”

“Just forget it. I have to help my dad look for his son goodbye.” She said, as she stomped away.

Michael was so shocked, he knew he kissed someone but he didn’t know it was her, and he couldn’t believe he just let her go. After about 5 minutes of standing there in shock he decided to go after her. Once he starts running, his father appears in front of him and says, “Where you going? Come on I have my whole family here looking for you.”

Michael couldn’t get the girl out of his mind, he thought about ditching his father again and just going to look for her. Michael keeps his head down, not wanting to talk with anyone. His father shouts to his “wife” Rebecca “We’re over here.”
Michael looks up and he can’t believe what he sees, the blonde haired girl walking right toward them. The next thing he knows she is hugging his father, and his father says, “This is your sister, Claire.”

Michael stood there in complete shock along with Claire. They looked at each other with horrified eyes. Michael then blurted out, “How old are you?” She stared at him with her crystal blue eyes and said, “I’m 13.” Michael let out a gasp, as he tried to catch his breath. He then said, “Oh I’m Michael, and I’m 17.”

The car ride home was awkward. Michael tried to avoid talking to Claire by talking to his new brothers. Once they got home, Michael walked up his father and said, “You’ve been lying to me since I was 4? She is 13 so you must have been having this affair since.”

“I’m sorry son I told you that before, but I did it to protect you.” He said with tears in his eyes.

“You weren’t protecting me Dad, but you let yourself believe that.”

Michael and his dad both had tears running from their eyes by the end of their talk, they both wanted to have a relationship, you could tell by the way Michael fought him. Michael has to trust him again and that will take time.

Michael decided to stay for dinner only to make sure Claire wouldn’t tell anyone about what happened. After dinner he walked up to Claire and said, “You can’t tell a soul.” And she agreed.

Michael then marched downstairs to his father and said, “Honestly you should stay here, I don’t want you in my life anymore. You’ve lied to me my whole life I’m done.” His father didn’t object, and that’s when it hit him that his father never actually cared about him.

Michael got on the train back to NYC. When he got home he broke the news to his mom, and she said “We’ll be okay son, I love you.”