After destroying all chances my brothers had with Chloe, we watched a somewhat boring the first half of the game.
Dad scored a goal and in-sync with the crowd shouted out ""Dumbass.""
Which got him a yellow card.
The American team almost scored, but a solid save from the best player on our team, Smith, managed to keep us in the lead.
"Luna, you did the half-time interview show thingy right?"
Just as I was happily thinking about how I'd be training to win the bet I had with Dad, Chloe interrupted me with some very bad news.
"Oh no..."
"So you didn't do it?"
"Luna's lying again, Dad even said Luna was really funny and to make sure we watch it with Mom."
Thanks Felix, you traitor and Dad, you're really asking for me to make life hell for you once I win our bet.
In my past life, there were so many things I wished I had learnt as a kid; speed reading, breathing form, posture correction, walking/running form, memory palaces, ambidexterity and ventriloquism, to name a few useful skills.
With enough money, any of this is possible. Meaning Ass' wallet is going to have a great time paying for all these instructors for me hehe.
Of course, effort is needed too.
But with my adult mind and Prodigal Genius ability, I should be able to learn all this stuff easily.
"Luna, come and sit on Mommy's lap so we can watch together."
We as a collective, had all moved indoors to the bar section where they had a TV playing the live broadcast.
While it would be possible to watch it on our phones, it wouldn't be great with 8 people.
"Good evening, viewers. Welcome to the halftime show. I'm Amanda Stokes."
"And I'm Joe Schmoe. Today, we have with us 2 very special guests. First up, the biggest star in Australian football, no, some say, in Australia. The man, the myth, the legend. Aaron Leonidas!"
How did I only just realise he has the name Joe Schmoe...
Is it possible it's a stage name? If I had that name, I'd be changing it the second I could.
"That's right, I've personally spoken to our guest earlier today. A person of principle, has nerves of steel and is someone I think we can all agree can easily take down the titan, Aaron Leonidas."
"Lunaaaaa, Leonidassss!"
"Hewllo."
"Awww, Luna were you acting cute for the camera?"
Huh, did Mom already discover my cute acting strategy?
I mean, come to think of it, it was a pretty basic thing of adding w's to words to sound nasally.
"Thwat's how I nowrmally twalk."
"Luna... It's not working."
Jeez, thanks Tim, the spoilsport as always.
"Don't worry, Luna. Even without that obviously fake way of talking, you're still the cutest thing I've ever seen."
Obviously fake? Chloe I thought we were besties... apparently not anymore.
"Luna, can you tell us who your favorite parent is? Ignore your Dad staring holes at you from the side, though, ahaha."
"Luna, did you pick me?"
"Uhhhh..."
"I'm gonna answer the same way Mom does when I ask who the favorite child is... all of them or is it correct to say both in this case?"
"..."
"..."
"Luna there's a limit to acting cute, all of us here know you can pick between both and all correctly."
"Felix... I'm a 4-year-old and the world doesn't know of my genius yet. So of course, it'll work just fine."
"Luna, I'm going to show you 3 images of your mother. One has been AI-generated, another has been edited in Photoshop and the last one is a real image used when your mother applied for the BlondePossible live-action remake."
"Sniff oh... This is why... Aaron said to watch it with Luna..."
Why is Mom reacting like that?
"Huh... Mommy's an actress?"
I mean, I didn't even know this, so why do I feel like I'm in trouble?
"Well, obviously it's not the middle one. Mom doesn't wear makeup, shiny jewelry and obviously doesn't have green eyelashes. Come on, guys, humans don't have colored eyelashes or colored nails. That's silly."
Sniffle, sob
Teresa Leonidas
Chloe's parents, probably seeing something wrong, went to the bar staff and got them to turn off the TV and I decided to just hang onto Mom giving her a big hug.
"I-I'm sorry, Mommy, I was just saying that stuff for the camera. Dad told me to exaggerate whatever I was thinking."
"Oh baby, it's nothing you did wrong. It's goddamn Aaron with his stupid games."
I ended up hugging Mom tightly as she cried. Even if I don't know what went wrong I can at the very least provide emotional support.
* * *
It's now a few days after the match ended and it truly seems that mom's crying had more to do with Dad's actions than mine.
While as a kid I don't have much in terms of information, but as a former adult I can make some inferences.
Perhaps Mom was offended that Dad didn't stop the comments I made from airing or maybe just a lack of communication.
She ended up asking me about the bet I had with Dad after that she stopped crying.
Seems like ass (Dad) has another negative aspect; overly controlling.
The triplets during the whole ordeal just went quiet, with a look of 'not this again.'
And for the last few days, they've been looking at me differently, in an almost jealous way.
Which to be honest, seems even more horrifying, like why are they jealous of me I don't even get it.
At the moment while Mom was getting ready to take me to chess club I encouraged her, "Mom, you know I'll always support you right? Even when Dad is a big meanie."
"Lunnaa! How could you badmouth your Dad like that?"
The gaslighting seems to have gotten too far. She's already defensive of her husband and not for herself.
"Isn't it his fault you're sad? He leaves home for months at a time, comes home when it's convenient and is seen as the role model by all my brothers. It's you, Mom who puts in the hard work of taking care of us day after day. Without thanks, without being able to go back to what you love, while Dad is living it up and even allowing you to be made fun of on TV. What a big meanie he is."
Mom was silent for a moment.
"...Luna, while your words might be correct, Aaron is still planning on retiring soon and staying at home with us... just give it a few more years and we'lll be a big happy family."
"Did he tell you that 10 years ago when you were on your 2nd pregnancy? Or what about before having me, your 5th child? Mom, you were talking about how having 5 kids as a woman is a sacrifice many women in conglomerate families make. But I don't see how you are any different. Even worse, you had a career and now Dad is trying to ruin it, so you are stuck at home being his arm candy."
While I'm not exactly aiming for divorced parents, I believe in helping others when convenient for oneself. In Mom's case here she seems repressed at home, truly being held back.
I hope my words ignite her desire to fight back for control of her own life.
"Luna, you need to stop watching all that TV. And I only had 5 children by accident, no one can predict triplets. But I know that Aaron will come stay at home with us soon."
"Yeah right, he'll probably go live in Hollywood next or be a coach for some big-time club. While you still have us kids and need to take care of us... it doesn't mean your whole life is cancelled. When I was looking at those photos for the interview, my first thoughts weren't what I said, but how happy you looked in the photos and how I wished I could see Mom like that at everyday."
"...Luna, go to your room. We'll leave for chess in 20 minutes."
* * *
"What do you mean the old man isn't here?"
"Uh well, he ended up going to Europe for something. Jack is probably our next best player, though he'll give you a good run for your money."
After I walked away from the kind man who explained the situation, I went up to Mom, who was sitting to the side of the room.
"Mommm, the old man didn't come today, why don't you play a bit? I had all the fun last week playing Mom, you can have a turn."
"Sweetie, while it's nice of you to offer... I don't really like chess anymore. We're here for you, so go play with someone else. You can always play with a handicap or a lower time control for a challenge."
Mom has a point, she came here for me after all not herself.
Guess I'll go find that Jack guy.
I went up to the closest person I could see and asked, "Excuse me, where's Jack?"
"I'd be Jack."
"..."
"..."
"Do you not know I am playing with you today?" I questioned.
"No thank you, goodbye."
Huh, did he just up and leave?
"Nuh uh, you're playing with me."
"I'm good."
"What are you scared of losing to a little girl?"
At my taunt he paused his retreat and turned around looking me dead in the eye.
"Nah... I'd win."
What is this... some cringy teenager?
Wait actually he does look kind of young.
"Then prove it beat me if you're so good."
1 hour later
"You know what Luna, you're pretty cool for a 4 year old."
"And you're pretty annoying for a 15-year-old."
After completely thrashing him, he started getting all friendly and stopped being all cringey and weird.
What kind of self-respecting person disses their enemy (ignoring her) and then tries to be besties (moderate conversation) with them after losing in the most horrific way possible.