I don't know where I left off when I last had a subscription here. So, I guess I'll just start this with a bit of background.
I spent far too much time getting a master's degree in a subject that, despite my love of the material, is absolutely worthless in a society that doesn't value writing. I tried reality hard to find a good job with my degree in my original city, failed, and then moved to Washington DC with a friend of mine, hoping to get a job there. Unfortunately, my degree was just as useless there, and all I managed in a year were a couple part time gigs at the Halloween store, and a grocery store. That had been my big attempt to go make something of myself, and I failed... miserably.
It was too expensive a place to live, and my job was too inconsistent with hours, so I had to move back home with my dad. He, at the same time, had just gotten a divorce from my mother, who left him for another man. So, he was happy to have the company. After a bit of peace, and more unsuccessful job hunting, my brother and his four kids, and my alcoholic sister moved back in with us. Full house, eight people.
Because he's a single dad, and works 12 hour shifts at the hospital, I decided to take a break from my fruitless job hunting to help him with the kids. So, for about a year, I did all of the cooking and cleaning around the house. Then the pandemic hit, and any hope of finding a job went out the window for another year.
I took a chance at getting out on my own, at starting an adult life outside of the family home, and I failed in a stunning fashion. So, here I sit. Unemployed, cooking for a family of eight, and taking care of kids that aren't mine.