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Today’s middle class Americans maintain a stable outlook which in reality masks the turmoil existing behind drawn blinds.
There is alcoholism, promiscuous sex, for the adult and teenager alike, and, for some, the breakup of marital relationships as a result of mate-swapping. The children observe their parents’ so-called “mature” lifestyles. The mark is made and the effect lasts a lifetime.
This is the story of a family without parents, a story in which family relationships—those of two daughters and two sons—follow an unusual course of development in the absence of two adults figures. What happens to these children is a startling revelation of how events can alter personalities, how fate plays with all.
HER BROTHERS WERE BEST-a novel with a lesson for those unaware of what is really happening behind the closed doors of America.
Jean Henderson heard her younger sister come in the front door. As usual a male voice accompanied Hetty’s giggly exclamations. Jean turned the page of her textbook and tried to concentrate on her reading. But Hetty’s young voice carried through the big house. She heard footsteps descending the steps to the playroom. After a few more moments she heard the bong of the pinball machine as it was punched into action.
Jean closed her book and walked slowly across her room. Always the same pattern, almost the identical time. Every day, or every other day anyway. It wasn’t that Hetty was doing anything wrong when she brought a boy home. It was the fact that she brought home so many different ones. And Jean felt especially responsible for her sister’s morals. Their parents had died in a tragic automobile accident. Luckily, a comfortable estate had been left, enough to take care of the four children.
At twenty-eight, Jean sometimes felt like a fusty old mother to her two brothers and Hetty. Rick and Mark were twins. Not identical, but born within hours of each other. Ricky was blond, slight of build, tall. Mark resembled his brother somewhat but was more athletic. And Mark was darker too. His personality seemed to match his brooding brown eyes. He had dark brown hair that hung long over his collar. Though almost as tall as Ricky, he looked shorter because of his broad shoulders and thick build.
Fictional reading for entertainment purposes only.
Note: This story is the same as catalog number SE-1018 in the original publications (a duplicate).