When and Why??

I got a phone call from that Grandmother I was told was at deaths door. My 33 year old uncle had composed himself a nice little sob story about being broke and being on the edge of homelessness. A state he is quite accustomed to. So this woman I haven't truly spoken to since I was 13 years old is calling me and asking me what i make of his email.



" I hurt my back so i can't work. I haven't eaten in three days. Rent due and I'd rather die than be homeless again. "



The last time this happened he ended up hold up in my brother's room smoking his smokes and half of my brother's weed for a year.



So I did the thing I've been doing for years. Said I'd check up on him and make sure everything was okay. Just now passing the time until my ride gets here and I can't help but ask myself some questions this whole situation brings up.



When the fuck did it become my job to make sure this family is looked after. I'm in the middle of everything. When my aunt calls my mom pushes the phone to me and whispers 'I'm not here'. We talk and after I'm asked if I think she's manic again. My dad phones and my brother says 'I'm not here' and I'm asked how much I think he's had to drink tonight. My grandmother calls and I'm asked to make sure my uncle is still alive.

I'm twenty years old. He's thirty three. And I'm the one that needs to help him out.

When and why did it become my responsibility?