Good morning all. I slept like a stone last night. No clue why. No dreams no nothing. I just closed my eyes and then opened them when the alarm went off. I don’t know why I find that so disconcerting. Still, another day begins. So let’s jump into our morning prompt. Ready, set write!
Something is going to happen. I just don’t know to who. There are so many possibilities. I think I’d have to figure out which way I wanted it to play before I continued, but I think that the family taking in Jared for the summer might have a change in plans suddenly.
Wednesday, May 3rd: I need the bigger bag.
“I need the bigger bag,” The wining tone in Jared’s voice was not attractive.
“Why,” I asked.
“Because I do,” he said. He crossed his arms over his chest. “And if I don’t get it I’m going to tell my mother that you were bullying me.”
“But I’m not,” I replied.
“True but you are the wicked step sister,” he said with a smile.
“You know that isn’t how the saying goes,” I told him. I knew better than to say the words aloud. If I did utter the phrase wicked step mother I would be grounded for a month. I rolled my eyes and sighed. I handed over the larger of the suitcases. I knew it was a pointless fight anyway. Jared would always get what he wanted. He was the little prince.
He smirked in triumph and sauntered away with his prize. I closed the door behind me, hoping I could finally pack in peace. The truth was, I didn’t need the bigger suitcase and didn’t want to be lugging it around. The midsized bag and my rucksack would do for me.
It was however my luggage set. Theoretically I could have used all three bags, the large the medium and the train case if I wanted to. Jared had his own set, identical in all but color. His however had developed a distinct aroma. I smiled to myself. Jared was never one to put things away quickly when we returned and he always waited for someone else to deal with his laundry. Last summer he came back with a slightly damp swimsuit and several chocolates he forgot about. The chocolates called the mice in the attic and they made a nest as his swimsuit grew moldy. While it was cleaned thoroughly it now smelled heavily of mold and mouse droppings.
‘Maybe if anyone asks I can pretend I graciously loaned it to him and get some sort of points.’ It would be nice to leave on a high note. This year had not been a banner one and was very much looking forward to spending the summer with my grandparents. As they weren’t a set shared by Jared I would be on my own and for a few short weeks I wouldn’t have to watch everything I said to make sure they didn’t contain verbal land mines or look out for any of his nasty tricks.
The lack of yelling would also provide some relief. It seemed like this year I had been in nothing but trouble. And all because of Jared. If he got into trouble it was always somehow my fault. We went to completely different schools and this year I even ended up grounded because he got detention.
I still hadn’t exactly worked out how that happened. One minute he was sitting down in the living room with the parentals and I was doing my homework in my room and then suddenly I was being called down and asked how I could possibly let a thing like this happen while he sniffed back crocodile tears in the corner, shooting me triumphant grins when no one else was looking at him. It was maddening.
Ten til Midnight 