Then it happened

Chapter 2

"Izzy, please, leave me alone," I said to my little sister. She shook her blond curls and looked at me. "No, I want to be with you!" She insisted. I put down my book. "But I want to be alone right now," I said, looking back.

"Shey, Izzy, come down here," My mother said from downstairs. "Coming Mom!" I called back and grabbed my sisters hand. "Come on, you wanted to be with me? Here is your chance." She followed me downstairs, and in the living room we were met with a pile of stuff in the middle of the floor. My Mother stood by the pile with a broom in her hand. "I need your help cleaning up," she said.

I nodded, knowing it was best not to argue. Izzy, however, had a different idea. "I dont want to, Mommy," she said confidently. I looked at her, fear in my eyes, mixed with wonder, and eager to find out what was going to happen next.

My Mother looked at her, dead in the eyes, and said, "Did I ask?" Izzy looked back, and I could see fear on her face, suddenly shy. "No, Mommy," she said, after a minute, staring at the floor. "Great! What are you going to pick up then?" My Mother asked. "Books," was the reply.

"I'm home!" Aaron said as he walked through the front door. "Tasha, Shey, I need your help with the wood."

"Yes Dad," I replied, hating the words. After I helped unload the wood Aaron had picked up on his way home, I went up to Tasha. "Mom, can you text Dad and ask him if we can zoom? I want to try it out on the kindle today," I asked.

"No need to zoom, I am here," I heard Aaron call from across the yard. I glared at him and said nothing, turning back to my Mother. "Sure, why not," she said. "Ok, thanks! I'm going to to read while I wait for him to text back," I said and ran back into the house.

I was met by my other little sister, Brinley. "Oh no, did you cut your hair again?" I asked seeing a lock of her hair in her hand. "No, Josy did," she said, pointing at our little brother who was sitting innocently on the floor. His name was Josiah, but as she couldnt say it she said "Josy".

"Alright, lets go tell Mom," I said picking up Josiah and opening the door to let Brinley out. I followed her down the stairs, across the deck, to the firepit where Tasha was building a fire. "Mom, Josiah cut Brinley's hair again," I called. She turned around and sighed. "Not again, we are going to have to shave her hair at this rate," she said, taking Josiah from me and setting him on the ground.

"Since I'm already here, has Dad said anything?" I asked. Tasha looked at me but before she could say anything, Aaron appeared behind me and grabbed me to tickle me. "Like I said, I am already here," he said and I broke free from his grip angry. "I obviously wasnt talking about you! Just stop it! I'm sick of you acting like your the only Dad in my life. I have a real Dad you know. Stop trying to act like your the only Dad that matters!" I yelled. Aaron looked surprised, as usually I kept my cool.

I turned back around, happy that he was speechless. "Has he?" I asked my Mother again. "Yes, go get the kindle and you can zoom now." She answered, looking at Aaron, and I saw anger flash in her eyes before looking back at me.

I smiled as I went to get the kindle, happy I had finally said what I had wanted to say for a while.

Back in my room, with the kindle on my bedside table, I was telling my Dad about what had happened. "And then he just looked surprised, and I LOVED it!" I said as I laughed, remembering Aarons face. "Thats great Shey, I have to go now, my shift is coming up," Dad said. The happiness left my face. "Oh, ok then, bye Dad!" I said. "Bye Shey, I will talk to you tomorrow. If you want someone to talk to, try Riley," He said. I nodded before I hung up.

"Wanna call later?" I messaged Riley through Zoom. "Sure, I am at Grace's though." Was the reply. "Ok" I said back.

The rest of the day, was spent checking to make sure the kindle hadnt closed. Finally, after everyone had gone to bed, I took out the kindle.

"I'm ready" I told Riley. "Ok, call" they answered.

"Hey," I whispered when they answered. "Do you mind being a little quiet? I don't think I'm supposed to be on call and I would rather not find out."

"Sure, why not," they said. "This is Grace, she is with me instead of on duo like last time." I saw a hand wave before Riley turned the camera onto Grace. "Hello," she said before turning back to the TV. "She looks like a five-year-old." I heard Grace comment. When usually I would have taken it as an insult, I somehow didnt care this time. "How rude!" I whispered, faking a gasp, and smiling.

Riley said something I didnt hear, and both them and Grace started laughing. After a while I fell asleep on accident, and Riley hung up when they realized I wasnt awake.

The next morning, I woke up, and panicked, because the kindle was right next to me in my bed. "Thank god they didnt come wake me up," I thought to myself, quietly walking downstairs to put it on the charger.

When I looked in the mirror, I heard Grace's voice in my ear, "She looks like a five-year-old." I smiled, and then suddenly stopped. What was so different about this girl? I wondered.