The Sanderson's

Chapter 6.

"Mommy! Mister Snuffles still isn't moving." Sage cried as she rushed down the stairs, almost tripping in the process.

Bryana looked up from the table, where she was holding Joshua, and attempting to feed him his afternoon snack. "I'll be up in a minute, okay?" She spoke and watched as her oldest daughter nodded, then rushed up the stairs.

Bryana finished spooning the last bite of yogurt into her son's mouth, then looked up as the front door unlocked and opened.

"Hey, babe."

Bryana listened to the rustling by the front door, then grinned as Neil walked into the dining room. "Hi, lovely." She greeted, "So, Sage's hamster... I think he's dead."

"Jesus Christ." Neil groaned and took Joshua from his fiancé's arm, kissing his sons head. "Hello, beautiful boy. How was your day today?!"

"Daddy! It was good," Joshua mumbled and wrapped his arms around his father's neck.

"I don't think he's hibernating. I think he's out of season." She sighs and stands up, pushing in the chair and picking up the mess. She threw the yogurt carton out, then tossed the spoon in the dishwasher and started it.

"You're probably right." Neil sighed and followed his pregnant fiancé as she walked up the stairs.

"Alright, sweetheart, let me see him." Bryana cooed and walked over to her daughter's dresser, where she stood in front of the open cage. Bryana reached in and poked the small mammal, her eyes widening in shock as she felt how stiff and cold it was. "Neil," She whisper-yelled over her shoulder. She turned and motioned that he was dead and then turned back around to face her daughter. "Here, let's sit down and have a talk."

Bryana sat on the edge of Sage's bed, then lifted her daughter into her lap after closing the cage. "So sometimes, our animals need to go to sleep for a while," She spoke softly, "Because they don't feel good."

"What does that mean, mama? Is he not coming back?" Sage asked with wide eyes, then looked over as her father sat down next to them.

"He's not coming back, sweetie." Neil cleared his throat and looked down at his oldest daughter, "He passed away."

"He's dead?" Sage asked as tears filled in her eyes.

"Yes, sweetheart. He is." Bryana responded and hugged her daughter close, "You remember Uncle Oliver?"

"I do, mummy." She whispered and pointed to the framed picture that she had asked for, "He sits there."

"Mr. Snuffles is with Uncle Oliver now." Neil spoke and reached over, wiping the tears that fell down his daughter's cheeks.

"Sage?"

Bryana and Neil both looked up as they heard one of the identical twins walk in.

"I'm sorry about your friend." Elle spoke quietly and walked over. "I thought he needed a bath."

"Elle! You can't put hamsters in water." Bryana scolded, "They can't swim and they can die of shock."

"You killed my hamster." Sage looked up at her sister, wiping her tears as she sniffled.

"I didn't mean to." Elle whined as tears came to her eyes.

"I hate you!" Sage yelled and stood up, glaring down at her sister.

"Kassandra Sage, we do NOT say that word in this house." Neil scolded and passed Joshua to Bryanna, standing up. Neil looked over at Elle, who was in tears and sighed, taking Sage's arm. "Apologize to your sister, now."

"No! She killed my hamster!"

Neil looked down at his eldest daughter and took a deep breath, keeping himself calm. "Go stand in the corner. Time out. Until you can apologize to your sister for saying that to her."

"I don't want to!"

"Sage, now." Bryanna spoke up and looked over at the brunette, who had tears in her eyes.

"Don't make me count." Neil threatened and then watched her run out of her room, then down the stairs and to the front door. "Come here, Elle." Neil lifted his four year old into his lap, as she wiped her eyes and walked over.

"I'm sorry I yelled at you," Bryanna apologized to her daughter, "I know you don't know any better."

"It's okay, mommy." Elle sniffled and wiped her eyes.

"I'm not mad at you, Elle, it's okay." Neil sighed and hugged his daughter tightly, "You didn't know, but next time, you're going to leave your sister's pet alone until mommy or daddy can supervise you."

"Okay, daddy." Elle said and wiped her tears, looking over at the small hamster. "I didn't mean to hurt him."

"Mistakes happen sweetheart, but hamsters can't have baths." Bryanna spoke up and watched as her daughter hugged her father.

"I'm going to save money and get her a new one." Elle nodded and looked up at her parents, a small, sad smile forming on her face.

"That's not necessary, sweetie." Neil spoke and gave her a kiss on the head and then helped her up. "Why don't we go finish your homework with Dakota?"

"Okay." Elle nodded.

Bryanna smiled and leaned over, giving Elle a kiss on the head. "When Sage is out of time out, you both are going to apologize, okay?"

"Okay, mama."

Bryanna smiled and stood up, watching as Elle and Neil walked into her bedroom. She lifted Joshua and set him down on the bed, going into Sage's closet to find a shoebox. Once she found an empty box, she opened it and opened the cage back up, then took out the small hamster and set it in. She closed the box and then looked back at Joshua, who followed behind her, as she made her way to the bathroom.

Bryanna quickly scrubbed and washed her hands, then lifted Joshua, set him on her hip and then grabbed the box with her freehand. She walked down the stairs and peeked over at Sage, who was sulking in the corner at the front door. Bryanna set the box on the counter, then walked back upstairs and set Joshua down for his nap and left the hamster to deal with for later.