Degraded

Chapter 4-Sam

"Come on, your making us late. Don't make us leave you!" Chris, my brother, calls, making me even more irritable.

"Coming!" I yell, trying to keep my cool and not explode. I feel like a bomb that Chris is poking at curiously, testing me to see my limits.

Scrambling to get my bag for camping, I nearly trip on my own feet. I sprint out the door, and take each step down the cement path two at a time. It makes my body wobble like a baby bunny when they first learn how to hop.

"I'm here," I breathe, panting like a dog.

"Good. We need to start our drive, and you nearly left us no choice but to leave you!" My mom teases. She and my brother both lean in to tickle me, forcing me to giggle. It makes my brother grin like a maniac.

"Hey, that's--n-not--funny," I attempt to say in between laughs. By now, I am hysterically hiccuping.

I look at my brother with my large, hazel eyes in admiration. He always knows how to change my mood. Chris has that kind of quality in him where he can instantly change your outlook on life.

"Your looking at me like that again," he warns and my cheeks turn red in an instant. I touch at my baby soft face, blushing.

"Well, I can't help it. You are just-," I say, getting cut off in mid-sentence by my mom. I give her one of my signature deep frowns.

"No time for that, baby. Time to go! Who's ready for the best camping trip of their entire life?" My mother chants.

~~~

"Here we are, home sweet home," my dad says, "well, at least for the next few days." He gives us one of his innocent smiles.

Everything felt surreal as we got into our cabin. There are photographs of nature surrounding the entire house, making the place seem rooted and down to earth. Two sofas and a large flatscreen TV sit in the living room. In the kitchen, a round table with tableware and a vase with alive, vibrant tulips sit in the middle. I am going to love this place, I think.

"Mom! Can I have the top bunk? Please?" I gave her one of my long, dragged out, begging pleases and it instantly wooed her over. That was easy enough.

"Of course." My mom replies.