Life is never what it seems.

Chapter 3

“Ok ya'll, has everyone got everything packed?” my grandmother asks as she walks into the den. As I turned to Hanna and Katy staring at each other and then at me as I shrug. “My list is all done,” I say as I get up to stand as my legs have gone to sleep. My Nan looks at me winking “Good girl and ya'll” she asks them. “All done apart from the food,” Katy tells her. “Ok, the men will load it up. Time for a drink, I think ladies,” she laughs as she walks out. Both follow her as I go to walk up the stairs. “Where are you going girly?” Hanna asks as I turn around. “To the toilet, is that ok...?” she smiles shaking her head “Oh yeah sure come back after” she yells as she walks towards the kitchen.

As I walk back into the kitchen, little hands grab my leg as little Ellie has her hands up, “Oh hey little one, what do you want”? I lean down, picking her up. Tickle her belly as she giggles, walking into the kitchen as my grandma puts a plate on the side for me and Ellie’s bowl and spoon. “It looks like I am feeding you,” as she tries to grab the spoon from the bowl.

“Oh, no, not yet” I put her in her highchair, strapping her in as I sit down. I spoon a little and give it to her. “There you go, good girl,” as she feeds herself. I turned around as it’s gone quiet. “What did I do something wrong”? “No, no, just you’re a natural with her, that’s all,” Katy says as she smiles at me. “Oh, my mum’s staff would sometimes bring their children to work” I shrug as I pass the spoon back to Ellie.

“Your mama let them bring their children to work,” Lenna asked. Nodded her head. “My mum was a single mum. She knew how hard it was to find someone to watch the kids, so she allowed it,” turning away as Ellie gives me her spoon. “Your mama was always caring and loving,” Hanna says as she sits down. “It was nice of your mama to do that,” Lenna says as she gets up to grab the salad. I continued to feed Ellie, who was becoming frustrated as I wasn’t feeding her fast enough.

My dad walks in with a tall ginger woman behind him. As he walks over to me, leaning down and kisses my head. He sits down next to me as the woman sits next to him. She leans around him. “Well, hi there you must be, Susan. I’m Brian’s wife” She puts her hand around him. Staring at her hand, then back to her as I turn back to Ellie as she has finished, I untie her and pick her up and I walk out. Not looking as I hear a commotion behind us as I walk past Jack and my grandfather. She couldn’t believe he would bring her to the house, let alone meet me. I don’t even know him that well now he brings her. I hate him. I don’t know any of them well. I hear my grandmother behind me as she is telling me how rude I was. I turn around, pass Ellie to her, then run out of the house.

“Ouch” only to end up on my back after bumping into a brick wall. Or well, it felt like a brick wall until I look up and a blonde guy was standing over me laughing. “It’s not funny, you jerk that hurt”. rolling over, trying to get up as he is still laughing at me. Hears my grandmother shouting, coming closer to the door. I look over my shoulder and run towards the woods. Only to realize that the jerk is running with me. I stop running and turn on him, “Why are you following me”? I put my hand on my hips, giving him my death stare. “Oh, are we not going for a run then” he laughs again.

“Who are you and why are you on my grandparent’s land”? He bursts out laughing, leaning over and holding his stomach. “What’s so funny mister” He stands up, wiping his eyes as he tries to collect himself. “Well, ya'll this is my parent’s land and ya'll must be Susan”? He walks further into the woods. “You coming” he shouts over his shoulder. We come to a tree house as he climbs up a small ladder, opening the door. Following, I climb up and as I walk in, it’s big for a tree house. It has windows, carpet and bean bags and a little fridge. “Wow, who is this? I look around again as he sits on a beanbag next to the fridge.

“Ours” We hear the door open as I get ready to run, but it was only Hanna. “Thanks ya'll for leaving me with that shit show” She plops down on a black bean bag next to... I don’t know his name. I look at her “I Ran into this jerk he brought me here” I shrug. “David, when did ya'll get back” she leans over punching him in the arm. “Ouch,” he chuckles, rubbing his arm. “I heard the commotion and then this little thing ran into me,” He laughs again. “That little thing is ya'll's niece” She punches him again. “Ouch, stop hitting me. I brought her here so ya'll should thank me” He rubs his arm again. “So, does someone want to tell me what that was all about?” he asks, looking at me and then at Hanna.