Breaking Barriers

Light In The Kitchen

Jane Doxter:

Unbelievably, Min let us go to bed at 10 PM after informing us that she usually went to bed at nine, and once it was 10, she followed us into the room she set up for us with countless pillows and blankets laid out on the floor and a big bed that seemed to be the size of the room itself before tucking us all in bed one by one, giving us kisses, and wishing us goodnight before turning the lights out.

That night, we managed to figure out what 421 times 794 was, debate whether or not Kwazii and Tweak were in love with each other, contemplate the meaning of life, daydream about Canada, basically everything except for sleeping got done.

While we'd been in another argument over whether or not Natquik's fur was silver or white, a light flickered on in the kitchen, and we could hear voices. I couldn't make out what they were saying, but they were definitely there.

"Who's that?" Koshi mouthed at me, and I shrugged as a rustling sound from behind startled us.

"Ouch!" Koshi winced as quietly as she could, "Pinto, what?!"

"I'm gonna go see who that is." He announced as he gingerly hopped over her paw with his other foot.

"I'm coming too." I insisted, getting up and accidentally kneeling right onto Koshi's other paw, "Whoops, sorry." I murmured to her.

"Ow! You know what, I wanna come too." She muttered and got up.

"So what did it, Kosh? The allure of adventure?" I teased, "Or the desire to not be boring for once?"

"The desire to not be stepped on anymore." She teased right back.

"Can I come too?" Squirt asked sweetly, reclining comfortably in his little bedroll.

"OK." Pinto replied, "Get over here, Dummkopf."

"Alright, and I'm not dumb!" Squirt protested lightly.

"You thought having siblings was 'fun'." I argued.

"Yes, but-"

"Nope, not another word out of you." Koshi shushed him.

"Is everyone going?" Nastya asked pointedly from her cocoon of covers.

"Yes." I answered snappishly, "And?"

"Oh sweet, I'm coming too." She announced and immediately got up.

"Me too!" Nickie announced as Masha rolled her eyes, "Are you coming, Milashka?" He teased.

"Fine, I'll come." Masha sighed, and followed us to the door. The murmurs got louder as we approached but no more distinguishable.

"What are they saying?" I mouthed to Pinto. Pinto only shrugged and put his ear to the door before turning back and practically leaping back into his bed.

"Someone's coming?" He whispered urgently to the rest of us and we all scattered. Sure enough, the sound of footsteps soon came, and a voice drawled,

"Ya know, I think we should probably check on the kids; make sure they're alright."

The door creaked open and a beam of light spilled into the room.

"I heard that!" Tweak hissed in a stage whisper, "I'm not in love with Kwazii, Natquik's fur is white, and it's past your bedtime." We all sat up; dammit, we were busted.

"Do you think he heard?" Nickie asked curiously. He'd been fascinated by the fact that Natquik was able to hear almost everything said within a 50 foot radius, and had even tried to test it from the attic of the old office building once.

"From his expression at the table, yes, he did hear." Tweak answered, smiling lightly at us.

"He's here?!" Pinto screeched as we all shushed him.

"Yes he's here, chick. We're all here." Tweak answered him sassily.

"Everyone?" Squirt asked in awe.

"Everyone." Tweak confirmed.

"Woah, can we go out there?" I asked in the most innocent voice I could muster.

"No." Tweak answered with the sweetest tone she could, "It's 11 PM, also known as an hour past your bedtime. Go to sleep. Sleep is important." Everyone gave her the most condescending stare they could.

"Really?" I asked drily.

"Really." Tweak insisted and stepped out of the doorframe, "Now y'all better go to sleep soon, cos I heard from Min that she's may take y'all out tomorrow, so if you wanna have enough energy..."

"Fine." Nastya rolled her eyes.

"That's what I like to hear." Tweak giggled triumphantly, "Sweet dreams; I love all of ya." And with that, she was gone, and we were left to our own devices once more.