Sunday 31st August
"Mummy, can I get a new book?" Tegan asked me as we walked round our local Tescos
"Sure, which one?" I ask, picking her up
"This one!!" She points to a book about fairies, and we put it in the basket.
"And me!" Finley yells and picks up a book called 'Don't tell mummy!' And had a picture of a boy, a girl, and a mother on it
"Okay, put it in the basket" I say as we're nearing the till
"Mummy can we make some cakes today?" Tegan says and her eyes light up
"Of course!!" I say and get excited, "how about rainbow ones?"
"Yay! Rainbows are pretty!" Tegan says, hugging me
"We just need some cooking stuff, come on"
I'm Brooke, and I'm 22. Tegan and Finley are my children. Tegan's two and Finley's four. Yeah I know, two kids at 22 but I really don't care. I love them to pieces and I wouldn't know where I'd be without them. Their dad and my husband died two years ago in a car crash. I still haven't got over him, and I don't think I ever will. I haven't seen anyone since, I don't want to mess it up for the kids. Eva helps a lot with the kids, she's my best friend. We've known each other since we were 16, and we've been basically attached ever since. She's like my twin. I work in my own business, which is a toy shop which sells Disney toys. Eva and I are the only people who work there, so it's actually okay. We can open whenever and shut whenever.
"Wow! They've got rainbows in them!!" Tegan says as she bites one
"They're so cool" Finley says, also eating one
"And they taste nice too!" I say, eating one too
We just finished making the cakes, and we're watching Toy Story, Finley's favourite film. It's Sunday, so I don't have work, because the shops shut, so we have a family day every Sunday, and we all love it
"To infinity, and beyond!!" He shouts and laughs
"To finty, and bond!" Tegan copies him and we all laugh
"Your so cute!" I say tickling her and she wriggles and laughs
"No mummy p-please" she laughs and I stop so she can breathe
"Can we make a video now?" Finley asks.
Oh yeah, did I forget to mention... I'm a YouTuber. I almost have a million subscribers, and I get payed quite a lot for it, but I still do my job in the shop, because I love it there. I've met a load of YouTubers like Zoella and Bethany Mota, but we're not really close. But I am very close to Anna and Jonathan, the SacconeJolys.
"Okay, what video shall we film?" I ask
"QOO AND AYE" Tegan shouts
"Okay then, we'll have to find some questions first. I'll ask Instagram, you watch Toy Story" I say and pull out my yellow iPhone 5c and open Instagram
I choose a picture of all three of us and type:
#Breganly Q and A guys and we need questions! Keep them clean!
and press post. Almost immediately I get questions pouring in like,
What's their fave Disney film?
What's their full name?
Do they go to school yet?
Who's their father?
The last one comes in a lot but I never answer it. I can't face it. The kids don't really know what's happened, I just say he's gone on holiday to the stars. They used to ask when he'll come back, but I think they've kinda forgotten.
"Okay ready?" I say when I'd collected about 20 questions
"Yeah!" They both yell, and I set up the camera pointing towards the sofa, where we usually film
"Hey guys! Finley wanted to film a video so here we are! What video are we doing Teegs?" I say turning the camera on
"QOO AND AYE!" She shouts
"Yup that's right! So I put a picture on Instagram and got loads of questions, but I've picked a few to answer now. Okay so first question" I grab my phone, "What's your favourite Disney film?"
"TOY STORY" Finley shouts, "we were watching it just now"
"Um... Tangled and Frozen and Cinderella and Big Hero 6 and lots more" Tegan says, "but not the woods one that's scary"
"Yeah it is" I say laughing, "my favourite is Brave!"
"Oh and I like Brave!" She shouts
"You like lots of films don't you Teegs" I say laughing again, "okay next question. Who's your best friend?"
"Meelia!" Tegan yells
"Um... Mummy" Finley says, and smiles at me
"Oh and mummy!" Tegan says giggling
"Awhhh I love you guys, you're my best friends too. Along with Eva and Anna and Jonathan" I say and squish the little ones in a hug
"Mkau nwecht cwheshtin" Finley yells from in the hug
"Uh... What's your full names?" I say looking at my phone
"Finley Noah Mitchell" Finley says proudly, and my smile fades. That was his name. Every time Fin says it I think of him. Noah.
"Tegan uh.. Um.." Tegan says thinking
"Eva" I whisper
"Oh yeah. Tegan Eva Mitchell" she says and giggles. I named her after Eva, obviously
"Mummy what's your name?" Finley asks
"Brooklyn Kate Mitchell" I say 'smiling' at them
And it went on a bit like that.
Once we had finished, it was about 5pm, so I asked the kids what they wanted to eat. "PIZZA!" Finley yells
"You had pizza yesterday, how about pasta and cheese?" I ask
"Yeah!" Tegan yells
"Okay. You guys go and watch TV, I'm gonna make food"
"Foods ready!" I yell and put it on the table
"Yayyy!" They shout as they sit down
"Fin you've got school tomorrow!" I say
"I don't want to go to school, I want to stay here with you and Tegan!" He says frowning
"Fin, you'll make more friends in school, you'll love it there! They've got a big playground, and some have a football pitch!" I say
"But Tegan doesn't have to go" he protests
"Tegan isn't old enough. You have to be four. She's gonna start playgroup like you did when she's three" I say
"Fine" he says "but I'll miss you!" He says
"Fin it'll be okay, I promise" I say
"Come on, it's bedtime now! It's 7.30!" I say to them
"But I usually go at 8!" Finley says
"But you've got school tomorrow so you have to be up early!" I say ushering them upstairs
"I don't like school" he says
"Fin you haven't even been yet, you can't decide yet" I say
he huffs and runs into his room, and me and Tegan follow him
"Fin come on, at least give it a try?" I say sitting on his bed
"But I don't want to!" He says
"Finley. For me?" I ask
he thinks about it for a bit "ugh fine" he says finally
"Thank you" I say kissing him on the head, "I'll be back in five, I'm just going to but Teegs to bed"
"Mummy why doesn't Fin want to go to school?" Tegan asks
"I have no idea love. He'll be fine, don't worry" I say
She's wearing a Minnie Mouse onesie and looks adorable. I tuck her into bed and read her a quick story then go back into Fins room
"you okay?" I ask him, sitting on his bed
"I don't want to go to school" he says quietly
"why? are you afraid of anything?" I ask
"no, I just don't want to" he says
"you have to. It's the law, I'm not allowed to keep you home" I tell him
"can't you teach me?" he asks
"I'm not a qualified teacher, I'd have to go on lots of courses, so you'll still have to go in tomorrow" I say
"if I don't like it, will you do the courses?" he asks
"of course I will! But you have to go in for at least a week, maybe more" I say making a deal
"okay deal" he says shaking my hand and giggling
"time for sleep now, it's getting late" I say, tucking him in
"*yawn* night night" he says and I tiptoe out
I'm so tired that I collapse on the sofa and fall asleep, like most nights
