𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞

   "Has anybody seen my other sneaker?" I shout out as I look on the staircase for the dirty dark blue sneaker I was looking for — I was planning on going to church with Lacey and my mom but I couldn't find my sneaker.

          Jeremy snorts as he pushes past me on the spiral staircase, "Yeah good luck with that little sister."

    "Oh shut it!" I snap back, huffing angrily, I only had one sneaker on and my other foot was barefoot, my pink painted toenails on display as I walked towards the kitchen. Mom had made breakfast for Mr. Brown and wanted me to take it upstairs for him.

          "Here you go, make sure to greet him and tell him good morning Willow Belle." She tells me as she hands me a tray, there was pancakes, strawberries and some bacon. I licked my lips at the strawberries, they were freshly picked from our garden and I wanted to he the first to try them. Of course she had plucked them for Mr. Brown.

         "Mhm!" I hum in reply as I take the tray and begin my descent back towards the staircase and up to the guest bedroom. As I walked upstairs I ate most of the strawberries, I couldn't resist it. They looked so red and sweet.

   Daddy was waiting for mom and me in the car, and Jeremy was getting ready to go out sit his friend Nick, who smelled of cigarettes and was way too friendly with me.

           I make it to the bedroom and I see Mr. Brown sitting on his rocking chair by the window, facing the door. His legs were speeding and he looked to be reading the newspaper.

     "Good morning Mr. Brown." I speak politely and he looks up, smiling at me. He nods in response and I gently place the tray in his lap, as I do so my barefoot rests on top of his socked foot.

       "Your breakfast, Mr. Brown." I say politely once again and he thanks me, smiling at me with a charming smile.

     His blue eyes widen a little when I lean into his face and then whisper, "Don't tell mom but I ate most of your strawberries."

          I knew I had some of the red juices around my lips, my lips most likely stained red — his blue eyes flicked down to my lips for a couple of seconds before I giggle and then turn around to leave, still barefoot.

     As I walk down the stairs I hear mom call out to me, "Lo! Mrs. Smith was just on the phone, Lacey has a fever, she's not going anymore."

       I huffed and then roll my eyes, "Then I am not going either!"

    I whine as I stomped down the stairs, I loved God but I wanted to see Lacey there today. I could already picture Moms annoyed face when I said that.

   "Fine then! It's your conscience not mine!" She says in her mean voice before suddenly slamming the door and leaving. Jeremy was most likely gone and now it was just me and Mr. Brown in the house.