Becoming New

My twin and I were out playing. Well I should correct that, He was out playing archery with some other boys while I stood by the little creek tossing stones and seeing how many times they would bounce while waiting for my best friend Jaleela. My brother, Ryan, I were turning seventeen tomorrow and mama was taking us and my best friend Jaleela out to the festival of the king arriving from his trip to Marseille, France. We live in Pompeii, Italy and it was about 78 AD. I believe not many of us keep up with what year it is. 

I heard running behind me and turned to see Jaleela running towards me with a huge grin on her face. When she got to me she bent down to catch her breath, then stood up once again with the grin still on her face. Jaleela was tan, and brown eyes with long eyelashes to frame them. She had dark brown hair, with some blonde highlights in it. She was seventeen already but had just turned about a month ago.  

"Okay, so my mom told me it was ok that i could come with you to the festival." She took a deep breath, "She also said that she wasnt going to be here for awhile, she's going to visit some friends, or something." I yelled out in joy, and we both laughed together then we both started throwing rocks. Jaleela was always spending the night so she was practically apart of the family. Father had died when Ryan and I were nine years old and Jaleela, and I have been friends since then. We had met at this very same creek with our brothers playing archery together, and with the other 'men'.  

The next day I had woken up a little earlier then everyone else to make breakfast. We were a poor family but we made it through. Our village was all kind of poor, but nobody was rude about it. I went to the fire place to start it, and then put water to a boil. I went outside to start getting some herbs to make into tea, then went to find a good sharp rock and cleaned it off in the creek behind our house. After I cut up all the herbs, I put it into a little sac, and tied a string around it so when I put it into the water the string would hang out so i could grab it. 

When I was done I heard my brother come out his room. Ryan, my twin, was a few inches taller then me, but we had the same color hair, a dark brown that covered his eyes almost, but he had brown eyes. Mine were blue and green, depending on the color dress I wore. He had and angled face like mine, and slightly chubby cheeks, but still angular. He was very muscular, and had a very shaped stomach and arms. He came over to me, and kissed my cheek, and sat on the couch. I smiled at him, "Have a good sleep?"  

"Ya, it was alright. What about you dear sister?" He said, tilting his head. I grabbed a a few hairclips and a mirror, and went to sit next to him.  

"Pretty good, nothin speacial. I'm quite excited about today, arent you?" I said turning to look at him, with a big smile on my face. He grinned, and nodded, and held my mirror up for me so I could do my hair. I thanked him, and went to get the tea which was screaming. By then mama had gotten up, and was dressed with her hair done already.  

"Get me sum of that hun." She said walking in, and taking my seat. I sighed,and got out some cups and poured the tea into it. Then we heard Jaleela come out with her fancy dress on, but her hair still wasnt done. I smiled and shook my head,"Come here hun, and let me do your hair."  

She smiled, nodded her head, and came over with some hair clips in her hand. After I finished her hair, Ryan went to get dressed and I went to make some pranzo, lunch. After everybody had eatin, we started to head to the castle !!  

Hello my name is Andria, and I am going to the castle to see the royal king with mama, Ryan, and Jaleela.