Waiting All Year

The Tree House and I

We are home now sitting in the living room watching American Ninja Warrior.

"I am so confused. How is this a show?" I ask all of my brothers at once.

"shh" a few go instantly. I huff crossing my arms across my chest. Giving up I get up off my spot between my oldest and youngest brothers Jacob and Benjamin. I pass by the kitchen my mom is currently reading a cookbook with a serious face.

"Hey Fea!" She says as I pass, "Where are you going?" I turn around and walk into my kitchen. I think for a bit before answering.

"I think I'll go to the tree house." I say. I love our tree house. My dad made it after Julian and I were born. It is painted red, and it has one window with white trim around it. As we got older we moved the legos and barbies out of it and now it has a couch and a few old board games. I haven't been up there in a long time. I walk down my hallway and out the back door. Once I get to the tree in our back yard I pull on the rope hanging from the bottom of the tree house and pull making the ladder appear. I slowly climb up. Once in the tree house I sit on the couch. I don't really do anything I just sit and stare at the opposite wall. I don't know if it is minutes or a few hours but soon I hear someone yelling telling me it is time for supper. I sigh and climb down the ladder again. Once on the ground I pull the ladder back up and enter my house. Once inside I grab a plate and collect my food before sitting at my spot at the table. I sit next to Jullian and Alexander. My dad and Marcus are talking about the upcoming football season. Marcus is your typical jock. He is captain of all the boys sports the only thing is he has amazing grades he is heading off to college in a few weeks. He has a 4.0 grade point average but he doesn't act like it. His sense of humor is very disgusting but it is better than Jullian's. Jullian has the worst since of humor it makes me gag.

"Fi? Fiona? FEA?!" someone punches me in the arm and snaps me out of my usual sport daze.

"Huh?" I say recovering from the punch, "What?!" I add angrily. This is why I hate having all brothers. I mean one is you barely ever have alone time but mostly it is the harassment. They claim it as since they can't hit normal girls they take it out on me.

"Wow. Are you still Mr. Grummpy pants?" Jullian says in a weird voice. I give him an 'are you seriously asking me that?' look. Jullian just shrugs it off and keeps talking, "So John has a really good idea for a fifteen year old."

I turn John.

"Yeah! So you know how you have been bringing girls on vacation and they always fall for one of us then you are in a horrible mood for a few months until you find a new 'friend'?" he asks.

"No you know what? I haven't noticed that?" I say sarcastically. John looks confused then he realizes I was kidding and continues his idea. John is the slow one of our family.

"Oh. Anyway, I was thinking why not bring a boy on vacation? I mean he won't fall for us then...unless he's gay." I kind of like this idea. Befriending a guy can't be that hard since I have 10 brothers.

"Yeah that is a good idea but mom would never accept that idea." I say looking at my mom.

"That's right!" My mom adds from the other end of the table tearing apart my only ray of happiness. All my brothers have a confused look on their faces but they don't question my mom's judgement.