Chapter 1
"Lilliana Elizabeth Rinehart! Are you going to help unload boxes or just sit there and do nothing all day?"
"I'll be there in a minute, mom," I shout to my mother as she and my younger brother, Kenan, carry boxes inside from the U-Haul truck. I put my bookmark favorite novel, set it down on a branch of the sturdy oak tree that I had been sitting in, and go over to the truck to help.
I really hate moving. I don't know why mom and Kenan were so happy with the idea of leaving our nice, New York apartment to go to Kentucky. Our mother, Tracy Rinehart grew up in Frankfort, so I can understand why she would want to move back here, but what about Kenan? What was his motivation for moving, no questions asked? I'll tell you why. Kenan has always thought that mom liked me best, so as soon as he saw the opportunity to suck up, he took it.
I guess its not so bad leaving my friends because we would have gone to a new school next year, going into high school and all, and I doubt we would have had any classes together anyway. Since Kenan is four years younger than me, he'll be going into middle school this year, and I won't be forced to go to the same school building as my little brother. That would be pure torture.
"All done!" mom says cheerily as the last box is set on the shiny linoleum of the kitchen floor. "Kenan, Lillie, would you two like to do some exploring outside for a while?"
"I'll be in my room setting up my X-box!" Kenny shouts as he races up the stairs. I sigh. Same old Kenny.
"I think I'm going to walk around outside," I inform my mother as she starts to make a cup of green tea for herself.
"Okay sweetie, be careful!" she says, half to me and half into her cell phone.
