Growing Her Wings

Chapter One

Chapter One

“Again?” I mutter as I shuffle back to my room after the most recent family discussion. It’s not like it’s a big deal or anything, it just hurts. I’ve moved many times before, sometimes even living in places for just a couple of months. But this time I thought we were staying. I mean, we’d managed to last a year and a half. I have friends, good ones, I have a life here.  How could they do this when everything was going so perfectly? I flop down onto the bottom bunk of the bed set that I share with my twin sister, Madeleine. She’s younger than me, and little shorter too, with shoulder length brown hair. She’s shy and quiet, and always does what she’s told… The exact opposite of me. I am the disobedient redhead with a fiery heart to match my hair. Oh Madeleine. I smile. No matter what the situation, she can always spin it into something good. The door opens and in she walks. “Speak of the Devil,” I laugh.

She sends me an apprehensive look. “I don’t think that that is the correct use of that phrase.”

“Shut up.” I try to glare at her, but it turns into a fit of giggles. She laughs too, and then lies down next to me. We both go silent as we think about tonight’s events. Maddy reaches out and squeezes my hand. I guess it doesn’t really matter how many friends I leave behind, because my best friend will always come with me.

We both look up as the door creaks. I can see the top of a little boy’s head poking in. Maddy sits up and calls him in, “ There you are! I was wondering when you would join us.” He rushes into the room and dives onto the bed. Maddy and I roll away as quickly as we can, but not quick enough. “Ouff!”  He sits up, a grinning from ear to ear.

“Jaaaaaack,” I whine, “Why would you do that?” He just keeps grinning. He’s always happy- no matter the circumstance. That’s just the way he came into life 7 years ago. Happy as can be. So, yes… He was an accident, but definitely a happy accident that has brought my whole family joy.

“Because you were sleeping, and I had to make sure you were awake because it was important,” he tries to explain.

“I think you have the wrong definition of sleeping.”

He just continues to smile. Pretty soon we’re all smiling. And then laughing. And I guess this is just how it always turns out after Mom and Dad announce that we’re moving. The three of us just get together and we laugh and have fun. It’s our way of accepting the inevitable.

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Just a couple of weeks have passed, and here we are, pulling up in front of a house. A real house. Not an apartment or a mobile home. Not even a condo. A real house. Not just a house, a giant house. It’s stark white and two stories tall, and twice as wide, with fancy pillars and ornate detailing. Maddy and I look at each other, our mouths open. There’s no way that this is the right house, and even if it was, we can’t afford it. “Mom,” I whisper, “Is this for real?”

She and Dad laugh. “Of course honey. Why wouldn’t it be?”

I shake my head. “Mom, there’s no way that we can afford this.”

She turns around to look at me. “Excuse me? Young lady, I know what we can and can’t afford, and that is none of your business. Why would you even be thinking about it? Why can’t you just be thankful that we have a roof over our heads?”

What? “Mom that doesn’t even make sense.”

My Dad turns around and chimes in. “Rae Jones, you leave your mother alone. The moving truck is already here, go help unload. You too, Madeleine. Jack, I want you to come inside with your mother and I and take a look at the house.