Nick and Charlie

Chapter 7

"Kids, I'm going to go get the pizza, be back in 20," Dad yells, closing the door. I look at Auggie, who is reading a magazine at the counter, and he looks back at me, wiggling his eyebrows. We both start sprinting around the house at the same time, grabbing pillows and blankets and generally soft stuff.

"Ok, grab that sheet Char and we are going to hang it over this chair," Aug says, picking up a chair as if it were as light as a feather.

After about 15 minutes of rearranging furniture and blankets, we have made the perfect fort, facing the T.V, filled with pillows and cushions from various places around the house.

Aug and I stand in front of our creation, and I sigh, high fiving him and pulling him into a hug.

Today is the day about 10 years ago that mum left, and every year since then we have a 'family fun day'. Other years dad has taken us to Luna Park, or we've gone to the beach for the day or something amazing.

This year, Aug and I wanted to organize something for dad, so we decided to build a fort which we will spend the night in, watching movies and eating pizza and a truckload of unhealthy food.

"Aug," I say, my voice muffled from my head leaning into his chest.

"Yeah?"

"Do you miss her?" I ask, feeling the tears prick my eyes. No, Charlotte, you are not going to cry over her. She left you, when you were young and vulnerable and she knew you would need her when you were older but she left anyway. That's right folks; I had to have the period talk with my dad. Talk about awkies.

"Hey, Char," Aug says, pulling away from me and putting his hands on my shoulders, leaning over so he's level with me. Strange to think I'm older.

"Char, look at what we've accomplished without her. We're doing fine, the universe took her away from us because it knew we could handle life without her, let alone have it be better. We don't need her," Aug says, and I nod, and he pulls me into him and hugs me. It's really great to have a brother sometimes.

"Kids, I'm back," Dad says, shutting the front door and walking in to see the fort, a lot of the furniture moved and Aug cradling me while I cry silent tears.

"Well, this is quite a sight," Dad says, placing the pizza on the counter and coming over to Aug and I, scooping us into a hug himself. It's funny actually, because dad and Auggie are the same size, then there's me, average size but really short compared to them.

"I'm so lucky to have you kids, and I wouldn't have it any other way," Dad says, kissing Auggie's forehead and squeezing us tight.

"Alright now, the pizza's getting cold," I say, and we separate, walking over to the counter and serving up the pizza.

"Ok dad, fort rules," Aug says, sitting dad down on the floor of the fort. We stand in front of the T.V. with a piece of paper, which has a list of rules on it.

"Rule Number One: Yes, there are in fact rules," Aug says.

"Rule Number Two: Everyone who is watching movies in the fort and the room outside must respect the movie choices of every participant,"

"Rule Number Three: The space must be respected itself, and if someone is to somehow disturb a piece of furniture, they shall have to replace it,"

"Rule Number Four: There will be no talk of the woman we used to call mother,"

"Rule Number Five, whoever eats the last of the MnM's will need to replace it will another type of chocolate from the pantry,"

"Rule Number Six: The chocolate, chip and lolly bowls must be filled at all times,"

"And finally, Rule Number Seven: Fun is required," I say, finishing the list as Aug puts it at the entrance of the fort.