Chapter 1

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We sat in the car driving the 12 hour drive to our new home in Forest city Minnesota. My name is Luke, I have 3 sisters. Katie, Lizzy, and Caroline. We had to move because of, me. Everybody in my family has some problems with guys, except me, Caroline says they make an exception for me. Our dad left on the day Lizzy was born, so she has it the worst. He took everything mom had worked so hard for. Before he left she only had 1 job, for a while she had 3, but then 2. She was always really stressed and so was Caroline. She was the oldest, still only being 13 years old she had a lot on her shoulders. Sometimes Caroline would go help one of mom's bosses and get some extra money for clothes and school. When she did go to work I would watch Katie and Lizzy. For 1 year when I was in third grade and Caroline was in 7th mom had to homeschool us because we could only afford for Katie and Lizzy to go to first grade and preschool, and that would have been her first real year of school so mom tightened the budget even more and was able to get Katie and Lizzy in school. She taught Caroline a lot of reading and writing so she could make the extra $10 from moms boss. Mom is a very tough lady who did everything she ever could to keep us alive and healthy. We all love her so much, juggling 2 jobs and two kids being homeschooled was incredibly hard.

When I did go back to real school I got teased a lot for being poor and not having nice clothes like everybody else. So they offered me the free school counseling which made everything much much worse. I came home crying one day and Caroline almost lost it, well did lose it, the next day. She acted casual and when we got there she instantly recognized the kid who made me cry and socked him in the eye.

The car didn't have A.C and we were in the dead heat of summer. "How ya holdin up back there?" Mom asked sweaty with a forced smile. "Don't worry, only 4 more hours to go." Caroline said sarcastically.

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"Here we are!" Mom pulled the little Honda down a gravel hill of our driveway to a tiny cabin on the water. Mom told us earlier we'd be be happier because our old house sold for more than expected. It has 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, and a kitchen. There was a small little room when you walk in where you could put shoes and coat. To the right of that another little room that could fit a small couch but nothing more. Just enough to keep the family happy.

It was all our first time seeing the cabin but we all loved it. I ran to the back of the car to get my suitcase, pillow, and blanket. I ran to the the door excited to see my new house. Mom opened the door and looked in and was so happy. I walked in awe to the end of the hallway, looking into both rooms. "Where are we sleeping?" I asked. "Well Lukey, I was thinking that the four kids sleep in one room but I will keep everything else in my room like clothes and Lizzy's couple little toys. Or if you need it Lizzy can sleep in my room. And... open the room with the light brown door." Mom said excitedly. I gasped in awe. There it was, a triple bunked bed. I turned and mom smiled. How much had we gotten for our old house?

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