Violet Barnes

The Funeral

It was a stormy day, with a lot of snow on the ground when Violet Barnes and her sisters Katie, Katrina, Rachael, Michelle and Freya were walking home from school. No one spoke, because they were all thinking the same thing and knew that talking about it would make it worse.

When they got home, Great Aunt Betty was waiting for them with her delicious stew which always made anyone happier on such a day. The girls were glad to get out of their winter clothes. They washed their hands and faces, and helped fix each other's hair.

There was something special about these girls. They had powers, but never let anyone, except their Aunt Betty and their long lost brother, Bucky Barnes, who fell off of a train during a special mission, know about it. Steve Rogers, a.k.a. Captain America, Bucky's best friend, came to visit as often as possible, but he was usually too busy. World War II wasn't quite over yet.

As the sisters sat down to have dinner that night, they only talked of school and new, prettier clothes, trying to avoid talking about the terrible war.

Since Violet lost her big brother Bucky, she had never been quite the same, he had been her best friend, and she only talked when she had to, but she never smiled.

Her sisters always tried to cheer her up, but nothing worked. Katie wasn't the kindest, but she always came through when her friends and family needed her. She was the second oldest of the family. Her power was air bending, but she never used it, for fear of hurting someone, like she did once, and she'd been too afraid to even try using her powers again.

Katie

Poor Freya and Michelle tried so hard to keep things cheerful, but it usually never really worked, especially when Rachael would tease them and call them names.

Katrina didn't really do anything, but sit around and read the newspaper, and ask for new clothes, she was the third oldest. Her power was bending earth, but she was usually too lazy to try practicing with it, and when she got angry, her powers would get out of control. That's why she was so spoiled. They had to give her anything she wanted, or she would throw a fit and hurt someone or destroy something that would cost a lot of money to fix, although Aunt Betty spent a lot of money on Katrina.

Katrina

Rachael was the mischievous one, that's always getting into big trouble. Whenever she could cause trouble or make someone angry, she'd do it. Sometimes they didn't know how they could even stand having her around. She had been worse since Bucky's accident. She was the fourth child, and she can fly and shoot acid out of her hands. She only used it when she knew she wouldn't be caught.

Rachael

Then there was Michelle, the fifth child. She was very kind and understanding. She helped anyone who needed it, even though she was very busy with her job and school, but she always found time for helping people. Her power was healing living things, and being able to grow any kind of plant.

Michelle

Freya was the sixth child; she was a lot like Michelle, but usually quite shy and tender. She loved to read all day long and liked to help garden and cook. Aunt Betty said she'd make a fine wife someday. She bends fire and was quite good at controlling it too.

And Violet, the seventh child, was the youngest. She could be quite shy like Freya, and liked to read and garden and cook, too, but those weren't her favorite things. She was more of an adventurous person, and she could be a little mischievous and get into trouble sometimes, but she was usually very shy and gentle and always did as she was told. Her power was bending water. She was able to heal with her power as well, but Michelle's power had more effect. Violet thought that it was because she's not very good at bending water yet.

Before they finished dinner, there was a knock at the door, interrupting their conversation on new dresses that were in style. Aunt Betty answered the door, and the girls listened. It sounded like a man, they couldn't understand anything they were saying, but Aunt Betty sounded a little surprised.

When the man finally left, Aunt Betty came back to see the sisters all staring at her, wanting to know what happened.

"Girls," Aunt Betty said, with a shaky voice. "They found his body and are going to have his funeral tomorrow."

A few tears ran down Violet's cheeks, Katie and Katrina started sobbing and Michelle and Freya tried to comfort them. Rachael had left the table and shut herself up in her room.

Violet could hardly hold all her tears in, and Aunt Betty saw. "It's okay, honey," She said with a kind, but sad smile. "Everything will be okay."

Violet didn't think so. "No," She glared, with tears running down her face. "Nothing will be the same ever again!"

She ran out of the kitchen, and Freya chased after her until they came to Violet's room. Violet flung herself onto her bed and cried.

"Violet, oh, Violet," Freya said with tears in her eyes. She sat down next to her younger sister and comfortingly put her hand on Violet's back. "Please don't be this way, I hate seeing you so unhappy. Be glad that he can have a proper burial."