Zing 2! : Family Problems

Chapter 16: Martha's P.O.V.

The next night in the dining room, Johnny's family was seated at a couple of long tables that had been pushed together. As the adults talked, Martha sits next to her older cousins, Trixie, Piper, and Cindy.

Cindy looked around. "Man, I'd wanna get out of here too. This place is creepy."

Martha didn't know what to say. I like it here.

Trixie took out her new phone. "Hey, girls! Look what I've got!"

Piper grabbed the phone. "Sweet! That's the newest model! When did you get it?"

"Yesterday." Trixie shoved it into her back pocket. "You got any cool things? Something that only comes out in this freak town?"

Martha could sense the trouble that could easily come from having these make-up clad girls in her home. "Um...not really."

Piper smiled. "Come on, you must have some thing! Any games?"

Martha smiled. At least Piper seemed nice. "I have Wonder Woman Saves the Day."

Trixie and Piper began laughing cruelly. "A video game. That's so boy-ish!"

Martha sadly looked to her mom for support but Elisabeth was busy talking to her friend, Neville. "We've been raising Martha with a routine method, so this will be a big change for us all."

"Helping out around the school will be good for you." Neville smiled. "You're too stuck in your routine."

Martha's attention was brought back to her cousins by her siblings who had just walked up. "You guys leave Martha alone," said Lis.

Cindy stood up and tried to make herself look mean, which is hard to do with pink glitter eye shadow on. "And who are you?"

Lis looked at Cindy and smiled widely, showing off her fangs. "Her big sister. And your name is Cindy. You're eight. Don't try to act bigger than me. It won't work."

Martha giggled at the frightened face of Cindy. "Thanks, Lis!"

"Come on, Martha." Jack took her hand. "Let's go get some food. You can eat at the big kid table with us while these babies stay here."