Decoding You *Watty Awards 2012*

Chapter 1

I come downstairs to the smell of waffles and lots of peanut butter. Izzy slides into the hallway with a big grin on her face, "Rory!"

I ruffle her straight brown hair that my mom had cut atrociously chin length, "Morning Izzy."

She sticks her peanut butter coated tongue out, "Want a waffle?"

I wrinkle my nose, "Nope kid, I had breakfast before I got ready. How about some coffee for me while you finish your breakfast?"

She nods, happy with my request, "When will Audrey be here?"

I shrug, "Soon. Now scoot."

She runs into the kitchen and hops back up onto a bar stool, then she picks up her peanut butter coated waffle and bites into it. Izzy is a peanut butter addict. She always smells of the stuff, and more often than not she's sticky from it too.

While I pour coffee into my black and purple thermos I listen to Izzy chat about the latest kindergarten gossip. I only really tune in when I hear her say, "He's so mean. All he does is steal my crayons."

"Wait some boy is stealing your crayons?"

She nods, "Yup. He took my purple one yesterday. Do you have a purple crayon I can have?"

I sigh, "No I don't Izzy. Did you tell your teacher?"

She shakes her head, "No! I don't wanna be a tattle teal."

I giggle at her mistake, "It's tattle tail and you won't be. It's just the right thing to do so he stops stealing your crayons."

She shakes her head, "I don't care. I still don't wanna do it."

My mom walks into the kitchen, "Morning sweetie. It'll be just you and Izzy tonight for dinner. It will be in the crock-pot waiting for you when you pick her up from tumbling at five-thirty."

I nod, "How is she getting there?"

"Martha will drop her off."

"Alright."

"Rory! Auddy is here!" Izzy squeals.

I hadn't even seen her leave the kitchen but sure enough she slides back in with Audrey at her heel, "Hurry up Rory, we gotta pick up Harper."

I quickly kiss the top of Izzy's head before picking up my coffee and following Aubrey out.

"Rory! Wait!" she squeals.

I turn back around, "What Izzy?"

"Can you give Carter a hug for me?"

I smile, "Of course. I'll see you a later alligator."

"After while crocodile."

Halfway to Harper's Audrey smiles, "You're so good to Izzy. I don't know how you do it. She misses Carter so much."

I shrug, "She's a kid. She doesn't understand that he's not coming back."

Audrey frowns, "He's your brother Rory. He'll come back home. He's only eighteen."

I nod, "I know he's my brother and he's eighteen but he's too mad at my parents to come back home."

That's only half the truth.

"I wish I had a brother and sister like that though. You guys are so close. It's cute."

I shrug as she pulls into the driveway, "You have me and Harper remember?"

She smiles, "I know."

The door pops open and Harper slides in, "You know what?"

"That I have the two best sisters a girl could ever ask for," Audrey grins.