The Trap

Chapter 38

"Come on kids, time to get up," Paula said, turning on the lamp that sat on the nightstand.

"Mom it's only eight. Just give us one more hour, and then we'll get up," Lily replied with her eyes closed.

"Then you'll never get up. And every time we'll come back in here, you'll just ask for another hour of sleep," she said, trying to get the kids up.

"Daddy, what's going on?" Rochelle asked, trying to open her tired eyes.

"What do you mean sweetheart? Nothing's going on," Simon replied.

"Okay either you tell us why you're getting us up so early, or we'll lay here until we get an answer. That's the only way you'll get us out of bed," Holly said, being like a leader and taking charge of the situation.

"No it's not," Simon said shaking his head. Then he got a hold of the sheets and yanked them off of the children. "Okay guys we are not telling you where we're going. But we want you to get dressed and eat breakfast before we leave," he said in a fatherly tone."

"Mommy, where are we going?" Holly asked in a low voice.

"Holly Julie, what did Dad just say?" Paula asked with her arms folded.

"Come on please tell me. I promise that it'll be our little secret," Holly replied with a face that her Mom had a hard rime saying no to.

"Honey it's a surprise. My lips are sealed. But I have to tell you, your pout is improving," she said with a smile.

"Thanks I've been working on it," Holly returned the smile.

The kids knew then that they weren't going to get their way this time. So all four kids got out of bed and started pushing their parents out of their room, so that they could get ready in peace.

"Okay we're going. But there's no need to push. Use your words and ask us to leave," Paula said looking at all the kids.

"Mum and Dad, can you please get out of our room, please? We'll get dressed and have breakfast. There's no need to worry about us," Dylan replied for the group.

"You can trust us," Lily said with an innocent smile.

When their parents had left, Dylan closed and locked the door giving his sisters and him more privacy. Simon and Paula leaned against the door and heard the kids rushing through their suitcases. They hoped that their kids were actually doing what they're told and not just acting like they were.

"Hey honey, what's the plan for today? You never told me," Paula said in a low voice.

"Come with me to my room and I'll tell you there," Simon replied, whispering in her ear.

Before she could respond, he had disappeared from the hallway. So she walked quickly in the direction he went in. She spotted him halfway up the stairs, so she followed him. Simon was acting very strange this morning. The only way that she would find out what was causing his strange behavior was to ask him herself. When she finally made her way up to the second story, she saw him next to the railing. He was waiting for her.

"Come on love, this way."

"What's going on?"

He grabbed her hand and pulled her into his room. But before he joined her, he looked both directions to make sure they were alone. Then he quietly closed the door.

"What's with you today?"

"What do you mean, love?"

"Let's see for starters you are up before the crack of ten. You jump out of bed and out the door without telling me where you're going. Then I find you as you're opening up the kids' door to wake them up. I go along with a plan that makes no sense to me. I had to lie to the kids and you know I hate doing that. After we leave them alone, I ask you what the plan is for today and you leave me alone in the hallway. I had to find you yet again, but you're halfway upstairs when I find you again. And I still don't have a clue what's going on. So what's really going on here, Simon? Are you feeling okay? I mean I love you, but you're starting to scare me."