What am I?

It’s six o’clock in the morning.  My best friend Jewel, who’s 18, her little sister Dischetty, who’s 11, and my little brother Notscki, also 11, are all still sleeping.  We all live together in the house I inherited from my parents after they were killed in a car crash, three years ago.  Right around the same time, Jewel and Dischetty’s parents left them; nobody knows where they went, so Jewel and Dischetty came to live with me and Notscki.  

I walk to the kitchen to get myself some breakfast when I hear something in the attic.  I put my bowl down on the counter and walk to the living room.  I pull down the ladder leading to the attic. There it is again; that same noise.  I start to climb the ladder and when I get to the top, I see Jewel sitting at the windowsill.  Her face is glowing with the red-orange tint from the sun rise and I can tell she is deep in thought. I wonder what she is thinking about.  A couple of feet away from her I see a box torn open.  I walk toward Jewel and see a letter from her parents in the box as I pass it.  I pick it up and start reading it.

Dear Jewel,

 Your father and I have a something to tell you.  You are a shape shifter.  You have been a shape shifter since you were born.  We knew because you changed into a little baby robin in our hands.  Your father and I aren’t shape shifters but your grandmother was. She did not like being a shape shifter but we hope you accept this as a gift and not think of it as a curse like she did.

Love Mom

I can’t believe this!  Jewel is a shape shifter! 

I back away slowly so she doesn’t notice me and start to climb down the ladder and run to Notscki’s room to wake him up.  Then I run to Dischetty’s room to wake her up.  I don’t know if I should share what I just learned with them, so I’ll let Jewel tell them.   

All four of us have to go to the daycare today, but we’re going to be late if the kids don’t get up soon. After trying to get them up, I run to my room to get myself ready.  When I come out, Notscki and Dischetty are sitting at the table eating Froot Loops.  The only person I don’t see is Jewel.  I wonder if she went out for fresh air after sitting up in the dusty attic.

I wonder what’s going through her mind right now.

“Hey guys, has anyone seen Jewel?”  I ask, getting myself some Froot Loops.

Just as Notscki was about to answer, Jewel walked in the front door.

“Looking for me?”  She asks.

“Yes we are,” I said.  “It’s time to get ready to go to work, better hurry!”

“Ok, ok, just let me go freshen up first.” she says.

After Jewel is done getting ready, we finally leave for the daycare. It’s only a ten minute drive to the daycare, and when we pull up to the front I see there are a lot of people lined up to get inside.  We are going to have a lot of kids to look after today!

Throughout the day, most of the kids are tired and cranky, so nap time is in order.  When it comes to snack time, we run out of snacks so Jewel and I go to the back room to get some more food and as we’re gathering the boxes of snacks I stop her.

“Jewel, I have to tell you something.”

“What is it Sara?” she asks.

“I’m a shape shifter too,” I say.

I watch her closely to see her reaction, and she looks both surprised and confused at the same time.

 “I read your letter that you got from your mom.  I’m sorry,” I say quietly.