Theodora

Chapter 1

"Carl, let's see if you can do better," said Thea. Carl took another ball and threw it. THUMP!! It landed inside the treehouse. 

That THUMP!! was accompanied by a high-pitched scream, at which Carl and Thea gave each other a wink and a hi-five. "Charles White! Theodora White! What did you two do now?! Come here this instant!", came from inside the house. 

Carl and Thea gave each other a knowing glance, and bracing themselves for what was to follow, entered the house. "Charles! Theodora! What did you do? And why did I hear Isabella scream?!", asked their mother, Millie White. 

"Mom, we just had a bet to see who could throw the ball into the treehouse. Carl succeeded, and in the process, he might have scared Bella a little bit," said Thea with her usual false seriousness. She looked at Carl, who was struggling not to laugh. She couldn't hold it anymore. She started laughing hysterically and Carl followed. 

Mrs. White looked at both of them, anger boiling inside. Just as her anger was about to burst, Bella entered with tears flowing down her face, which was removing her elaborate makeup. She was quite her mother's pet. With her brown curly hair and her makeup and her puffy gowns, she could be mistaken for a princess. She had startling blue eyes which she had gotten from her mother, along with her hair and sense of makeup.

"Mom, I was playing with my dolls in the tree house, and then a ball landed in and knocked down my dollies!!", she complained in that baby voice which Thea and Carl had gotten tired of.
Mrs. White glared at Thea and Carl who were still laughing their hearts out. "Theodora! Charles! Apologize to Isabella and stop laughing!!" They stopped laughing and looked at Bella with a sorry expression on their faces. 

Their cover was blown because their eyes were twinkling with joy. 

You might be wondering why I am mentioning Thea and Carl together all the time. 

That is because Thea and Carl are those type of siblings who can read each other's minds. Many people mistake them for identical twins. Both of them have penetrating brown eyes from their father, John White. Both have brown wavy hair at the same level ( Thea has a boy cut). Both are mischievous and love teasing their eleven-year old sister, Isabella. Carl is fourteen while Thea is thirteen. Thea acts completely like a boy and makes people wonder if she is a girl. 

I think you got the idea. Let's continue.

"Sorry, Bella. We won't repeat it again." Thea and Carl said in unison. It sounded as if they had been practicing those lines all their life. Isabella smiled and hugged them. Thea made a gagging expression and received another glare from her mother. 

"Mom, can I go to my room now?", Thea asked. "Of course, Theodora. But don't plan anything else to hurt Isabella." Thea smirked at Carl and started climbing up the stairs. 

Suddenly, she stopped. She ran back to the kitchen.

"Mom, I almost forgot to tell you; never call me Theodora again. It makes me sound like a girl." Then she sped off. 

Millie White shook her head smiling while thinking, "What will I do with this girl?!"