Following My Sister's Rules

Chapter 4

“Max, get up, you’re going to be late for school!”

I groaned as the loud voice bellowing from the bottom of the stairs woke me from my peaceful sleep, and rolled over to check the time on my alarm clock.  It was only 6 am!  I could sleep for at least another 30 minutes.  Jackson was so dead when I got up!

“Max, let’s go!”

I bolted upright at the second yell.  That was definitely NOT Jackson’s voice!  That was my dad!  “Dad?”  I yelled back down as I jumped up and threw a tshirt on over my head.  “You’re home?”  I ran down the stairs to the kitchen, totally surprised to find my father and Katherine standing in the kitchen.  “Dad!”  I yelled, and jumped on the old man, wrapping him in a huge hug.

“Hey, kiddo, nice to see you didn’t forget me while I was gone.”  He laughed as I let go of him.

“You’re back a week early.”  I pointed out.  “Did you miss me that much?”  I teased him, ruffling his hair as I did so.  Once I hit puberty, my height soared and I ended up being almost 5 or 6 inches taller than my father.  I wasn’t really surprised, since all my brothers were tall too.  Meghan was the only shrimp in our family.

“There was no way I was going to miss the first day of school.”  He laughed.  “This is the very last picture that will ever go in the book.”  Ahh, the dreaded book.  My mother and father had started it when Mike first went to school.  It was a picture from the first day of school for each of us, every year from pre-school up until 12th grade.  Thankfully, it did not continue in college.  My family can be embarrassing at times, but luckily, it did not extend to a family picture outside of college classrooms.

“Last but definitely not least.”  Katherine said nicely as she entered the kitchen.

“Hey, Katherine, welcome home.”  I told her as I gave her a big hug.  She was only my stepmother, but she treated me as her own for my entire life, and we all loved her.  “So how was Italy, guys?”

“Italy was amazing.”  Katherine sighed.  “But, honestly, I am glad to be back in California.  I missed you guys while we were gone”

“Well, I missed you, too.”  I told them honestly, because I really had.  My family was really just freakishly close.

“So are you ready for school, Max?”  My dad asked as he started a pot of coffee.

“Yeah, of course.  I was born ready!”  I joked with him as I pulled waffles out of the freezer and threw four in the toaster.  “We have football try outs right after, though, so I won’t be home until 6 or 7.”

“They’re starting already?”  My dad frowned.  “Is there any way I can schedule you for a family dinner, your highness?”  He teased.

Shaking my head, I let out a chuckle.  “Yeah.  I’ll stop at the grocery store on the way home and grab burgers and hot dogs so we can grill.  Want me to call everyone and let them know to come over?”

“No, that’s okay, I’ll just light the beacon.  Katherine!”  He yelled, since she had gone down the hall to their bedroom at some point.

“Yeah?”  She yelled back.

“Prepare the beacon!”

“The beacon?”

“Yes!”  He laughed as he yelled.  “Today is the day we light the beacon!”

Katherine came down the hall and entered the kitchen.  Stopping to face my father with both her hands on her hips, she gave him a smile, then a small curtsy.  “The beacon is ready, and I am awaiting your orders, sire.”  She continued.