Averna

The Beginning - Part 1

Today should be a special day. Today should be different. But it's not, it never is. I wake up today feeling the same as yesterday, but I shouldn't, I should feel different in some way I mean I turned 18 (at least that's what everyone thinks my age is - in fact, it's much older) today.

But it's the same as always...

I wake up at 5:30 AM so that I can go wake up the most stubborn of my siblings in the task of getting ready for school, Nathaniel (considering his name meaning gift of god he didn't seem like one in the mornings), and still have time for everything else I need to do. Let the battle begin.

"Come on Nathaniel. It's time for you to start getting ready for school. " No response. I take his duvet of him so that the cool November morning air will crawl across him.

He grumbles, then mumbles, " No not yet. It's cold. Go away, A. " I heave a sigh that would probably stir the dead. Then as an idea hits me, a smile makes its way onto my face.

"Fine but you know if your not up before Lorelei, she'll call shotgun and I'll have no option but to let her sit in the front of the car all day today. Also meaning you'll have to listen to her gloating and moaning at you every time you're in the same room as each other. "

I said this with a slight amount of triumph in my voice. You would think that since Nathaniel was 14 whilst Lorelei was only 7 that he would have the upper hand, but I treat them all the same in most areas of our lives except the things that are most certainly age-restricted, like their curfews and walking home from places by themselves.

"I'm up. I'm up." Nathaniel stated whilst rolling out of his bed on the bottom bunk. As he stretched and stood up he glanced at me and then hugged me and whispered in my ear...

"Happy birthday sis." Causing my chest to swell and pressure to build behind my eyes. I blinked rapidly, ended the hug and left the boys' room.

It was close to 7:30 AM now and I was just plating up breakfast whilst checking off my to-do list in my head; Lunches- Packed, everyone up and dressed - yep, everyone's coats on the back of their chairs - check, Aurora in her high chair and eating - sort of. Just as I'd finished putting everyone's plates in their places Nathaniel came down the stairs with Gabriel trailing behind him to join me, Aine and Aurora at the table.

"Where's Lorelei?" I asked already predicting the responses I would get.

"Bathroom." They all replied. Great. I didn't understand why a 7-year-old took so long in the bathroom when she was far too young to be doing anything significant in there such as her hair or makeup (not that I would know much about that). I stood up from the table quickly checked to see how much Aurora had eaten, and discovered she'd demolished most of her eggs and cut up sausage, then went to the bottom of the stairs to shout up for the little miss who was taking her sweet time.

"Lorelei! Hurry up! Your food is getting cold and then we'll be late for school!" At first, I thought I would have to shout up a second time, but then I heard the sound of mischievous feet coming out of the bathroom after the sound of the toilet being flushed - so I went and sat back down at the table after putting what was left of Aurora's sausage into a plastic container, scraping the rest into the bin and finally putting her plate and cup into the sink.

As Lorelei placed herself delicately into her chair, she started to eat her humble breakfast as she called it. Once I took my plate and a half-full mug of coffee to the sink, I leaned against the kitchen counter to watch the morning proceedings at the table - Nathaniel (aged 14) scoffing his food down as if his life depended on it, Gabriel (aged 10) eating his leisurely whilst daydreaming, Lorelei (aged 7) eating hers as if it was some exquisite cuisine, Aine (aged 5) pushing what she had decided she didn't want around on her plate and finally Aurora (aged 2) who was just laughing at the sound her hands made when she clapped.

My family. That's what these five are - Family.

Placing my finished mug on the side, I got Aurora out of her chair and took her to get her shoes and coat on whilst the others finished their breakfast.

" Guys don't forget to scrape your plates and put them on the side when you're done eating. Then get your coats on. Nathaniel, Gabriel your lunches are on the side, Lorelei, Aine yours are next to your school bags. " I said this every morning and we had a routine but it was also part of our routine that I said this every morning.

I picked Aurora up then as I knew the hallway was about to get crowded so I unlocked the front door and went to the car and buckled Aurora in her seat. Lorelei decided to come out at this point looking very pleased with herself and I suspected what the reason might be so I stated loud enough for the others to hear;

"Nathaniel's in the front seat today." Suddenly Lorelei's face fell, so I added, " Lorelei's in the front tomorrow and Gabriel's in the front on Wednesday". Her face brightened slightly at this notification and she clambered into the back of the car.

Nathaniel then came prancing out of the house looking right as rain and acknowledged me with a nod. Gabriel came out next with Aine holding his hand to make sure she didn't trip and dirty her school uniform. Once they'd made it almost all the way to the car I started my way back into the house to grab my own bag for college, I only had two classes today, Psychology and Forensic Psychology, which means two hours that I have to do things that are easier without the children. I lock the front door before I leave to put the keys in my bag, I place my bag in the passenger seat footwell by Nathaniel's feet. Start the car and we're away.