Consanguinity

Chapter 1

A family of six drives along a barren road. Just as the trees surrounding them, the sky begins to turn red and orange. The car shook as they turned down a gravel path. Dust and dirt whirled around the car. The family turned into a full lot, circling around trying to find somewhere to park. As the engine shut off, the eldest daughter opened the door, allowing the brisk air to engulf the family. They all hopped out of the car, eager to join what they came there for.

The eldest grabbed onto the boy. "Would you look at that?" She asked, bewildered by the sight in front of her. "I can't tell the lights from the stars!" The lights twinkled in the sky just the same as the wonderment in her eyes. The rest of the family looked onward at the sight before them. Covering the festival were lights, mimicking the starry sky. They hung up high between each tent. The tents were bursting with colors, and the aroma of the bountiful amounts of food filled the air. The family smiled, pleased that the journey would be all that they had hoped for. They continued walking towards the heart of the festival.

"Mom." The boy whined, trying to get the older woman's attention. "Mom." He spoke louder, hoping the aging woman would hear. "Fran!" Once the teenaged boy yelled, she whipped her head around.

"You don't have to shout at me Samuel." She scolded, using the boy's full name. Sammy was quiet. Fran, annoyed, crossed her arms. "Well?" She asked. Sammy gave her a dumbfounded look. "Why did you yell my name?" Her annoyance evident in her tone. A goofy laugh erupted from Sammy's lips.

"I just wanted to tell you that I am hungry." He stated. The dark brunette, who was only a few year older than him, rolled her eyes and huffed. "What?" Sammy spat at her.

"Why did you cause all this commotion just to say you were hungry?" She asked. "You're such a child." She mumbled under her breath. The two bickered frequently. The boy turned his look into a glare and he furrowed his brow. He was only a few months from turning eighteen and did not appreciate being called a child. As he was about to retort a sound came from a different direction.

"I am actually really hungry too." The eldest chimed in. She always came to her brother's rescue. "We haven't eaten all day and the food smells so good." She swooned. "Can we please get something to eat." She batted her large brown eyes at her dad. She was a broke teacher that jumped at any opportunity to get free food.

"Yeah please!" The rest of their children joined in, giving their best cute faces. The three sisters, who lived on their own were on their annual visit home to go to the annual festival that happened, well, annually.

With a huff the man replied, "Fine, let's go find a food stand." He knew his children were conning him into giving them free food, but they only visited once a year and it was the least he could do. The siblings let out cheers of victory as they continued walking through the center of the festival. They soon came up to a tent with hues of purple and blue surrounding the entrance. The tent was filled with large brown tables and small tall tables. The purple and blue continued inside, covering the entire ceiling. The family got in line which wound around a dark brown bar. The metal railing signifying where they should stand. 

"What do you want?" The man asked, looking at his children waiting for them to answer. His children look up at the menu waiting. Going through trying to decide. "Koehler." The man says. "Please tell me what you want." There were people waiting behind them, and he didn't want his family to make the people wait any longer. He gets anxious in crowds and doesn't particularly enjoy being around people.

"I think I am going to get a cheeseburger with a pickle on the side and fries please." She answers quickly and politely.

"Jeanie, what about you?" The man continued.

"Um, I don't know yet. Can you come back to me?" She asks, wanting to choose the right thing.

"That s fine." The man replies. "Grace?" He asks his third child.