by Kirsten (age 13)
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Chapter 2
When Emma was ready to leave, I happily showed her the door and slammed it when she walked out.
Matthew started to walk up the stairs singing tunes to himself until Mom called his name.
“You too, Mac,” Mom called.
Me and Matthew walked to her room just in time to see her hang up the phone.
“So? What happened?” Matthew sat on the bed next to her.
“Aunt Marlene said bringing Emma along was fine.” Mom smiled.
“Yes!” Matthew smiled back.
I rolled my eyes.
“But…” Mom started.
“But what?” Matthew’s smile faded.
“You guys won’t be able to sleep in the same room.”
“Oh, come on, don’t you trust me, Mom?” Matthew frowned.
“I do, but Aunt Marlene doesn’t.”
Mom played with the telephone wires and looked at me,”You can bring a friend, too, if you’d like.”
I thought about my best friends, Ariyah and Melanie.
Ariyah is going to Trinidad and Tobago this summer, so I guess she’s off the list.
“I am going to ask Melanie tomorrow at school.” I smiled. “When are we leaving?”
“The first day of summer, which is next Wednesday,” Mom replied.
“That’s only in six days,” Matthew commented.
“Yes, so you guys better start getting packed soon.”
I heard the front door open from downstairs.
Mom sprung up, “It must be your father.”
We all ran downstairs, where we saw Dad set his briefcase on the living room’s coffee table.
Dad gave Mom a kiss, which I smiled at. I am glad that my parents aren’t divorced or anything.
“Hey, Dad,” I said, giving him a hug.
He chatted with Matthew for a few minutes while Mom went into the kitchen to reheat his dinner.
I sat on the living room couch and turned on the TV.
The wood creaked as Matthew went upstairs. A few minutes later, I heard him strumming on his guitar.
I settled on the couch and continued watching a movie I’ve seen a million times before.
—
Before I knew it, I was asleep.
I started dreaming…
I was walking towards my Aunt Marlene’s house.
The door opened and a blue-ish figure hovered out.
“Mackenzie…” it murmured.
I started backing up slowly.
Hannah came out of the house and hugged the ghostly figure.
“It’s okay, Mac… She won’t hurt you.” Hannah smiled.
—
I was yanked out of my dream and back into reality.
I sensed somebody standing next to me.
“Wake up, Mac,” a deep voice told me.
I opened my eyes and Dad was standing next to me.
“Go sleep in your bed,” he ordered, “the couch isn’t good for your back.”
I yawned. “I had the weirdest dream.”
“Okay, honey, tell me in the morning.”
I sat up and looked at the clock. It read, “10:23.”
I walked up the stairs. I wasn’t tired anymore.
I peered in Matthew’s room. He was on the computer.
“Hi,” I said, walking in.
I looked at his computer screen. He was IMing with Emma.
He typed his last message, “I gotta go. Bye.”
Then he shut off the monitor and turned to me, “So, what do you think of Emma?”
“Emma?” I squeaked.
“No, The queen of England.” He laughed sarcastically.
“She’s… she’s… delightful,” I said, not wanting to disappoint my brother.
“Oh, good. ‘Cause I think she’s a keeper.”
“Really?” I raised my eyebrow.
“Yeah… she’s… hot.” Matthew smiled.
“Yeah, but isn’t it the insides that count?” I stared at Matthew’s “Beatles” shirt.
“She’s nice.” Matthew got up and pulled off his shirt, leaving his stomach covered with a white “wife-beater.”
“I think I’m going to bed now. A big end-of-the-year test tomorrow,” Matthew murmured.
I stood up and began to walk to my room, “‘Night.”
“Yeah… turn off the light on your way out.” Matthew pulled the charger cord into his phone and got under the green covers of his bed.
I switched off the light and went to my room.
The walls in my room were a light purple and most of the furniture was white.
My clarinet was on my bed from when I was practicing earlier today.
I picked it up and set it in my closet.
I changed into my pajamas quickly and then went to the bathroom to brush my teeth.
—
“Good night, world.” I said out loud when I got out of the bathroom.
I switched off the switch on my lamp and jumped onto my bed.