“I need neither.I love work,” I lie, ignoring the tiny pang in my chest.There’s something about this assignment that gives me a flicker of excitement that I can’t explain.The guest of honor, the one I wrote about, is kind of intriguing.I doubt he’s looking forward to officially meeting me, considering I dug into his past.But hey, journalism isn’t about making friends.
I start tossing clothes onto the bed, searching for my shoe.“I swear, if it’s buried under this mess—”
She huffs, but joins in, half-heartedly sifting through the piles.We’re at it for what feels like forever before I check under the bed.Big mistake.
“Oh, my God.That’s disgusting.”I scrunch up my nose at what I see.“Are those moldy sandwiches?What’s wrong with you?How do you live like this?”
She shrugs.“I’m sixteen.”
“When I was sixteen, I was nothing like this.This is… This is disgusting.”
“Found it,” she announces loudly as she holds up my shoe triumphantly.
I snatch it from her hand, muttering, “Get ready.You have five minutes.”
With the shoe crisis averted, I charge into the kitchen, where my little brother, Felix, is currently standing on a chair, trying to reach the top shelf of the pantry.
Mom’s in the living room, perched on the edge of the sofa, looking exhausted but determined.The dining table is still covered in breakfast dishes, despite my telling the kids to clean up three times.
Ten minutes later, I’m chasing Felix around the house with a pair of navy pants while he cackles in his underwear.
“You’re getting dressed if it’s the last thing I do!”
I finally get him into the pants, while Mom rounds up the others and gets everyone into the minivan.
Counting heads, I take a deep breath.“Everyone’s in the car?Do you all have everything you need?Does anyone need to go to the bathroom?”
Silence.
Then, predictably, “I forgot my water bottle,” says Jasper.
I groan and sprint back inside, grab it, and return.“Anything else?”
“I didn’t bring a toy,” Felix cries.
“I don’t want to go,” Atlas moans.
“I need to pee,” Sofia says, unbuckling.
I blow out a slow breath.“I asked if anyone needed to go.”
“Well, I didn’t need to go then,” Sofia says.
Once everyone’s buckled back in, I speak.“Everyone.Behave.We won’t stay long.I have work, and you all need to listen to Mom.”
I turn up the music as I pull out of the driveway.They’re still somehow louder than the radio, but at least we’re moving.
“If you want to stay later, someone else can drop us home,” Mom says.
Family’s my priority, but I can’t jeopardize the promotion.I’ll decide what to do based on how tonight goes.
I keep my eyes on the road as I answer, “I just need to get my pictures and take my notes for an article.”
Mom, sitting up front, gives me a tired but excited smile.“Don’t worry about me.I can’t wait to see everyone.I hate being cooped up.And with all the fall decorations?It’s going to look so pretty.”
I have to agree that the town festivities in fall are one of the best times of the year.
“Well, let me know if you need to leave early,” I add, concerned that pushing herself too hard could lead to something bad happening.
