Strange Life of Kira Rose

Kira- Shy (outgoing if she knows you) she has a sense of humor, is very perspective, and is straight A+ student. And has a thing for sports such as baseball, basketball, and volleyball too (she’s the athletic/jock type of girl). Doesn’t care what people think about her…

Lori- VERY outgoing is always self-conscious and is an A-B average student and always has a thing for CLOTHES, CLOTHES, and more CLOTHES! (She’s the fashion crazy type). And for the most part she spends half of her time in the mirror and is a little blunt if she doesn’t like what you’re wearing.

Max -Kira’s half- brother is fully related to Serena. Likes to play his guitar in his spare time, hang out with his best friend Rob, annoy his sisters, and be the class clown or the funny guy, but for the most part he’s serious.

Serena- Kira’s half- sister, shy and shows a lot of emotion. She is very smart, for the most part nice, and collected. Likes to read, and plant flowers in her spare time.


Chapter 1 why me?

Abandoned, alone, and scared those 3 words describe how I feel. But first I must tell you my story so far…

About 2 ½ years after I was born my mom gave birth to a boy, and then five years later a girl. We don’t have a Dad; well actually my mom doesn’t know where our Dads are. A week ago my mom left us LEFT US; she supposedly went to the “store” and never came back (so she left us at home). It started to get very late so I decided to make dinner for the kids and me. I am 17 now, Max is 14½ and Serena is 9. Luckily for me she didn’t leave awhile ago, because I wouldn’t have been able to care for them. Well, anyways I had a job as an ice cream scooper at Meijer. It didn’t pay much but it was enough to buy simple dinners like Mac’ n cheese…

Ok, now back to me I was fired as an ice cream scooper because well, some snot nosed brat messed up the ice cream machine so the ice cream wouldn’t come out right. It tasted and looked extra gooey.
“I don’t have a single clue of how he got in there, honest!” I told the manager he’s tall, ancient, and very skinny, with a toupee that’s SOO obvious.
“Yeah, well, you should’ve been *cough* watching *hack* him *cough*!” He didn’t even bother cover his mouth and here he is coughing in my face. Somehow I got through it.
“And now that you weren’t watching your post like you’re supposed to we’ll have to close the ice cream section of Meijer! YOU’RE FIRED!” His toupee was shaking over and over about to fall off.
I got mad and said “Yeah? Well, this job was dumb anyway, I QUIT!” I stomped out of his office and didn’t look back.

Now that I’m out of a job I have no money, so I began to make a search for “Help Wanted” places. I called my best friend Lori. She said that there are only two job openings: one at the mall, which is Victoria’s Secret, and one at McDonald’s. I chose Victoria’s Secret because I don’t like working where you get all greasy and hot. So after the buses dropped my siblings and I off at home (not at the same time, I get out of school earlier). I made sure they knew not to open the door for people (not that they haven’t heard It a million times) they both agreed not to. Well, actually they think mom went out of town for a little bit; I still have to explain things to them. Max and Serena both have sky blue eyes with brown and blondish hair while I have black hair, and dark blue eyes. It’s probably because we have different dads. (That we haven’t seen or heard of).

Well, tomorrow I have to drive to… oh yeah! I don’t have a car…I’ll ask Lori to pick me up and take me home (she wanted to buy something at Victoria Secret anyway).Well, when we arrived at Victoria’s Secret It was packed! Not because of customers but because of want to-be-employees… ‘Oh boy’ I thought ‘I might as well give up because all these people might get the job.’ I slowly walked out of Victoria’s Secret…

“Oh no you don’t, you had me drive 20 minutes to get here you’re going in Missy!”
“But I don’t want to,” I said.
But somehow she managed to get me back in there… after what felt like hours later…”Kira Rose,” I stepped up, the young blonde lady examined my face, my clothes, and my posture. You could tell the lady spent 10 hours in the mirror. Not one blemish was on her face! She started to write on her clipboard. “We have another one!” she yelled.
She smelled strongly of smoke. ‘How did she get the job?’ I said in my head. Then the lady looked at me. She blinked her long eyelashes and said in a very boring tone “Go in the back, the lady there will ask you a few questions.” She coughed very loud. “NEXT! We are accepting 3 more and we are closing the line!” Lori gave me the thumbs up sign; she was outside of the store.

I turned to face the blonde lady and walked all the way to the back room. A lady in high heels and a tight pink stripped dress greeted me, her dark black hair was shoulder length, and she had long bangs that she kept blowing out of her face. “Hello, my name is Carolyn Pine and I would like to ask you a couple of questions based on your last job…” After she said that I blocked her out of my mind well, sort of her perky voice makes me go crazy! But, life goes on (especially mine). She asked simple questions like:
“What is your full name?”
“Kira Ann Rose.”
“How old are you and what grade are you in?”
“17 and I’m in the 11th grade.” Blah, blah, blah the list goes on. Then after what seems like forever…
”Well, Kira it seems like…you got the job. And by the way I’m the head manager of Victoria’s Secret; you are the 2nd of the 5 people that we are going to be choosing for this job. Thank you for helping us out!” she held out her hand with a big smile. I shook it.
“Um…when do I start and how much is the pay an hour?” I said sounding (and probably looking) gloomy.
“$6.50 for afternoon/morning shift and $7.15 for the night shift and you start Thursday. You can go now your friend is waiting for you.” she held out her hand with a big smile. I shook it. “It was a pleasure meeting you Kira, bye now.”
She walked off with the end of her pink dress flowing out everywhere, and her hot pink high heeled shoes clopped with her.


Chapter 2 secret is revealed

I ran out to greet Lori and she hugged me and screamed,
“Did you get the job?!” Everyone walking by looked at us like we were crazy. “Yeah,” I said then shrugged. She walked out with me smiling.
“Great! Now I can get a discount at Victoria’s Secret!”
“I guess,” I said
“You know Kira; you changed since the last 2 weeks what’s wrong?”
“What do you mean what’s wrong, I’m the same Kira Rose I always was.”
She gave me the look, the I’m-not-buying-your-story-look, ‘I think she’s on to me.’ I thought. “I mean, what you think is wrong with me. How have I changed?”
Lori put one eyebrow up and said,
“You act gloomier, and you aren’t as outgoing and happy as you once were. Are you hiding something Kira?”
I wanted to tell her, but I couldn’t she’d freak out and tell her parents and we’ll be separated and put into foster homes. The thought of it made me look horrified, Lori could see it on my face. She was about to say something but I made my self look more serious again. Without looking guilty I said,
“No it’s just that…well, my granddad died.” I looked down trying to look sad and even more bummed out.
“He was my favorite granddad.” I busted out.
Lori’s eyes then got soft and sad, “Oh Kira I’m so sorry…”
“It’s ok really,” I said trying my hardest to smile. I felt guilty for lying to my best friend, none of my grand parents died recently within the past 3 years!
“So…what was his name?”
‘Aw man! Quit asking questions, Lori!’ I thought.
“His name, oh it was…” I couldn’t think of a name that was of an already dead granddad. Lori saw the worried look on my face. Then she frowned.
“I’m not buying your story Kira! Tell me the truth! I’m supposed to be your best friend, don’t you remember? FRIENDS TELL!”
Right then and there I felt a whole rush of guilt. ‘Why don’t I trust my absolute best friend with one of my darkest secrets, she always tells me hers?’ I sighed
“Ok, but you must promise not to tell…”
She nodded.
“… Not a soul, nothing, not even your DOG!”
“Okay Kira just tell me jeez.”
“I am the guardian of my house, not legally though, my mom just left us LEFT US, I don’t know why. I also don’t know which one of the many guys is my blood-related daddy for me and for Max and Serena!”
Lori’s eyes widened
“Wow! This is some serious news…”
“That you can’t tell anyone else.” I interrupted. I crossed my fingers and made an ‘x’ by my heart and she did the same, and then we did the pinky swear.
“Not a soul,” Lori promised.

Chapter 3 Telling my siblings

“You know I can come over sometimes and help you with your siblings, but we’ve got to find out why your mom just left like that.”
“Right now I’m trying to figure out how to tell my brother and sister that mom isn’t coming back.”
“Just tell them, what’s the worst that could happen?”

“NO NO NO!” said Serena.
“Mommy’s coming back she just on a vacation, remember you told us Kira!” Serena was crying, tears were pouring out of her eyes. Max didn’t say anything his blue eyes were big and I could tell he was holding it all in so that he would still look tough in front of us but mostly to his little sister who looks up to him.
“I’m sorry Serena but mom isn’t coming back, and she didn’t go on vacation. I’m sorry you guys.”
Serena ran in a corner and cried. Then Max walked over to me and said,
“What are we going to do now, Kira?”
“I don’t know Max but whatever you do don’t tell anybody, not even your closest friends!”
“Um, ok.” Max slowly looked up at me…and I could see tears well up in his eyes.
Mom and Max had a close relationship for he being a teenager and all and I can’t understand how crushed he must feel after mom ditching us like that. Then the tears started to fall. He didn’t bother to wipe them but he slowly walked in to his room with his guitar in his hand. Moments later I heard a loud bang! I slowly opened the door to his room.
“A-re u o-k?” I said almost whispering.
I looked down; I saw his blue vase on the floor shattered into many pieces. I then looked at him. His face was red with rage, and he was breathing very heavily.
“How could she do this to us?” He yelled.
The sun was orange and the light was shining through his window.
“I don’t know Max…but we can go through this as long as you help me calm Serena down…”
“I can’t right now Kira, I’m too busy wondering if there is hope for us.”
My mouth opened to say something but instead I kept my mouth shut.
“Well, when you need something I’ll be right in my room.” I closed the door and checked on Serena. She was watching cartoons.
“Are you guys hungry?!” I yelled. Serena looked at me and nodded. Not a sound came from Max’s room.
“Max are you...”
“Yeah I’ll be there, what are we eating?” he said interrupting me, and coming out of his room.
I went to look in the refrigerator and I saw an envelope by the counter.
‘I can’t believe I didn’t notice this earlier!’ I thought.
I read the note inside:

Dear children,
I’m going on a trip to Europe and I don’t have enough money to come back (after buying so many souvenirs) I’ll be living with my parents so don’t worry about me. Here’s $800 from your grandparents. I have been planning this trip for many years but it never took action. I’ll miss you guys so much. You can care for your brother and sister. Besides think of this as the adventure you always wanted! Oxoxoxoxoxo
Love, Mom

I felt like a sink, all my feelings of her went down the drain.
“What is that?” asked Max.
“N-nothing.” I stuttered.
“Oh yeah it’s something let me see it.”
“No Max you can’t see it!” I yelled.
“Why can’t I see it?” he asked smiling jokingly.
I didn’t smile, I didn’t want him to read the note, it was too much bad news, and he probably couldn’t take it.
I wandered off in my thoughts for a moment. Then Max snatched the note. ‘Oh no!’ I thought. I tried to get the note, but he kept blocking my hands. Finally I gave up; I watched his playful smile shrink, lower, lower, and lower. Then his face turned red with again.
“I HATE HER,” he yelled
“I HATE HER, I HATE HER!”
He ran in his room and slammed the door so hard that I thought it would break off.


Chapter 4 is there hope?

Serena just stood there. I guess she was standing there the whole time I just didn’t notice. My mouth opened to talk but Serena beat me to it.
“Max is mad isn’t he?”
“Yup,”
“Can I talk to him?”
“You?”
“Yeah, after all I am his favorite.”
She gave me a smirk and ran over to Max’s room which was 10 steps away from hers. Then all of a sudden I heard laughing coming from his room. I opened the door and Serena was singing (very off key) a song and Max played it on his guitar. The way she sang it was funny. They didn’t see me, so I slowly closed the door. I walked back in to the living room. I was so upset I forgot about the money enclosed. It was $800 in $100 dollar bills.
‘How could she possibly love her parents more than her own offspring?’

Then Serena came and said,
“Max said he’s going to run away.” She said walking toward me, almost in a whisper.
“Maybe you should talk to him.” She jumped on the couch and started watching “The Lizzie McGuire Show” I slowly walked over to Max’s room again. Hesitantly I knocked on his door.
“Go away!” Max yelled. “Leave me alone!”
I came in anyways; Max was on the bed lying on his stomach with his head buried in the covers.
“Um…Max? Are you ok?”
“Yeah I’m fine…I’m just a little shaken up, that’s all…”
“But, are you sure…?”
“Listen, Mom just deserted us, and we don’t actually have a dad so what’s my reaction supposed to be?” He said interrupting me.
“Well, mom did run out on us, but a lot of sulking and tension isn’t going to change that. So why don’t we try and live life the fullest until we can fix what’s going on.” I smiled, hoping Max was buying this.
“Yeah, you’re right. Thanks big sis.” He smiled and hugged me for the first time since he was 2 years old. Then he casually walked out.

Moments later, I heard Serena scream,
“No, quit Max I want to watch Lizzie McGuire!”
“So what, The Fresh Prince is way better and you know it!” Then Serena screamed very loudly.
“I HAD IT FIRST!”
“You guys quit fighting!” I yelled, at that moment I felt like a mom.
“Max started it!” yelled Serena back. Her face was scrunched up and her nose was in the air.
“Here take it lemon!” Max said throwing the remote back at her.
“Don’t call me lemon!” she boomed. Max just laughed. I tried not to, because seeing Serena mad actually is funny. We used to call her lemon because she was always a natural blonde, that’s what the whole family called her also because she was so spoiled she started acting snobbish or sour so we call her lemon. She hates that nickname though…

I backed out of the living room and went in my room I lied on my bed to think. ‘Why would mom do this?’ I thought. ‘Just run out like this without even saying good-bye…well in person.’ I sighed. I walked back into the living room. My hair was in a pony tail as usual, Serena’s blonde hair was hanging all out, and Max…well he had a hat on…but what else is new? They were fighting over the remote again. ‘How am I going to pay the bills all by myself?’ tears welled up in my eyes. ‘If I can’t pay the bills where will we go?’ the tears started to fall.


Chapter 5 a talk with Max #1

Later that night when everyone was asleep I called Lori crying like I was crazy, I told her about the money we have and the money we might not have and then she said,
“Kira, I know you don’t believe in God, but won’t you consider him now? You need him the most!”
“I’ll think about it” I said then I hung up.
Actually, religion wasn’t, isn’t, and never will be my thing.

Lori was always talking and acting so religious when she first met me. She always seemed so happy. It bugged me because my life wasn’t so hot at the moment (because guys kept coming in and out of the house wanting something then they’d yell at my mom and smacked, and kicked her, I was a very little kid and Max was only 3 years old, I hope he doesn’t remember).So then I told her to quit talking about it around me. She looked at me and asked,
“What’s wrong with you?”
“Nothing, I just don’t want to hear it right now, wait how about never.”
“Well, ok but I think you should come sometime.” I gave her a funny look, and she saw me and shrugged.
“Maybe I’ll come later, when things start working out for me.”

But, now that my mom’s gone the last thing on my mind would be religion and church. After I hung up, I began to cry. ‘How can God love me?’ I thought. ‘Where was he when my family was hurting? When my mom was left and rejected by our dads?’ I began to cry louder. I guess I was pretty loud because Max came out of his room.
“Sis what are you doing up so late?”
“Nothing,” I said sniffling and wiping my eyes. “You should go back to bed.”
He sat next to me on the couch. “What’s wrong?”
I wanted to tell him but I didn’t want him breaking down crying with me.
“Nothing I’m fine. Just go back to sleep you have to go to school in the morning.” I said shooing him away.
“Um…if I had school you would too, anyways tomorrow is Saturday.” He laughed, I did too.
Before I could think of another excuse he asked again, “So what’s wrong, sis?”
‘Oh well,’ I thought ‘he’s the only one I can talk to right now, I guess he can know.’
“We only have $800” I sighed.
“O-k…”
“I’m not done, $800 isn’t even close to being enough to pay for our bills, and have money left over to buy food.”
“Oh, that is a bummer…” he looked around like he was thinking.
“I could get…a job.” He said.
“You would? You would do that for me? For us?” I smiled big, and hugged him very tight. Then I heard Max gasp for air. So I let him go, and said sorry.
“Yeah I’d do that for you and all of us, besides what are brothers for?”
“Besides, wrestling, roughhousing, and being jocks I guess I just don’t know.” I said sarcastically.
“Oh come on.”
“I was joking.”
“Oh, you seemed positive that you really didn’t know.”
“Boy, you really need to get out more. Hey, where would you get a job you’re only 14…”
“Correction Kira, 14 and a half.” Max said pointing his finger at me.
“Whatever,”
“Well, I’ll be 15 In about 6 weeks so… until then I can work at a grocery store or somewhere where they hire 15 year old kids.”
“You know what?”
“What?”
“I ‘m so proud of you, Max. I bet our parents would be proud if they were, here.”

Max froze. ‘Oops,’ I thought. ‘Great, that’s all he needs is a little more tension in his mind.’
But instead of being upset he asked,
“Did you ever know, your or my dad?” Max’s eyes were soft and sincere.
“I remember bits and pieces but no good descriptions. All I remember is a bunch of different men coming in and out of the house one had black hair the other was a blonde and dark brown haired. And I remember mom screaming and the men yelling. But, of course it was only one guy a day. But it was always the same 3 men going in and out.”
“I wish I knew my dad,” Max said looking straight ahead. “I mean, some people are so lucky they just don’t even know.”
“I know what you mean.”
“How old was I when the guy thing was happening back and forth. Was I even born?”
“You were 3, and you would always cry when you saw those men storming in the house and hurting mom. You would tug at my shirt and hold your hands out for me to hold you. I was only 5 going on 6 very soon and I would take you in my room and we would stay in there…I can’t believe you don’t remember.”
“I remember you letting me comb your long hair, well when it was long, I remember you being little so I’m guessing I was little also.”
“You think?” I said sarcastically.
“Yup.”
I rolled my eyes. “I guess I will go to bed now, Good night Kira.”
“Good night, Max and by the way don’t tell Serena anything, well, not yet.”
“Don’t worry I won’t, you should be going to sleep also because it’s…” he looked at the kitchen clock. “2:30, aren’t you tired?”
“Yeah, I’ll go to bed, don’t worry about me.”
Max got up from the couch and walked slowly to his room.
I did also. Then I went to bed wondering about Max’s soon-to-be job.


Chapter 6 more horrible news!

I woke up to the sound of a garbage truck. ‘Man,’ I thought. ‘Can’t they be quieter?’ I turned on the TV. The news happened to be on.
“In China it seems there was another shooting but this time it was because a little girl got into a fight with some bullies and decided to take her parents gun (for defense) and shot them all dead, in more graphic news something very tragic happened in Italy, now back to you Janet.”
“Thanks Carla, today a very tragic accident happened in Italy, a woman was ran over by a truck while she was crossing the pedestrian section of the road, the truck was obviously in some hurry or something. He also couldn’t see her but when he did it was too late…”
‘Hmm,’ I thought ‘Italy is in Europe the same country my mom went to.’ Then I froze ‘Oh no! Could mom possibly be that woman who got ran over? My mom Shirley Marie Rose?’ I was scared now, really scared…
“…The woman’s parents were horrified and demanded the truck driver to be in court in order to be sued. According to the woman’s parents her name was Sarah Mary Snow…”
‘Whew’ I thought wiping imaginary sweat off my forehead. ‘That name was too close to my mom’s.’
“Oh...I’m sorry I misheard her name it was Shirley Marie Rose I’m sorry folks… The lady’s funeral will be in 3 weeks for those who knew Ms. Rose and were related to her, but in other news America’s gas prices are going up…”

The rest of the report I tuned out of my mind, I froze I couldn’t move! ‘When Max and Serena find out about this they probably will never come out of their rooms again! There’s got to be a way that we can deal with this…’ I thought panicking. Then I saw Serena come out of her room rubbing her eyes.
“Kira, I had a dream that mommy came back home and we lived happily ever after.” She said looking up at me.
“Do you think that it will happen, Kira?” she said.
“I’m sorry but I don’t think so, Serena because…well…uh…”
“Yeah.”
“She um…well…d...i...e...d.”
“She what?”
“She died, Serena she died.”
She started crying and so did I.
“No! No! She didn’t! She didn’t!” Serena ran in her room crying.
“How am I going to tell Max?” I asked biting my finger nail, which is something I only do when I’m nervous.
“Tell me what?” Max said walking into the living room.

Then the phone rang ‘Saved by the bell’ I thought. Max walked towards his room.
“Hello?”
“Hi, this is Lori…”
“Hi Lori what’s up?”
“Not much to report, ok look Kira will you do me the biggest favor of your and my life?”
“Yeah sure.”
“Ok I want you to PLEASE come to church with me…”
“Excuse me.”
“Come’ on Kira please I’m begging you please, please come!”
“Right now isn’t a good time for me to be coming to church.”
“Why not?”
“Well, because my mom just died. Can you believe that?”
“Oh Kira I’m so sorry I don’t know what to say,”
“You don’t have to say anything; to make it worse the funeral is in Europe so I can’t even go to my own mom’s funeral! I’m so mad I don’t know what to do Lori!” I started to cry.
“Will you please consider church now?”
“No! Let’s leave church out of this!”
“Listen, here let’s make a deal if you go to my church one time, just one time I will quit bothering you about it but you must come at least one time.”
I thought about this for a moment. ‘Getting Lori out of my hair forever would be nice,’ I thought.
“Ok I’ll do it, as long as you promise to quit bugging me about it.”
“Sure that’s all I want.”
“Ok, so well, when do you want me to go?”
“Sunday.”
“Can my brother and sister come, because we have no money for a babysitter we need to save all the money we can right now.”
“Ok sure, my older sister, Cindy May will pick you guys up.”
“Alright then.”
“And you better come because I have to pay her for her to pick you guys up, that’s just the way she is.”
I could picture Lori making a face.
“Um, Lori?”
“And Kira, don’t forget to dress nice, don’t come looking like you were living in the garbage can.”
“Lori?”
“Also as soon as you get there don’t forget to look for me; so that you won’t get lost, it’s a big church you know.”
“Lori!”
“Yes,” she said like this was the first time she heard me call her name.
“What time should I be ready?”
“Um…about maybe…9:00? No that’s too early…Wait how about 10:00 no not very accurate…11:00 or was it 11:30?”
“Come on Lori I want to know today!”
“Oh sorry here wait a second let me go ask my mom.”

‘Max was right,’ I thought. ‘People are just so lucky sometimes they just don’t even know or care what everyone else is going through.’
I put the phone down for a second and held back my emotional feelings for my dead mom.
“Kira, what? Tell me what?” Max was standing right in front of me.
“Can we talk about this later?”
“No! Kira if it’s serious I want to know about it now!”
“Don’t yell at me Max I know what I’m doing!”
Then I returned back to the phone. The sad part was... I didn’t really know what I was thinking.

“Hello? Lori are you there?”
“Yeah I’m here; I just came back to the phone.”
“Oh, good.”
“My mom said that you should be ready about 12:30 pm.”
“Don’t you think that’s kind of late?”
“No, our service starts later, which is as a matter of fact a very good thing, we get to sleep in longer.”
“Ok, that’s wonderful, I think I have some nice clothes and so do my siblings.
“Ok see you later bye!”
“Bye.”



Chapter 7 Family time

A half an hour passed...
“Can I tell Max what he can’t know?” asked Serena.
“Yeah, at least have my favorite tell me.” He messed with Serena’s hair.
Max’s favorite was Serena, my favorite was Max.
“Ok, Max you promise you won’t freak out?”
“I can’t hear this!” Serena ran out of the living room crying, again.
‘Oh great now Max knows something bad is happening.’ I thought.
“Alright tell me Kira, if I’m your favorite let me know.”
“Mom, died.” I hated saying those words.
“What!”
“You heard me, mom is dead and she’s never coming back.” I was trying so hard to hold back the emotion that was going to burst out of me.
Max looked down and sighed heavily.
“Look Max,” I said while we both sat on the couch. He laid his head on my lap and I stroked his hair.
“I wish she would come back alive too, but the thing is she isn’t. We are all going to miss her.”
“Why is everything bad happening to us? I mean what did we do?” He said. His head was still on my lap. And he was looking up at the ceiling.
“I don’t know, but the saying goes that everything happens for a reason. I just wonder what our reason is…”
“Me too,”
“Oh yeah, I just remembered we are going to church on Sunday.”
“You, going to church? That doesn’t sound like you Kira, you hate church.”
“I know, I know but Lori wants me to go so I’m going so she’ll get out of my hair.”
“Now that sounds like Kira.” He smiled. Then he frowned.
“Um…Kira can I ask you a question?”
“Yes anything.”
“Ok…well, how come you never liked going to church? I have been wondering this for awhile when mom used to drag you to church, awhile back, I forgot with whom though.”
“Aw you don’t want to know.”
“Actually I do.” said Max getting up from my lap.
“I really don’t like talking about it.”
“Come on you can tell me, please.”
“Max I really don’t like talking about it ok!”
“Sure ok be that way but remember, I tell you everything! Ok EVERYTHING! And you can’t tell me one simple thing, some favorite I am.” He got up from the couch and started walking into his room.
‘How do I get myself into these situations?’ I thought. Then I did something I wouldn’t do to anyone not even Lori. I told my darkest secret ever.
“Max!”
“What?”
“Ok, I’ll tell you but you must promise me…”
“Not to tell a living soul, not even your toys, not even your closest buddies, blah, blah I know already!” Max said mocking me.
I rolled my eyes.
“I knew you was going to change your mind I was counting the seconds.” He grinned.
“How did you know?” I asked sort of confused.
“Because my sister, we have a special bond we are like best of friends other than just brother and sister.”
“Are you ready to hear the short story now?”
“Yeah, sure.”
“Ok, when I was very little before you guys were born about maybe 2 ½ granddad would take me to church with him. I loved hanging out with him. Mom was always out doing something else so granddad would ask her if I could come with him and I did, every Sunday. Then unexpectedly he had a heart attack during church I was sitting right next to him. I was screaming, his eyes were closed and he didn’t move at all. I realized that he was dead. The people at church must have thought he was sleeping, but he wasn’t, he was dead, I was very little and couldn’t get anyone to help in time. So I sat there crying. For me it was a living nightmare. Ever since that happened I was afraid of churches I can’t even go near one without feeling my bottom lip quiver.”

Max was speechless. He just sat there looking very blank in the face.
I laughed.
“Well, that was interesting…that was probably the only thing that I couldn’t possibly know about you, and about your granddad, I’m sorry.”
“It’s ok; it’s been awhile since he died.”
“Was he our granddad, too?”
“Yes, I think so because he was on mom’s side. Actually he was her dad.”
“Oh,”
“I’m going to check on Serena she’s been in her room for awhile.”
“Sure I’ll come with you.”

We slowly opened the door to her room. She was putting a jigsaw puzzle together, the 500 piece kind of puzzle. She was also having a tea party with her stuffed animals (the tea was actually water).
“Can I join?” I asked.
“Join what?”
“Your party.” Said Max.
“Oh! I’m done playing tea party it gets boring playing by your self.” She stroked her teddy bear’s fur.
Max and I looked at each other we noticed we weren’t spending too much time with her.
“Can we play tea party?” I asked.
“What I don’t want to play…” Max started to say, then I elbowed him, hard.
“I mean of course we want to play.” He said fake smiling. Then he frowned at me.
“Oh really! Come’ on, but first you must dress up.”
“Are you kidding me?” I elbowed him again but harder this time.
“Ow! Kira quit that hurts I think I have a bruise!”
“We would love to dress up just for the occasion.” I smiled again.
“Yeah we would love to.” He said ‘love’ very sarcastic, but Serena didn’t mind she seemed happy we were even playing with her. So that day was a day to spend time with your siblings, even if it means playing tea party.


Chapter 8 what a coincidence!

I woke up the next day realizing it was Sunday. I checked the kitchen clock. It was 10:00. Max and Serena were still sleeping I didn’t blame them we watched TV and played games until we were so tired we couldn’t even walk to get more food from the fridge. I waited until 10:30 to wake them up. ‘Well,’ I thought ‘time to get this show on the road.’ I woke them up and it took Max awhile for him to get up. I decided to wear a light blue shirt with purple flowers, and a layered looking tank top. The tank top was purple on top and light blue underneath the purple. My skirt was just plain purple with the bottom looking frilly. ‘I can’t believe I‘m going to church,’ I thought. ‘Max was right this isn’t like me.’ I sighed heavily.
“I’m ready!” Serena said, while coming out of her room and while twirling her dress around.
Her dress was light pink and had sparkles everywhere.
“Mom gave this to me on Easter.” replied Serena.
“Wow it looks nice.” I said, looking at my own dress.
“What do you think of mine?”
“I like it.”
Then Max came out of my mom’s old room wearing a black suit.
“Hey, Kira look what I found in the very back of mom’s room.”
He walked toward me in slow motion like he was all that.
“Check this out!” he turned around slowly.
“You look so handsome.” I said, sarcastically.
“I know,” Max said smiling very big.
“Don’t you understand sarcasm when you hear it?” I laughed.
Then I thought for a quick second.
“Where did you find that? I mean, why was it in Mom’s room?”
“I don’t know but I think it could have belonged to some guy...”
“Like maybe one of our dads?” Serena interrupted.
“Yeah,” said Max, going back into mom’s room.
“Do you think she had any evidence of our dads?” said Max, motioning us to come in her room.
“I don’t know I guess we should look.” I said while grabbing Serena’s arm.
We looked everywhere, every drawer, every cabinet, and even her closet was empty. I was about to give up until…
“Look guys, what is this dark brown box?” asked Serena while pointing to it.
The brown box was small and was made of very thick cardboard; it was hidden under all her junk.
“I don’t know but I’m afraid there’s gonna be bad news…” Max started to say.
“Come on and let’s check it out.” I walked toward the box and tried to open it but it was super glued tight. ‘Why would this be glued shut?’ I thought. ‘Maybe it is bad news.’ I got a steel knife and started to carve through the top carefully not trying to ruin anything in there. When I finally opened the box I gasped. I could barely pick up the object that was inside there.
“What Kira? What happened?” asked Max looking worried. He looked at the object I was holding in my hand and gasped also.
“What’s going on?” said Serena, and then her eyes got big.
The thing we saw was an obituary page that had a very dark-haired man named Jake Smith. And he looked just like me, hair color and all. But, he was dead, I felt so empty and upset. But, I didn’t show it on my face. Well, I tried not too.

“I’m sorry about…you know...” Max said.
“Thanks, Max.” I smiled.
‘Why didn’t mom tell me about this?’ I thought, angry at my dead mom. Max looked at his watch.
“Want to make breakfast now, Kira?” Max said while he and Serena walked out of the room.
My eyes began to water, ‘All this time she kept this a secret from me! I never got to meet my real dad or anything or…’
“Kira!” Max said, interrupting my thoughts.
“Do you want to help me make breakfast or not!”
“What? Oh yeah, breakfast….” I got up slowly blinking my eyes fast to keep the tears from falling. Max was in the kitchen with Serena holding two un-cracked eggs.
“Well, come on Kira you can make the pancakes, while I make the eggs, and Max does the toast.” said Serena washing her hands.
“Sure Serena.”

Later on it was 12:25 pm and we were all ready. I fixed Serena’s hair and tried to fix Max’s hair but he yelled at me saying,
“I’m not a little kid Kira I can do my own hair! You are starting to act like my mom or something.” Then his blue eyes flashed. I guess he thought about her for a second then shook his head to brush off the memory. I kind of felt bad for trying to replace our mom, which is something I could never do.
“I’m sorry Max I didn’t mean to...”
“No, I’m sorry I guess even though I hate to admit it, I do miss her.”
Then Serena started sobbing, “I miss her too.”
“Look you guys, even though things are very hard for us right now we need to be very strong ok? If we stick together we can do anything we put our minds to.” I smiled.
“But I will tell you this, we will miss mom a lot but sulking over her isn’t going to bring her back to life.” Then I heard a honk outside the window.
“That must be Cindy May.’ I thought, peeking through the window.
“Alright let’s go! Do you guys have everything you need?”
Serena and Max nodded in agreement and headed out the door. I locked the door to our apartment and put my keys in my purse. When we went out to her car it was a silver Taurus and she had strawberry blonde hair with green eyes. She didn’t look anything like Lori. We didn’t talk very much at all on the ride to church that day. When we got there me and Lori hugged each other and she said hi to Serena and Max. But while the choir was singing I kept seeing flash backs of my granddad. I tried to shake the thoughts out of my head but they kept coming back. I looked at Lori and she was smiling very big I smiled weakly and faced the choir. Actually they sang very well. I looked around, and not to far away stood a man who kind of looked like Serena I looked at him and then her again...
‘Could it be?’ I thought. ‘Could this guy be Serena’s dad?’ then I shook my head of my idiotic thought. ‘No, I can’t just jump to conclusions like that...
But, it is awfully awkward how they both have blonde hair and blue eyes...AND HE HAS FRECKLES!’ No one in our family line had freckles!
“Hey.” Someone whispered
I gasped.
“Chill, it’s just me...your brother.” Max chuckled.
“Sorry, I was very deep in thought.” I giggled nervously.
“Whatcha thinkin’ ‘bout?”
“Well, there’s this guy...”
“Whoa! You’re already searching for dudes?” he grinned.
“No, you didn’t let me finish there’s a guy that looks like your and Serena’s father.”
There was an awkward silence.
“A-are you serious?” he looked worried and somewhat eager.
“I’m very serious. Look over there.” I pointed to where the blonde guy was standing.
“Wow!” exclaimed Max.
“Shh!!” said many voices.
“Will you keep it down?” I said quietly laughing.
“I-I-I think he’s the guy...” Max finally got out.
“How can you be so sure?”
“I saw a picture of a guy who looks just like that! That’s definitely him.”

Chapter 9- The truth revealed
“When? Where? I don’t understand...how do you know he’s the guy?” I said, looking a little lost.
“Well, there was this album and well, I seen him and mom...their heads were touching and he was smiling...”
“How long ago did you see the picture?”
“Oh, I don’t know...a couple years. I was being nosy you know?”
“Yup, I definitely know.”
“Whatever.”
“Hey, Max could you do me a great big favor?”
“It depends.”
“Ok, as soon as we get home I want you to find that picture you were talking about...can you do that for me?”
“Yeah, I guess...for me and Serena. Maybe...somehow...oh I don’t know...he could take us in as...a family...” He said quietly while looking down.
“Max, I bet everything is going to be alright-“
“But, what’s going to happen to you, Kira? He’s not even related to you...do you think he’ll welcome you too?”
“Max,” I said, softly. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine, I promise. Besides if he doesn’t let me, I’ll be moving out anyway for college, and I promise to see you guys as much as I can.”
“But-”
“What?”
“I want us to always be together...”
“I’m sorry but that’s always not going to happen. Not everybody’s story ends in a Happily Ever After.”

************************************to be continued*******************************************