Training Grounds

Prologue

I wipe the dirt from my hands as I stand up to my full height. Ugh, I've been bent over that garden for hours now. I tilt my head left and right hearing a satisfying pop from my stiff neck. I look over at the house my family and I stay in. My older sister and younger brother are the ones there the most. Pa working in town engineering, Ma working as a house maid, and I spend most of my days at the library studying. I really don't have time to study, but I need an education if I'm gonna help keep this home. I stretch and head towards the house my bucket full of weeds tightly in my left hand. I can't work out in the farm with my uncle yet, but I do my best with Ma's flower garden. 

I wipe my boots on the welcome mat in front of the door before opening the rickety screen door. It slams closed basically sounding off an alarm that I'm back home. I trow the bucket on the table before heading over to the refrigerator grabbing a bottle of water. Suddenly there's someone tugging on my denim jacket.

"Sis! Guess what?" I look down at little Elijah before grinning.

"What?" I respond after taking a gulp of water.

"Me and Katie are taking Milly for a walk tomorrow!" at the name Milly our large golden retriever runs into the room. I chuckle and pat the top of Elijah's head full of dark brown hair. 

"I'm sure you're gonna have loads of fun. Speaking of Katie where is she?" I look down at him again to see him pouting. 

"She went to town again to see Benjamin." he looks away. I shake my head. Katie needs to learn that her boyfriend is no good him being the mayors snotty son and all.

"Well I have some time tonight wanna play tag?" Elijah's hazel eyes light up and he hugs me and screams.

"You're it!" I chuckle and shake my head. This kid. 

"Not for long!" I shout and begin chasing him around the house. He giggles all the way thinking he's winning when really I'm letting him win. I touch his shoulder and turn to run, but I trip over the leg of a small desk sitting near the doorway of the living room. I groan as I lay on the splintery wood of our house. I hear Elijah's laugh resounding around the room. I chuckle and shake my head. 

"So not funny."

"Then why are you laughing?"

"Because... Okay, fine, it kind of is funny." I sit up and look up at him with a crooked smile. I look towards the clock to find that it's close to 7:00 p.m. "Time for bed little buddy. I've got school tomorrow and you need to be rested for that walk." I pick him up from under his arms and keep him close to my side. I head up stairs and set him on his stool in front of the sink. "Gotta brush your teeth." I grab his tooth brush and hand it to him. He puts a glob of toothpaste on it and begins brushing. I smile and I pick up my toothbrush. 

"Hey, (y/n)?" he asks through the brush in his mouth. I look at him with a raised eyebrow.

"Yes?" 

"I found a letter in mom and dad's room."

"Oh, really? And what is it?"

"I dunno what it says, but it has weird thing holding it together."

"Is it okay if I see it?" I don't normally go through Ma and Pa's things, but they don't normally get letters either. Eli nods vigorously. 

"Will you tell me what it says?"

"Maybe tomorrow." he grins making a glob of foamy toothpaste drip onto his chin. I shake my head and wipe it away before beginning to brush my teeth. I finish and turn to Eli. He looks at me eagerly before running to his room and returning with an envelope. It has already been opened, but the front of it holds a strange wax seal across it. My eyebrows furrow before I look at Eli. He seems to want me to read it really badly. Huffing I walk out of the bathroom. "We gotta get you to bed little man." I hear a wine, but he follows me anyways.  I lead him into our shared room. Opening a drawer on our dresser I pull out a pair of pajamas. "Need help?"

"No, not today." He grins and grabs the clothes before changing. I pull my hair out of its ponytail before I grab a nightgown and head to the bathroom to change. I remove my clothes and slide the fabric over my head leaving the note on the counter I walk out of the bathroom to help Eli tuck himself in to already find him sound asleep. I smile lightly before climbing into bed still exhausted from spending most of my day cleaning, studying, and gardening. I'll figure out what that note is tomorrow.

__________

If you have short hair please ignore the ponytail part or any other parts where I assume long hair. Also here are your outfits, and the letter.

Beginning

Night Clothes

Letter