Lesson 1.How to make a good first impression
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I stumbled down half the stairs as I tried to lock my dog tag in place. It had been 5 years since we left the Peterson family. Mum never did tell me what that fight was about. But I know that she regrets leaving him. I know that deep down she still loves him. But for some reason she doesn’t want to see him. I never got to catch up with Ashley. I use to send letters every day but stopped after 2 years of no reply. I was caught in deep thought when suddenly I felt someone kick my knees from behind causing me to fall down the rest of the stairs. I knew mum had already gone to work, so there was only one little monster capable of being the villain.
“LILLIAN!” I yelled at the top of my voice. My 5 year old sister sat on top of my chest, and laughed at my face.
“And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how the pros’ do it.” She said, saluting her imaginary audience. I smiled evilly and jumped up, fast, so that she landed on her butt. Then I picked her up and lightly chucked her onto the couch. She tried to get up but every time she did, I pushed her back down. She giggled every time. She tried to attack again by jumping on my and so I carried her to the kitchen. I set the giggling child on the kitchen bench and looked into her eyes. She had the same eyes as Peter, the same as Ashley’s.
Damn.
I patted her on the head and looked at her seriously.
“Hey Lilly, do you want to know a secret?” I asked leaning in.
“What?” she asked.
“Well,” I started, mentally smiling but keeping my serious look on the outside. “If you can get changed in less than 5 minutes, AND brush your hair and teeth, I’ll make you whatever you want for breakfast.”
She looked exited. “Anything?” she asked.
“Anything. Oh but if you don’t manage to finish in 5 minutes the boogie monster will come and eat you.” I added. I looked at her face and I swear I wish I had a camera. Her face was a mixture of excitement and fear. She ran up the stairs. Then I got started on making her favourite breakfast, it was simple, I just grabbed cheese and chocolate, put it in between two pieces of toast and put it on the fry-pan, until the cheese and chocolate melted. Weird combination, I know, but it tasted good.
I had just finished with Lillian’s breakfast when she hopped down the stairs. Her face lit up when I put her breakfast in front of her seat. She quickly sat down and started eating. She turned to me.
“How did you know I wanted to eat this?” she asked, her face covered in chocolate.
“It’s simple, I’m a mind-reader.” I said tapping my head.
“Oh.”
She turned back to her breakfast, probably wondering if I was lying or not. We ate our breakfast silently. I finished first and went back upstairs to my bedroom to get changed. I put on a white tee-shirt, jeans, a white hoddie and my Nikes. I grabbed my iPod and hooked my white head-phones around my neck. I left my jet black hair messy. I swung my navy blue backpack over one shoulder and went back downstairs to find Lillian watching Pokémon. God I missed that show.
“Come on Lilly, we are going to miss the bus!” I yelled while grabbing my keys, wallet and phone off the kitchen table. I already had my P1’s but no car. Lillian popped up in front of me. But she was forgetting something…
“Where is your backpack?” I asked her. Her hands flew to her mouth and she ran upstairs to grab her pink, Dorothy the dinosaur backpack. I sighed and opened the door, to find two police officers standing in front of the door, about to ring the doorbell. I thought back, trying to figure out if I had done anything illegal in the past month… None that I know of.
“Ummm… Can I help you with anything officers?” I asked completely confused.
“Are you Isaac Kingsley?” he asked. I nodded. “Earlier this morning there was a car crash… The only person who didn’t survive was Jane Kingsley, Your mother.”
I stood there. Everything happened in slow-motion. I fell to the floor, shocked. Lillian stumbled down the stairs.
“I’M DONE!” she said with a proud smile. She saw me and her smile dropped. She walked over to me and then patted my head, and said. “I’m sorry Isaac, I promise I won’t forget my backpack again so don’t make that face, please.”
I looked up to her innocent, concerned face and pulled her into a tight hug. She patted my back, but then pulled back. She pulled a lolly-pop out of her bag and gave it to me. “Here Isaac have this, and then please don’t be angry at me. I pinkie promise that I won’t forget my bag again, so please cheer up.” She pleaded.
I looked into her eyes and felt instant comfort, most likely because they were the same shade as Ashley’s.
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We walked up to the house. It was just like I had remembered. Lillian and I were going to be living at the Peterson’s, again. Peter was Lilly’s biological father and he became my legal guardian, again.
I knocked on the door with the hand that was not squeezing Lillian’s. We were greeted by Peter.
“Come in you two.” He said with a warm smile. Although I was not related to Peter, apart from the fact my mum was once his wife, he had always treated me like his real son. That included doing the chores, but I was happy with that. I never had a real father and so imagined Peter to be. Lillian and I sat down on the couch and Peter left us to go to the kitchen to get us some breakfast, it was only 7 O’clock. Lilly managed to find a channel on the T.V showing the one and only, Pokémon. I watched it with her.
A loud bang came from upstairs, indicating that a door upstairs was slammed shut.
Then came a scream.
Then a loud bang.
I got up off the couch to investigate. I found a girl at the bottom of the stairs.
“Ouch…” the person/girl mumbled. She looked up and when she saw my face, she smiled.
“ISAAC! I MISSED YOU SO MUCH!” she yelled, jumping up into my arms.
I smiled and hugged her back and patted her soft blond hair. “Me too, Ashley, me too.”
Lillian walked over to us. “Hey! What do you think you’re doing?” she snapped at Ashley. “Let Isaac go you meanie! He’s MY brother, you stupid head!” I chuckled. Ashley looked surprised. I don’t blame her, it’s not every day you get told off by a five year old.
Ashley smiled knowingly and patted Lillian’s head. “Hey, Lillian, you want candy?”
Lillian thought for a moment, but then took the bait and nodded her head. Ashley gave her a lollypop.
“Open it, Isaac.” Lilly demanded.
I shook my head. “Not until after breakfast Lilly.” I said sternly. Ashley took the lollypop from Lillian and opened it. Then she stuck her tongue out at me. Lillian copied her.
“Whatever you say you stupid head.” Ashley said with a smile. She took Lillian’s hand.
“Let’s go get some more candy, yeh? Lilly?”
Lillian smiled. “Ok. Your my new best friend now.” Ashley laughed and stuck her tongue out again. Lillian laughed as well. With that they walked into the kitchen, still holding hands.
Ashley – 1, Me – 0. Oh Ashley, It is so on.