Kacie

The door swinging back and smacking the wall woke Kacie from her slumber. "Rise and shine my delinquent child" Liam announced in a sing song voice. A clunk reached Kacie's ears and once she had peeled open her eyes she could she the clunk was from the washing basket which normally resides in the bathroom. It was now front and center on Kacie's cream carpet. All the noise Liam was creating was not helping the pulsating headache dancing in Kacie head.

"No" was the only word her brain would come up with. Liam just smirked and walked over to Kacie and pulled away her duvet effortlessly. The cold breeze that trickled Kacie's body made her curl up in a ball. Liam could see her natural eye colour through her arms protecting her head. The way she was looking at him was pure hatred for disturbing her sleep. He was not abiding by the instructions of her pajama top. Kacie sat up and opened her mouth but was cut off by Liam.

 "Ah don't start Kacie, you are grounded for two weeks and if I were you I would start paying it of as I am sure you don't want to be grounded for any longer, do you?"

Kacie remain silent, Liam took her silence as agreement and carried on explaining her chores for the day. "Today I except you to put the washing on, clean the bathroom and your room. I also what every surfaces polished upstairs and downstairs. I also want you to take the feather duster into each room and clean any cobwebs around the ceiling. Do not get in your brothers way and he should not get in yours. Is that clear?" 

Liam was greeted by silence again "Is that clear Kacie?" he asked again. 

"Crystal," was the only response he got as he walked out the room.

Kacie rolled over and what greeted her eyes was the red angry lights of her alarm clock which informed her of the time.

"What the hell Liam its five in the morning!" Kacie screamed to the house the only response was a deep chuckle from downstairs. There was no point in arguing with Liam he always won. Kacie found some gym trousers and Redbubble top with Sheldon sitting on the Iron throne claiming it's his spot. Once dressed Kacie picked up the washing basket and took it downstairs as soon as she made her way to the bottom of the stairs and turned in the direction of the utility room she had ended on her gluteus maximus, hard.

"Woah watch where you going Cinders," Rich teased.

"Really Rich, I am carrying the basket how was I supposed to see?" Kacie asked "And if I am Cinderella I believe that makes you an ugly step-sister" Kacie smirked and Rich just rolled his eyes. He held his hand out which just cause Kacie to burst out laughing "What, don't want to break a nail sis?" Kacie jested referring to Marigolds Rich were wearing.

"For your information I have list of chores to do as well, I have to clean the oven and like OMG have you seen how dirty it is, gross" Rich pretended to flick his hair behind him like a stuck up brat would. Kacie took Rich's hand to right herself.
"Now back to work cinders, we don't want to waste the day now, do we?" bobbing Kacie on the nose before strutting towards the kitchen. The only thought through Kacie's head was that he was one of kind.

She finally made it to the utility room and separated the lights, darks and colours. She put the lights on first as Liam would most definitely need the shirts for work. Once the washing was going she glanced at the clock and it read ten minutes past five, Kacie calculated in her head that all the jobs should be done by nine o'clock and that would be a good time for breakfast. She busied herself with the other chores, starting with the bathroom and then her bedroom getting into the swing of things. She could hear Rich vacuuming the living room, so to stay out of his way she got out the load of washing and hung it up outside as it looked to be a pleasant day. She then put the darks on and could hear Rich upstairs and decided it would be best to polish and feather dust downstairs first. The time flew by and before she know it it was nine o'clock and she was walking into the spotless black and white kitchen. The black marble counter tops were gleaming and all the white cupboard doors were rid of any spillages. Kacie tested the polished black ceramic floor and glided without a hitch across the floor.

"Nice job" Kacie complemented Rich who was sat at the far end of the kitchen on the breakfast bar, chomping into an apple.

"Thanks, what do you want for breakfast?" Rich inquired. Kacie did the usual thing of opening the fridge like it had the answers to universe, then closed the fridge door.

"Well, what we got?" Rich just shook his his head in response.

"Don't think that you two are getting off that easily, breakfast can wait you two need to work off those hangovers. In the garden now" Liam ordered. A resounding groan met Liam's ears. But the pair decided not to argue and follow Liam out the back door in the kitchen after they had slipped on their shoes.

The cool air nipped at Kacie's arms, she was thinking of getting a hoodie but look of determination on Liam's face made her stay put.

"Rich pull the weeds round the flower bed, power hose the patio and then paint the fence. Kacie mow the lawn, then take the shearers to the bushes and then help rich paint the fence," Liam explained.

Kacie was about to start moaning that it wasn't fair that Rich got to do the flower bed and she had to tame the bushes. Surely someone who was shorter should do the task closet to the ground but then the side of her that girls can do anything boys can do clamped her mouth shut.

They gather the gardening tools from their small garage adjacent to the house. Rich was in a playful mood pulling Kacie's hair and moving the tools out of reach. It only took Liam ten minutes to check on them with his arms crossed with a raised eyebrow, his signature look.

Kacie started mowing the lawn and Rich got started on the flower beds. Most people would think that mowing a moderate size garden would tire a girl out but exercise was invigorating for her. She loved the feeling of her blood pumping around her body and adrenaline flowing through her veins. Things Kacie will never be able to do would be sitting at home in front of the TV or going squared eyed at a laptop, or even reading.

Rich had finished slightly before Kacie and started using the power hose. The noise of the lawn mower was drowning the roar of the power hose. Turning off the mower and heading towards the patio she sees the state of the of the white washing she had put on the line. Absolutely seething, the mower is forgotten. The words swimming in Kacie's brain would have make a sailor blush. As Rich was facing away from Kacie she took this opportunity to get him back. She moved swiftly as an arrow and knocked out Rich's knees. Her right arm hooked around his neck. Rich twisted his body to the left to face his attacker. The power hose released from his clutches then decides to get down and move across the patio like a 1970 disco floor. The hose distracted Rich for a second and Kacie took this opportunity to knee him the crown jewels. Rich's face was contorted in agony which only meant bullseye.

"What uh was" chocking his words out " th- at for?"

"Look what you did to my washing," she exclaimed. Crystal white washing was covered with black specks of mud and grim.

"Whoops, sorry Kac..." the hose spun round drenching them at high velocity, the bruises where going to be worse than paintball. The task of trying to tame the hose began. It targeted the washing again the flower bed spewing up mud that caked the pair. Then the windows before they finally got the jump on it.

"Kace. Turn. It. Off" Rich grunted. Suddenly the presser decreased until a trickle. "Nice telekinesis" Rich put his hand up for a fist bump.

Kacie rolled her eyes "You idiot, that is not possible". A pair of wet angry Hulk socks stepped into their view. Double trouble raised their heads to see the socks had some jeans attached then a belt and a casual red t-shirt. The face adorned a raised eyebrow with arms crossed in the you're in trouble stance.

"I can't even leave my children for half an hour, who supposedly want to be treated like adults?" Liam asked. In these situations it is just best to nod your head.

"Both of you get up," they both obliged, showing the state they were in. Dirty water was running down there faces and they were creating a puddle where they stood. Sludge was infused with their clothes and mud caked all bare skin.

Disappointment was evident in Liam's eyes "Listen to my instructions and follow without fail," Liam demanded "I will take the washing back inside to be put on, Kacie put the lawn mower away, then strip out of your clothes and put them in the black bin liner I will put at the back door. Rich finish power hosing then put it away and strip like Kacie. The fence is too wet to paint and you can finish the other chores another day." He then spun on the spot and started taking the washing down and into the washing basket which was also wet.

It was when he demanded like this, without raising your voice you knew he was livid. Without a sound the duo did what the were told. Rich waited till his dad and Kacie were done with the outdoor tasks before starting the power hose up again.

Once stripped of her clothes expect her underwear. Kacie rushed into the house through the kitchen into the hall past the utility room, dinning room and living room and whirled around the base of the banister. Right foot on the first step when she froze. She turned around to see if her usually eagle eyes were deceiving her. Nope, they weren't on the floor by the front door was a letter. The scene in a normal home would look pretty normal but one it was Sunday. No post on Sunday, everyone knows that Harry Potter fan or not. Two she has never in her life seen a letter on the hallway floor, period. Which might seem crazy to you but they never seem to get letters and if they did she only ever saw them in Liam's hands.

She crept forward like it was dog that was going to bite her. As she got closer she could see the letter was facing downwards but the envelope seal had an emblem which was not broken. The emblem was three vines intertwined in a circle. At the centre of the circle was a book and on the cover of the book there was a symbol of artistic heart but at the bottom it turn into some sort of cross.

She picked up the letter and flipped it over. Clear penmanship showed that the letter was for her. Wanting to the savor the moment of opening her first letter she dashed up the stairs, went to her bedroom and hid the letter under her pillow. Grabbing some clean clothes she made her way to the bathroom, discarded the sodden under garments and hopped in the bath to use the shower head. Not wasting anytime she cleaned her body and hair thoroughly, normally she would dilly dally and think. Not today she was scared the letter would be gone. Drying and dressing herself seemed to take longer than she wanted, but that always seems to happen when you want to be quick you always stumble and waste more time. Finally dressed she yanked the door back and to her surprise Rich had his hand raised door to knock. Confusion was clear on his face.

"I was just about to yell at you not be to long but, but your done," Rich voiced his confusion "When are you ever quick in the shower?"

"Shhh Rich I'm not usually that long," an eyebrow was raised at that statement "Look just be happy there is hot water left". Kacie barged pass Rich and bee lined for her room, leaving a bemused Rich on the upstairs landing.

Using her foot to close her door she pounced on her bed and slid her arms under her pillow and her fingers clasped onto the letter. She maneuvered her body so she was now sitting up looking at the letter. Slowly peeling the envelope open she could feel it was a different type of paper it felt older and thicker. She held her breath when she opened the letter 'Dear Kacie ....'

Kacie had been sat in her room for half an hour still looking at the letter, trying to understand and comprehend the words before her.

"Kace, what are you doing in your still doing in your room?" Rich asked as he entered her room.

"What does this mean?" she replied her voice barely above a whisper. She showed Rich what she was holding in her hand. Rich visibly gulped. His response was to shout for his father.

Liam came through the door cool clam and collective but that act dropped when he saw the sight of both of his children looking they had been punched in the gut. His eyes narrowed on the letter in Kacie's hands. Well here goes nothing was the thought that passed through his mind.

"Kacie let me explain."

I would like to dedicate this chapter to DeneRose who was the first to comment on my work and gave me the motivate to start writing again, so thank you.

Barney