I watched as my sister climbed up the old cedar tree while I sat in the warm summer grass, legs tucked beneath me. She stopped looking at me, smiling slightly. I waved at her looking up. She was wearing her yellow Sunday dress that had small pink ruffles underneath. Mother didn’t like it when she played outside wearing it, But today Mother and Father needed to run some errands so I was in charge. Her brown hair was in a loose bun, I had put it in her hair. I thought it looked lovely but my mother thought otherwise. Father was never the one to make decisions; it was always Mother. They said they’d be back in an hour or two, so I wanted my sister to have fun. Her name was Evelyn, she was 9 and had the most beautiful blue eyes. Father said it was rare for a brunette to have blue eyes. I had dark brown almost black. My name Is Florence. As most people despise our last name I have grown very fond of it. Our last name is Bamford. I watched my sister carefully, ensuring she wouldn’t step on a dead branch. “Evelyn, be careful Mother and Father would not be happy to find you injured when they get back,” I said standing up. She rolled her eyes, or I think she did. I couldn't tell. “You sound just like them!” She’d step to another branch before slipping and falling. “Evelyn!” I yelled running and catching her but falling as I did so. We slowly started laughing. I said, “I told you so, Evelyn!” She hit my arm slightly, laughing frantically. “Alright, Get up you have dirt all over your face. You need to get in the Washtub!” She sighed “Why?” She said, whining. “Because…If Mother and Father find you dirty, I’ll be the one to blame.” She sighed standing up. brushing the dirt off her dress, smiling as cutely as possible. “Well, If you get in the washtub…I’ll give you one of Mother’s Sweets.” I’d say with a bribing tone. “Hmm…The one with Caramel in it?” She’d ask, smiling up at me.
I grabbed the hot water bucket bringing it into the house. I listened to the birds tweeting and the Neighborhood children playing. I walked into our home. It had brown boards; was Still in construction, and was white and looked like the old church a block away. “Evelyn!” I called out walking down the empty hallway. “Ready?” She’d nod “Yes!” After she was done, I gave her the sweet just as I promised. She’d smile up at me, saying ‘Thank you,’ with her mouth full. I nodded, gesturing, You're Welcome. I walked into our cluttered, neat room looking at the two beds beside each other. I slowly pulled out a pocket watch from the dresser placed beside my bed. I looked at the time to discover it was 8:00. Our bedtime was strictly this time. Mother said a child that stays awake past their bedtime, isn’t awake enough to play in the morning. I was about to call Evelyn inside to go to bed when I realised Mother and Father should’ve been home by now. I stood there looking at the pocket watch before finally calling Evelyn in. “Evelyn, It's time for bed!” I’d call out to her but finding her by the doorway, “Why isn’t Mother and Father home yet?” she’d ask me, frowning. I sigh, “Well I don’t know…But I do believe if they were here you’d be in bed.” I’d point at her and then at the bed. She’d sigh, “But Father always tucks me in…” I put my hand on my chin then got an Idea. “How about I tuck you in?” She tilted her head and then shrugged. “I guess that will do.” She said to me, acting as if she was Older than I. “Alright…” I said to her as she crawled into her bed. Her blanket was made from a deer that Father had killed Last year, according to Evelyn it was quite warm. I being older and bigger needed a bigger blanket. So Father had just purchased a blanket from one of the merchants in the town square. It was warm and comfortable. As I tucked her in she squealed with excitement. “Why?” I asked her smiling, “Because…This is the first time we get to sleep without Mother and Father here!” I sighed and said, “Yes, but we still have to follow their rules.” She rolled her eyes, “You mean Mother's rules?” My voice was in a whisper, “Sleep.”
She muttered something angrily but i just grinned, it’d be alright. I kissed her forehead and put the cover over our candle, slowly watching the flame go out. I let out a sigh before crawling into my own bed, getting nice and comfortable.
A few minutes later I heard my younger sister getting up and then I felt her small hand on my shoulder, “Florence,” her small voice whispered. “Oh florence wake up will you?” Of course I rolled over and looked at her, i wasn’t going to just ignore her. “Yes, Evelyn?” I said, hardly able to see her in the darkness. She kept her small warm hand on my shoulder, “can I sleep with you tonight? I’m scared since Mother and Father aren’t home yet.” I smiled, scooting over in my bed, “Of course, come here.” I said as she climbed in, covering herself up. She snuggled into me and I kissed her head once more. “Goodnight, Evelyn,” I said.
“Goodnight, Florence.”
When I awoken in the morning, I was slightly confused. I didn’t smell the morning breakfast Mother always makes, and I didn’t hear Father listening to the radio. Maybe they were still asleep, Evelyn sure was. I slowly slipped out of bed, my bare feet touching the could floor. I pulled the blanket to cover Evelyn and made sure she was still asleep. I opened my door quietly, peaking down the hallway. I tip-toed as quiet as a mouse down the hallway, before opening the door to Mother and Fathers room. But to my surprise, they weren’t there. I stood there for a moment, just staring at the empty bed. I could tell that no one had touched the bed since they left. I shut the door and walked back down the hallway, not trying to be sneaky anymore. I walked into the living room and the same thing, empty. I peaked around the kitchen wall, no one. I was standing in the kitchen when I heard Evelyn in the living room. “Florence? Where’s Mother? Why isn’t she cooking?” I really had no idea how to answer her. My back was still turned to her