Chapter 1. A New Home

My Gran-Gran was driving Sokka and myself to the airport. It was 10° at the South Pole and I was not going to miss it. I was moving to Darlington, in the Earth kingdom. My Dad was living there.

My Dad, Hakoda, has been living there since my mother died. We used to go to Darlington every summer for two weeks for a holiday. I don't know why they called it summer when it rained all day, every day. I love the sun, but I never get to see enough of it. But all this stopped when Sokka, my big brother, told Dad that if we can live through the pain at the South Pole, then so should he. But he never came. So this trip would be the first time in four years we would have seen him. And why are we going, you might ask? Well, my Gran-Gran is moving to live in Ba Sing Se with our step-grandfather, Pakku.

"Now kids, if you want to come live with Pakku and I, just say so," said Gran-Gran, as she pulled up at the airport. Well, three planes don't really count as an airport, do they?

Well, anyway, one plane was taking Sokka and I to Port Royal. The other was for Gran-Gran to go to Ba Sing Se.

"I'll miss you, Gran-Gran," I said, hugging her then getting on the plane.

It wasn't that I didn't want to live in sunny Ba Sing Se; it was living with a romantic old couple. In my mind, it was just plain gross.

"So will I," said Sokka, following my lead.

"See you kids later and say hello to your father and call me when you arrive!" she called, getting on her own plane.

"Oh and Sokka, be nice to your sister!"

"Yes, Gran-Gran, I will be. We have to go now, we love you!" said Sokka, shutting the door of the plane.

"Bye!" she yelled.

"Bye!" we replied.

The trip to Port Royal was about six hours long. But when we got there, my dad was waiting for us.

"Hi Dad," smiled Sokka, giving him a hug.

"Hi Dad," I said. I didn't give him a hug – I never forgave him for leaving us at the South Pole.

"Hello Sokka and Katara. You guys want to get your bags and I'll meet you out the front?" he asked.

"Yeah, come on Sokka," I said, walking away to get my bag.

Once we had found our bags – no thanks to Sokka, who took some one else's – we went outside.

My Dad was the Chief of police. So when we walked outside, he was sitting in his cop car, waiting for us. We put our bags in the boot and got in the car.

The drive from Port Royal to Darlington was another hour. So we arrived about dusk.

When Dad went to pull in the drive way, there were two Ute's parked there.

"Who's here?" asked Sokka.

"Aang and Gyatso," he answered.

"But don't they live together?" I asked.

"Yes, but the Ute's are for you guys so you can get around, and sort of a welcome home present," he said.

'Welcome home…this is defiantly not my home,' I thought.

"Thanks, Dad…I dibs Blue" I said.

In truth I loved it, but they didn't need to know that.

"Yeah, thanks Dad!" said Sokka, admiring his green one.

"You're welcome," he grinned.

"Hey, Hakoda, you coming or not?!" yelled a voice from the porch of Dad's house.

Dad's house was two stories with two bedrooms and a bathroom upstairs and a bedroom, kitchen, lounge room and a laundry downstairs.

"Katara, Sokka, your remember Aang and Gyatso?" asked Dad when we made it to the front door.

"Hi," said Aang.

Aang was about fifteen now, but he still had his bald head. He wore blue jeans, a yellow top and an orange jacket.

"Yeah, I remember you. Hi. So, are you going to Darlington High?" I asked.

"No, I go to Boya High," he answered.

"Oh well, it would have been nice to know someone there."

"Oh, I remember you now! How you been? Keeping a sharp eye on Toph?" Sokka said, nudging Aang playfully.

Toph is Aang's best friend. She's the same age and has long black hair. We always thought he likes her.

"Well…" he started.

"So, are we going inside?" asked Hakoda, saving Aang from having to answer.

"Yeah, game will start soon," agreed Gyatso.

"Katara, your room's the spare room and Sokka, yours is your old room. I've cleared some space for you guys in the bathroom," Dad informed us.

"Ok Dad, I'm going to unpack and then I'm going to bed, ready for school tomorrow," I said, walking to my room.

"Yeah, I'll do the same after I get something to eat around here," said Sokka looking around eagerly.

'Sokka, Sokka, Sokka, always thinking about you stomach,' I thought.

"Ok, call me if you need anything. I'll be watching the footy," Dad said.

"Ok, see you later Aang and Gyatso," I waved, walking to my room.

The good thing about Dad is that he doesn't hover over you to see if you're all right. He just lets you come to him.

Once I got to my new room, I looked around. It was small. It had a window, cupboard, bed and a desk. On the desk, I noticed a laptop.

'Where is Dad getting the money to buy these things?' I wonder.

Yeah, my dad's a Policeman, but in a small town like this, the pay isn't that much.

After looking around my room, I unpacked and went to bed. But I didn't fall asleep straight away like I wanted to, because of all the noise the rain was making outside.

'How I hate the rain,' I thought, as I finally fell into a dreamless sleep.

So tell me what you think good, bad, Ok, horrible

And thanks to Appa-Appa-Away for being my beta reader

RNR

Bob