Alternate Reality
"Max! Food's ready!" My sister's voice drifted up the stairs.
"Coming, Ella!" I called back. I sighed in relief. I now had a valid excuse for not doing my homework. Science, ugh. On the plus side, it wasn't physics; it was biology, my favourite science of the three.
I descended the stairs, my bare feet sinking into the soft carpet. In the kitchen, my mum was bringing the cottage pie out of the oven. It smelt incredible and I couldn't resist leaning over and taking a deep breath, inhaling the mouth-watering odor. The mince was sizzling; the mashed potato was smooth, browned and slightly crispy on top. Just the way I liked it. Mom grinned at me, "I'm glad you like it!" her grin burst into a laugh and soon all three of us were in hysterics.
Three? I hear you ask. Yes three. Where's the dad? I hear you wonder. Well wonder no more. Mom says that our dad was called Jeb, but he was so absorbed in his work as a bio-chemist that he was hardly ever home and then my parents just drifted apart and never saw each other again. My mom is also into biology, but she is a vet. Dr Martinez - I have my mom's surname too, as does Ella. We both go to Arizona School for Girls.
As I ate my delicious cottage pie, I couldn't help but wonder what life would be like with no school, no adults and no rules. Yeah, and pigs can fly! It's not like I'm not happy (I am), but I can't help but wish for a life free of responsibility, away from the chains of life. Anyhow, people always wish for what they haven't got, they are never satisfied. Instead, I decide to count my blessings:
A loving family
An awesome cook for a mom
A stable home
A free education
A friendship group
After we ate, I volunteered to do the washing up, as mom had cooked. Ella followed my example and began drying what I had already cleaned. Very soon, everything was tidied and put away and I slunk back off to my room to finish my homework.
My room is quite large, with a desk in the corner near my window and my bed on the wall opposite. My wardrobe and chest of drawers are on the other wall. I am obsessed with birds, so I have posters of them all around the room, some so old they have faded in the sunlight that streams through my south-facing window.
I moved over to my desk with a sigh. I had so much due for the next morning. I trawled my way through the science, then spelling, history, and to finish, a bit of geography. Mom had very little sympathy. "You got this work nearly a week ago; it's your fault you left it so late!" By the time I finished it all it was 11pm, so I crawled into bed and quickly fell asleep.
