The smell of the air, so crisp, so new, was pouring from the open blue sky above. An endless wind blew past her face and made her hair dance all around. The ripples in the water raced towards the shore as a nearby bird sang a sweet song. The smell of a fireplace, floating in the air, reminded Sadie of how perfect life can be.
"Thank you, God" she whispered aloud as her face melted into a simple smile. Her words flowed upwards, through the white puffy clouds as she turned to tread back towards the house. "Good morning Mama" she said to a woman who was neatly cooking pancakes and eggs over a hot stove.
"Well now Sadie, you're in a fantastic mood today. It's a pleasant change you know." The mother responded sweetly as she wiped her flour covered hands on a dry wash towel nearby.
"Thank you Mother" Sadie said as she bound up the stairs to wake up her three brothers. As she heavily trotted across the wooden floor, her brother Ben roused in his bed from the noise.
"Benny! Brandon! Nicholas! Mama's got pancakes for everyone!" Sadie yelled as she flung open Nick's bedroom door and pounced onto his bed.
"Sadie! Leave me alone!" He yelled as she kept jumping around with a gigantic smile. She fell on top of Nick and smothered him with big hugs and sloppy kisses on the top of his head.
"You know I love ya" She said simply as she lept out of his room and down the hallway to Brandon's bedroom. She was met with a pillow launched into midair from Brandon's bed. Sadie caught the pillow just before it reached her face then took a running start and pounced onto his bed. As Sadie and Brandon wrestled, Sadie noticed Ben treading sleepily down the hallway and into the musty bathroom where he flicked on the light.
"Don't think you're getting away!" Sadie screamed as she raced to the bathroom as fast as she could. Before she could smother Ben with hugs and kisses, he slammed the bathroom door and switched on the noisy radio.
"Watch your back" Ben yelled from inside as Sadie turned around to hide. As she did so, she was bombarded by at least eight pillows and two boys to back them up. The noise from this mini-fight reverberated off of the walls and floated downstairs where it crept under the crevice of Papa's bedroom door. The racket filled his ears and woke him up instantly.
"Keep it DOWN!" He screamed from down below and suddenly all was quiet. Nicholas snuck in one last pillow hit over Brandon's fluffed up head of dark brown hair.
"Papa!" Sadie yelled excitedly as she tumbled down the mahogany staircase and stopped at the master bedroom door where she knocked and waited in silent anticipation. Nothing. Not a sound. Mama watched, interested, wondering if Sadie would get upset if Papa didn't answer the door. Sadie was becoming dismayed and turned to walked back upstairs when all of a sudden, the bedroom door flung open and Papa scooped Sadie up in his protective arms and swung her around.
"What a nice day this will be" Mama declared from the kitchen, where she was setting the breakfast table with three orange juices, two apple juices, and one chocolate milk for Nicholas. "Breakfast is ready boys!" She yelled upstairs. The pattering footsteps from the boys above rang through the ears of the family below. Typical for breakfast time.
"What are your plans today children?" Papa asked while reaching for the butter across the ancient table.
"I plan on going canoeing" Sadie stated happily as she took a sip of her apple juice. "I think it's a marvelous day, I went down to the lake this morning and its absolutely beautiful."
"Sounds nice, but Ben and I are planning on white water rafting" Brandon stated merrily with a smile nobody could forget. Simple pleasures.
"I don't think so Brandon. The water's much too cold this time of the year. You know fall time isn't the opportune time to do so." Mama answered smartly, and gave Papa a sharp look as if to say 'go against me, I dare you'.
"I agree with your mother. The river is much too chilly and you could get hypothermia." Papa exclaimed with a simple nod. The two boys were quiet and continued eating their breakfast.
"Can I help you outside Papa?" Nicholas (the youngest) asked his role model, Papa.
"Why sure, but only mature eight year olds can handle this task" Papa said with a wink ".but first I need some chopped firewood"
"Holy cow! Am I gonna chop the firewood?" Nicholas asked, now more excited than before.
"No, Ben and Brandon are, but you're going to start the fire itself, in the fireplace"
"Really?!" Nick asked very interested
"Oh come on Papa, Sadie gets to go on the lake and we cant go down the river? Instead we have to chop firewood?" Ben asked, extremely perturbed.
"When you're done, you can go canoeing on the lake.but Sadie's not going swimming in the water. It's much too cold, understand this."
"I think I'm done eating now" Ben said as he picked up his plate and dropped it in the sink. He went out the back patio door and down the steps that led to the main ground. Out to chop firewood.
"I'm done too Papa" Brandon said as he went to go join Ben outside, chopping wood.
"Why don't you go into the garden, Sadie. At least for a little bit, until your brothers calm down." Papa said to Sadie.
"Sure thing. Hand me your plate if you're done and I'll take it up with me." Sadie stated as she pushed away from the table and collected her parents plates.
"Nicholas, why don't you get that fire started. It's going to be an awfully chilly day, and the night will be near freezing." Papa said to Nick who was sitting silently, awaiting 'orders'. His eyes widened as Papa said "fire", and he jumped to his feet to collect firewood and matches.