Tap. Tap-tap. Tap. Her window. Tap-a-tap. Something was hitting her window. Tap. Ta-CREAK, GROAN…
Joanna's eyes snapped open. The door was ajar. Someone was tiptoeing in. Closer now.
"Jo?"
It figures. She turned to face her little cousin. His face was an expression of worry too intense for his age. "Jo?" he repeated.
"Mmm?"
"I can't sleep."
'Thanks to you, now I can't either.' "What?"
"I'm not sleepy."
"Just close your eyes and relax."
"Can you get me some milk?"
"No."
"Please? Pretty pretty please?" He pouted, looking like a blond teddy bear.
Jo sighed. If she got up now, she might not be able to get to sleep again. "Ohfine."
She kicked her blanket off and forcibly pushed herself off the mattress. Buggy smiled and trotted down the stairs beyond her door. She stumbled down the unfamiliar steps behind him.
Her cousin looked out of the black window while she opened the fridge.
"Hey, what's that?" he asked suddenly, making Jo slosh milk over the rim of the blue plastic cup.
"What's what?"
"That!" Buggy pointed a small index finger towards the inky blackness outside.
Curious and a little wary, she crept to the back of the kitchen and pushed the screen door open. Jo stuck her head out and listened. There was nothing but the knee-deep croaking of frogs that gave Frog Creek its name.
"Nothing out here Buggy." The five-year old gave her a dubious glance.
"You sure?"
"Yep."
He didn't look convinced, but chugged his milk anyway. Jo yawned, letting her thoughts wander as they often did when she was tired.
This was the last summer before high school. She was nervous. Not outgoing like buggy. The thought of all those kids scared her.
An impressive burp brought her back to earth.
"Finished now."
Jo picked up the cup and set it down in the sink.
"Try not to burp next time."
"I can't help it!" he protested.
"Yes you can- don't chug your milk." He made a face but didn't retaliate.
"Let's go back to bed." Buggy nodded and stumped up stairs.
After they had each slumped back in to their respective rooms (or shared room in Jo's case,) Jo pondered something.
Funny how she made the rules but Buggy made the orders.
Tap.
Something was hitting her window.