Crazy Collins Clan

Set Post Series 5

Chapter 1:

The sun shone as it began creep up over the horizon. It was another beautiful day beginning at Leopards Den. As the sun rose, so did all the animals. After a peaceful sleep they were ready for another day. As they started to move around they would cause enough noise that would eventually awaken Alice Collins. As she began to stir from her sleep she opened her eyes and saw the light that was gradually creeping through the curtains of her room in the house at Leopards Den.

Stretching out her body Alice pushed back the covers of her bed. If the sun was up, then it was time for her to be up as well. The list of jobs at Leopards Den continued to amaze her, as it seemed that there was never any end in sight. Being a Vet meant that there was always some kind of animal that needed patching up. But before she would open the clinic later this morning she would have the chance to do one of her favourite jobs.

She stood up from her bed and walked over to her cupboard and pulled out some fresh clothes for the day. Opting for shorts and a shirt she knew that while the morning may be brisk, the day would warm up and the soon to be summer air would be too warm for her khaki pants. She pulled on some long socks to wear with her boots and walked out the door and over the bathroom tying her hair up in a ponytail as she walked.

It was one of her favourite times of the day because no one else was up. Leopards Den, the great house that it was had only one bathroom, making the mornings a chaotic time. But if if you rose early enough then there would be no one to share the bathroom, some treasured 'me' time in a house that was full of people. It seemed as though there was an endless supply of busy people.

But Alice liked that there was always someone else to talk to in the house. It reminded Alice of when she was growing up. She was part of a big family and there were always people to talk to in the house. It was something that this somewhat unconventional family reminded her of. With Danny and Dup at the head of the family and Alice and Caroline standing by their sides they managed to keep Leopards Den running. Then there was Rowan, Nomsa, Liv and Charlie that would assist with other jobs around Leopards Den.

Taking a deep breath Alice walked towards the front door. Her favourite job of the day was just beyond the houses walls. She opened the doors, pulled on her boots and walked in the direction of the Vet Clinic. As she did she looked to the left and smiled as she saw before her Tula with her Mum and sister. Her favourite job of the day was feeding the Elephants in the morning. It gave her a chance to collect her thoughts. Not long she knew, for the girls would be up in the next half hour to get ready for school, meaning that Charlie would be out to say good morning to the Elephants too. But it would be just long enough for Alice to collect her thoughts for one day.

As she reached the Vet Clinic, unlocking its heavy doors she picked up the bucket on the outside of the doors and walked over to the feed wall. There were so many animals at Leopards Den that an entire section of all was dedicated to their food. She scooped the Elephants favourite food into the bucket until it was full and harder to carry before she closed the lid and headed back out the door.

To her surprised the Elephants had made their way over the the Clinic, something they didn't often do as they loved the water fountain in the morning. Alice stepped down the concrete steps and walked towards the Elephants. She placed the bucket on the ground and picked up the three oranges that she had placed on top of the grain that the Elephants would later enjoy. An orange was their favourite part of the morning and Tula and her sister both started trying to grab them with their trunks, as impatient as a young child. Alice gently threw the oranges into their open mouths, their trunks curled over the top of their heads. She knew from there she would have to act quickly for the young Elephants would want the one remaining orange in her hand. She walked around to the magnificent animal that stood before her and pushing up her trunk Alice gave the final orange to the Mother before turning back to the bucket.

As usual Tula and her sister were consuming the grain that was in the bucket. Carefully prying their trunks from the bucket she walked over to the trough that was on the far side of the grass area in front of Leopards Den. Filling it with Grain Alice sighed as she saw the Elephants so close to the house.

When she was growing up she had never even imagined that she would be where she was today. Her wedding to the man she was in love with was not very far away and then she would really be part of this crazy family. Danny was adopting Charlotte and they would be one happy family.

Having fed the Elephants breakfast, it was time to get her own, and rouse her child and her soon to be sister from their beds for school. A job that neither her or Danny enjoyed. But since Danny and Dup were out of town getting some more prey animals for the reserve those duties fell on Alice as well as the upkeep of the animals and Vet Clinic and Caroline would look after the rest of duties with the help from Nomsa.

Alice walked back into the house and straight to Liv's room. She knocked gently then opened the door. "Time to get up" she said softly. It had been a rocky start to their relationship and had taken a lot of effort to get to a point where Liv trusted Alice, not that should could be blamed for it though. Noticing that Liv had stirred and was now rolling over Alice moved to Charlie's room. She knew she would have to go back and wake Liv again, but she knew it was better than the alternatives.

She opened Charlie's door and walked in and sat on the bed beside her only child, a concept that Alice was never familiar with when she was growing up. She placed her hand on her shoulder and shook her a little. Charlie opened one eye, saw her mum and then promptly shut it again. "I'm not ready" she moaned, trying to full the blanket up over her face.

Alice smiled, it was going to be rough when she was older, as she already loved her sleep now. "Time to get up. You know what happens when you don't get up." Alice grinned as she added the last point. It was merely an empty threat that involved a bucket of water, something that Alice never used. She had never needed to because when Charlie heard it she would leap out of bed, grabbing her towel and run to the bathroom before her Mum had anything else to say. She was only 10 but so far it was easy to get her out of bed.

Walking back to Liv's room she wasn't shocked that she had gone back to sleep. This time walking further into the room Alice sat on the bed like she had done with Charlie and placed her hand on her shoulder and gently shook her. "Time to get up for school." She said. There would be no water threat with Liv, as she knew the 16 year old would not appreciate it.

Liv groaned and pulled her eyes open. Though she and Alice got along well now, she glared at Alice, who only grinned at her. They both knew that Liv was only glaring because she was tired, and it wasn't serious. But Alice's grin grew bigger and Liv knew what was coming. First she would pull open the curtains, then if she still didn't get up she would have the covers pulled off her, then if she still refused, Danny would be sent in, but he wasn't here and Liv didn't want to find out what the alternative would be.

"Just five more minutes?" She begged. But Alice shook her head and Liv knew it was time to accept defeat and get up. Sitting up in bed she rubbed her eyes. "Good Morning Alice." She said, forcing a little smile on her face, replacing the grumpy glare that had previously been there.

"Good Morning Liv," Alice said as she got up to walk out of the room. Then turning at the door she added "Charlie is in the shower so come have breakfast with me." Leaving the door open she walked towards the kitchen.

The rest of the morning was a blur, rushing the girls to school, dealing with their guests and sick animals meant that no one was home until later that afternoon. So when the phone rang around mid morning no one was there to get it.

As the phone rang many times, echoing throughout the house the caller eventually left a message when given the chance. "Alice, it's your Mother. Just wanted to let you know that the whole family will be coming to the wedding and we can't wait." The voice reverberated throughout the house then stopped and the house was silent again.