Avalon sighed as she stared off into space thinking of all the wonderful things she could be doing rather than helping at her mother's day care but she really wanted and needed the money and her mother really needed the help. A voice broke her out of her musings.
"Excuse me?" the voice said. Avalon looked down and saw a little girl with curly brown hair and hazel eyes.
"Yes?" Avalon asked the girl.
"What's the time" the little girl asked "and what's your name."
"My names Avalon and what's yours." Avalon said.
"Maria." Maria said. "What's the time?"
"2:30, why?" she asked.
The Marias lip trembled "My daddy said he'd pick me and Sammy up at 2." She whispered.
"I sure he'll be here soon." Avalon said kneeling down so she could look her in the eye. "Don't worry."
"That's not why she's worried." Another voice said. Avalon turned to see a boy who looked a lot Maria plop himself down on the Astroturf next to Maria.
"Then why is she worried." Avalon asked the boy.
"Because our dads a soldier and he's supposed to be coming back today and she's worried something happened to him." the boy turned to Maria "which it didn't."
"It could have, Sammy." Maria said.
"Mom told us he got on the plane last night, we talked to him just before he got on the plane. He's in no more danger than any normal person flying on a plane." Sammy said hugging his sister.
Avalon was a little shocked but said "I'm sure Sammy's right Maria."
"See Maria nothing going to happen to dad, okay." Sammy said.
"Okay." Maria answered hugging Sammy back.
"Why don't we go play in the sand pit while you wait." Avalon suggested.
"Okay." they answered. They all went outside and build a sand castle. When they finished Sammy said proudly "it's almost as good as Annabeth's."
A voice behind them said "I don't think anyone's sand castles can rival Annabeth's." making Avalon jump.
"Daddy." Maria squealed. While Sammy said "her mom's can."
"Her mom doesn't like building sand castles she thinks it's trivial." Their dad said as he scooped up Maria.
"Frank that's disrespectful." A voice scolded.
"Mommy." Maria squealed again though a little bit quieter.
'Hey, baby girl." The woman said kissing Maria's head.
"It's not like she heard me." Frank said.
"You never know, remember that one time when she heard Percy and Annabeth having the conversation." The woman said.
"Yes I remember Hazel I could never forget." He shivered. Hazel laughed "it wasn't that bad."
'It was." Hazel was about to say something but Sammy interrupted "I want to go home." He complained.
"Okay, let's go we're meeting Percy and Annabeth at the house." Hazel said.
"Yay!" Sammy shouted, "I can see Tristen and Charlie."
"I can see Silena."Maria shouted.
"And the baby." Hazel said.
"Really." Sammy asked.
"Yes, she had it a week ago." Hazel said.
"Awesome." Sammy yelled.
Avalon watched as they disappeared round the corner when they were out of sight she shook her head, today had been strange, beyond strange.