Teen Jack

Child Daniel

She'd always wanted a little brother but this had been beyond a joke!

The plant cultivation room was the one place she could think, her own little private sanctuary. Especially now she was in charge of 2 boys.

As she got nearer, Shelley heard the voices of two excited boys.

"You do it?"

"No, you do it, you're the oldest,"

Her brother's voice was unmistakable, even for a 13 year old. Daniel's voice was a little harder to hear.

Shelley stood in the doorway, seeing the complete devastation in front of her. Scattered over the floor was huge clumps of the special compost she used for her prized orchids.

"What have you two done?" she asked, her voice was harsh. Harsher than she'd been on the boys.

Along with the compost was her prize winning orchids. Jack looked at her, the same 'I didn't do it,' grin he had as an adult. His head turned towards Daniel, who was holding one of the orchids in his grip. The 8 year old had dirt under his finger nails, all over his hands. His face was also caked in dirt, where he'd rubbed his face after dislodging the flowers. Daniel looked at her innocently, unaware that he'd done anything wrong!

"What have you done?" she asked again.

"Jack told me that there was hidden treasure underneath your flowers," Daniel said, rubbing the dirt from his hands on to his t shirt and jeans.

"Jack!" Shelley shouted.

"What? It was just a bit of fun."

"Look at him Jack, he's filthy! You're supposed to be looking after him."

Shelley walked across the room, taking hold of Daniel hand, walking him over to a nearby sink. Underneath the sink was a stool. She pulled it out, lifting Daniel onto it and turned on the water. Running his hands under the water, she heard Jack beginning to walk away.

"Don't you go anywhere? I haven't finished with you yet," she said.

Shelley reached over, taking a few paper towels from the rack, soaking them in water before applying them to Daniel's face. The dirt was all over the 8 year old. As she wiped his face, he looked at her, then at Jack.

"Am I in trouble?" he asked.

Pausing for a moment to stop cleaning Daniel's face, she sighed.

"No Danny, you're not,"she said.

Her gaze moved back to her brother, making him fully aware that he was the one in trouble.