Jack ate tiredly. It was 8:30, he and his brother had persily ten minutes before they had to go to school. His dad was up, fixing some food. Jack was already eating his. He was about to wash his plate, when he had the feeling he better put it down, fast. Sure enough, as soon as the plate was on the counter, he collapsed.

He was warm, even the floor. Someone was shaking his shoulder, trying to get him to wake up. "Jack! Jack, get up! FIRE!" Jack stirred to see his little brother leaning over him, the fire extinguisher in his hand. His eyes full of fear. Jack turned to look behind him, and felt his own eyes widen. The stove was on fire! "Holy," he yelped, scampering up and moving away.

Spenser swiftly put out the fire, and looked at the stove. "Well," he said, "there goes breakfast." Jack looked toward the clock, and gasped. "Oh god, we're late! Come on, Spenser!" Jack flew out of the house and already getting into the car before Spenser even had time to grab his book bag. Things just went from bad to worse.

By the end of the day, Jack was in a foul mood. Spenser came up from where he was talking to one of his friends. He mentioned how he could not believe school was so hard. Jack lost it. He yelled at his brother. He did not recollect all they said to each other, but he did remember three words. "I hate you!" He saw the shocked, saddened look on Spenser's face, and immediacy regretted what he said.

He turned and fled; afraid his brother would not speak to him. "Jack!" He kept running, and did not hear Spenser's soft "I'm sorry." By time he stopped, he was lost. Spenser headed home, stopping to talk to friends along the way. He thought that if he gave Jack time, he would calm down enough for him to apologize without Jack getting mad at him again.
His big brother was not home when he got there. He went to their outdoor room to see if he could spot him coming home.

He had no luck. He went downstairs to wait. If he was not back by eleven, he would go look for him.