It was a scorching hot day, the sun a beaming orb in the clear sky. Time had flown, the seasons cycle evolving from bitter fall to blazing summer. The young girl, eyes mesmerized by the rhythmic ticking of the clock, sat cross-legged as waves of cold air coated her body. A tingling sensation coursed through her palm which lay limp propping up her head. Her spirits lifted as thoughts of her future endeavors crossed her mind. It was June 6th, the day which marked the termination of the third grade, a day of great conflict.
Later that afternoon, the sprouting girl spend hours tearing her room apart for the perfect ensemble to accompany her to the most extravagant pool party bash of the year. Her features lit up with joy as the outfit found its way into her sight. Quickly, she dressed herself, topping her head with an old pair of sunglasses. A loud knock on the door startled her, expecting to see her mother behind the painted wood. Her eyes peered down to see a dimpled, smiling little boy with red ringlets atop his head. "Hi bud, what's up?" She questioned, making a disgusted face as she realized her voice's similarity to her mother's.
The below average height first grader flashed his sister an irresistible grin. "I'm good, I just have to ask you a very important question. It's very very, super duper important." He stressed, inviting himself into her room innocently. Before she could respond, he nearly exploded with excitement. "WILL YOU COME TO MY SHOW AND TELL TODAY?! I haded to write about my favorite person, so I wrote abo-" He began, only to be cut off by the joyous scream of a over-active toddler. The tiny terror bounced about the room, running straight past her brother and to her sister's feet. "MADDA! Fix this? Please!" The tot yelled hysterically, her voice intertwining with the loud pleas of her older brother. Soon their voices got louder, each competing for their sister's sole attention.
The young boy, so frustrated by the annoyance of his little sister's voice, unleashed a side of him that never came out. "SHUT UP ELLIE!" He growled, his face reddening with anger. She mockingly stick her tongue out at him and his inner fury was exposed, he pushed her to the ground, tears spilling from his eyes in regret. Sobs coated the air, pounded a nail further and further into Madison's ear. "STOP! Evan, I'm not going to your stupid show and tell! Ellie, get someone else to fix it!" She nearly growled, shoving them outside and slamming the door behind them. Slowly, she slid down the cold wood, her head falling into her hands, tears rushing uncontrollably down her face. A loud knock echoed through the room and fear coursed through her being as she recognized her mother's angry tone.
"Open this door, now."
Apprehensively, she cracked open the door, running to hide face down on her bed. She found comfort in the knit pillow that she smothered her face into. Her head turned away from her mother's gaze, trails of tears rolling down the thread in mesmerizing waves. Her fingers gripped the pillow for life, trying desperately to calm her shaking body ridden with overwhelming guilt. She froze, feeling her mattress sink beneath her and a warm palm on the small of her back.
"It's funny, I had three perfectly happy children about an hour ago, I wonder what happened to send them spiraling downward in fits of tears? I mean, I know it's my night to cook dinner, but I have a feeling this is something more than my overcooked eggs." Amelia joked, attempting to thaw out her daughter's icy glare. "Okay, what's up?"
"Nothing." Madison replied curtly, only to change her mind as she watched her mother walk towards the door. "Wait. I just there's so much pressure being the oldest sibling. Evan and Ellie want so much of me, they want so much attention and I feel like it's all too much. I feel like I can never do what I want because I'll let them down if I don't follow through with their wants. Sometimes I wish I wasn't the oldest because so much is expected and I'm not sure if I'm good enough to make everyone happy. Like today, it's the pool party bash and Evie needs me to go to his presentation. I can never just be me without having to think about them." Madison spoke without filter, expressing feeling that had been festering about her thoughts ever since she discovered she was to be a big sister.
"Oh I see." Amelia nodded, sorrow washing through her mind as she recalled a similar conversation she had with her brother during her childhood. "I know it's tough being the oldest, well actually I don't. I know what it's like to look up to an older sibling. Your uncle Derek was my biggest inspiration, I worshipped him in everything he did. If he played baseball, I was right behind him holding his bat. He was my favorite person and I wanted to do everything he did and better at that. After grandpa died, he was the only guy in my life, he was my dad growing up, he was my role model. The same is happening with your brother and your sister, they just want to be loved, to do every possible thing with you. You know they'll always be your little siblings, even when you get older, so treasure it. It's the worst thing in the world when you lose a role model, I know." Amelia added, wiping the salty tears away. "Now, you can still live your life and do what you want to do. You have to go to show and tell to see his presentation about you, he's been working really hard, but you can go to the party afterwards. I'm sure that you fourth grader are going to be partying all night. And by all night I mean 9:30, okay? Don't get to old to fast, being an adult has its perks but there's nothing like being a kid. So cheer up, dust yourself off, and walk out of this room like the superhero they think you are."
Madison nodded, rubbing away at her stinging eyes. She hopped off of her bed and strolled out, fists clenched at her hips. "I'm sorry I yelled at you guys. Evan, I'm definitely coming to your show and tell and I'll definitely fix that for you Ellie. I'm not going to let you guys down again, I love you too much to see you upset. Now, what do you say we convince Dad to bring home some pizza? Mom left the stove on and I think our dinner just died." She added, electing a laugh from the two beaming kids who gazed up at her with an indescribable look. In that moment, she knew how much they depended on her, how much they admired her.
Author's note: enjoy! I decided to add in another sibling because I really like the idea of Madison having both a younger brother and a younger sister. So now, there's Madison (9), Evan (6), and Michelle (Ellie, 3.5 almost 4) Please (R/R)