Act 35: Sara

I'm staring at Sidney for some reason he has decided to get on my nerves. I warned him several times but he's just crosses the line by 'throwing my nose' away in defiance. I hold my temper for two seconds before retaliating.

I put him on the floor and we both fight for dominance. Even though I'm annoyed at him we don't really hurt one another, our wrestling involves hair tugging, wedgies, fingers pulling at noses, a lot of grunting and writhing. I'm distantly aware of Howard's voice but really too focus on my current fight to care.

Sidney gets the upper hand but I lick his forearm in response. "Ewww no!" he whines and immediately lets go of me. I reverse our position and manage to hold him in a sloppy half Nelson.

Sidney is about to bite me when I feel an acute pain in my ear, it's being twisted and pulled; I instantly let go and stand up to follow my ear so it doesn't get detached from my head. "Ow, ow, ow, ow…" I cry in pain.

When I look Sidney is in the same predicament, his ear firmly held by Charlie's other hand. It's in moment likes these I loath the fact that Charlie is taller.

"What is happening?" Charlie demands with an even voice, he looks alternatively at Sidney and me never releasing the hold he has on our ears forcing the both of us to stand on our toes.

"He wouldn't stop bothering me!" I whine.

"I was just teasing!" Sidney protests.

"He threw my nose!" I reply with petulance.

"You slug me!" he raises his moist forearm.

Charlie looks at the both of us and shakes his head in disbelief. "Unbelievable…" he mutters. "Apologize," he orders firmly twisting our ears a bit more.

Sidney and I both wince. "I'm sorry!" we say in unison.

"Properly," Charlie amends.

"I'm sorry Sid for hitting you."

"I'm sorry Scout for annoying you when you asked me to stop."

Charlie forces us to turn toward the others standing by the pool table. "Go on," he intimates.

"Please forgive us for our childish behaviour," I start.

"We apologize to you Lindsey for not setting a good example," Sidney finishes.

Charlie waits another five seconds before releasing our ears; we both immediately rub them to ease the pain.

"Thirty six, wrestling like five years old, are you freaking kidding me?" Charlie mutters with a shake of his head before heading toward the door; he stops in midstride and turns to Howard. "Oh, and Howie, feel free to watch over your sister and brother at any time," he chides him.

"Why are you giving me the third degree? They're the one acting stupid!" Howard protests.

"Hey! When you're the eldest in the room, you're in charge, you know that!" Charlie states firmly.

"I tried to stop them, they wouldn't listen!"

"No excuses, Howie!" Charlie doesn't back out and at Howard's sigh he leaves the room.

Sid and I chortle a bit when Howie starts to pout but we stop immediately when we catch Russell's eyes.

Uh oh, that stare means we're in trouble.

Aw… fuck.

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