Chapter 5

"Look what I found in the backyard big sister!" William exclaimed while holding a grasshopper in his hand, showing it to Sarah who was watching TV in the living room.

Sarah was startled as the young boy brought the insect in front of her face. "Eeee! What are you doing!? Get that thing away from me!" she yelled while trying to distance herself from the insect.

"I just thought you'd like it." said the young boy.

"Well I don't...so go outside and put it back where you found it!" she yelled, slightly scaring the young man.

Penny joined them, curious with the yelling and screaming. "Hey...what's going on here?" she asked the kids.

"Look what I found in the backyard mommy!" William said, showing the grasshopper to his mother.

Penny slightly backed away, equally surprised with the insect so close to her. "Oh my god! Where did you get that!?"

"I caught it from the tree in the backyard." said William.

"Then put it back where you got it...I don't want that thing roaming and flying around the house!" Penny said.

"And don't go sneaking around scaring people!" Sarah chimed in.

"I just thought you'd like it." William said.

Sarah stood up and turned the TV off. "Well I don't...especially ones involving bugs and insects!" said the young lady before storming off to the stairs and up to her bedroom.

"I'm sorry mommy." William said.

Penny sighed and knelt in front of her son. "It's alright sweetie...but promise me you'll apologize to your sister..." she said.

William nodded. "Why is she always like this?" he asked.

"What do you mean sweetheart?" asked Penny.

"Well, before she didn't mind playing with me, but now she doesn't want to even watch TV with me." said the young man.

"I know what you mean sweetie...but your sister is growing up...and she's going through some stuff that you would find hard to understand. So sometimes, she would be irritable and wouldn't want to talk to anyone, even to me or your dad." said Penny.

"But why?" asked the young boy.

"That's just how it is honey. Trust me, when you reach her age, you'd be acting the same, maybe even worse..." Penny said. "Now why don't you go outside and put Mr. Grasshopper where you found him, I'm sure his friends are waiting for him..." she added before turning her son around and lightly pushing her toward the back door.

After a few minutes, William went upstairs and knocked on his sister's bedroom.

"Oh? What do you want now?" asked Sarah, seeing her little brother standing outside her door.

"I'm sorry if I scared you big sister." said William.

Sarah gave him a weak smile, knowing that he didn't mean what he did. "Okay fine...now go back to mom, I doing some stuff..." she said as she slowly pulled the door to close it.

"What stuff?" William asked.

"Girl stuff...nothing you'd be interested in..." said the young woman, before closing the door on her brother. William turned around and decided to go downstairs, finding his parents in the living room, watching TV.

"Daddy." William said as he stood in the hall while Leonard and Penny turned around, looking at their son.

"What is it buddy?" said Leonard. William kept quiet and just stood there. The couple looked at each other and smiled, knowing that the young man is probably up to something again. He stood up and went to his son. "Tell me, what is it?"

William looked at Penny before looking at his father. "Uh...can we go to the backyard daddy..." he said, obviously trying to keep it a secret from her.

"Okay...no problem buddy." Leonard said, leading his son to the backyard for some privacy. "Now tell me what this is all about."

"Big sister is still mad at me." said the young boy, making Leonard laugh.

"I know...your mother told me everything..." Leonard said.

"But I already said I'm sorry...why is she still angry at me?" asked William.

Leonard sighed and sat with his son on the bench. "Listen to me buddy...girls are sometimes...uh...unpredictable. Sometimes they would be sweet and nice, and suddenly they could totally rip your face off..." he said.

"Just like mommy?" William asked, making his father laugh.

"Yeah...I guess you could say that." said Leonard.

"But how do you get them back to being sweet and not crazy?" asked the young boy.

"Well...a sincere apology is a start..." Leonard said.

"But I already did that...and she slammed the door in my face all the same." said William.

"If that's the case then I suggest you level up." he told his son.

"How do you do that daddy?" asked William.

"Well...girls love flowers...and chocolates..." Leonard said. "..and they would really appreciate it if you gave them a toy or something they like..." he added.

"Like a horse figurine?" asked the young boy, making Leonard laugh.

"I think that's perfect buddy...I'm sure your sister would love it." he told his son.

William bowed his head and looked at his father, giving him a weak smile. "Daddy...are you thinking what I'm thinking?" William asked.

Leonard nodded, understanding what his son meant. "Come on buddy...let's get out of here and get something for your mom and sister." he said, pulling the young man back into the living room.

Penny looked at them. "So? What was that all about?" she asked.

"It's a father and son thing honey...right buddy?" Leonard said.

"That's right...it's for guys only mommy!" William said, making Penny laugh.

"Okay...whatever you say." said Penny.

"We're going out for a while." Leonard said as he opened the door, letting his son out.

"Going where?" asked Penny.

"Penny...sometimes guys like us just want to have some time for ourselves..." Leonard said.

"Okay fine." said Penny.

"Don't worry, we'll be back before you know it." he said. "Love you!" he added before closing the door behind him.

Meanwhile, upstairs in Sarah's bedroom...

Sarah was typing on her computer when she heard the front door. She went to the window and saw her father and brother getting in the car before driving off. She decided to go downstairs and join her mother in the living room.

"Where are they going?" asked Sarah.

"I don't know...but I'm pretty sure those two are up to no good again." said Penny as Sarah sat beside her.

"I may have been too harsh with him." said the young lady.

"Don't worry about it sweetie...I'm sure he'll get over it..." Penny said, pulling her daughter to lean on her.

XXXXXXXXXAXXX

After almost an hour, Leonard and William came back, carrying a paper bag.

"Hey guys...we're home..." said Leonard, seeing his girls on the couch watching TV.

"Where have you boys been anyway?" Penny asked as Leonard gave the paper bag ta his son.

"Well...this young man has something to say first." Leonard said. "Go on buddy...you can do it." he added.

William took a deep breath and walked towards his mother, putting the paper bag on the coffee table and pulling out a small bouquet of flowers, surprising Penny. "This is for you mommy...I'm sorry if I scared you." said the young man, making Penny cry happy tears.

"Oh my god sweetheart! Thank you so much!" Penny exclaimed while hugging her son tight, showering him with kisses. "I'm so happy!" she added, thankful for her son's thoughtful gesture.

"I also got you these." William said, pulling out a small box of chocolates for his mother.

"Thank you sweetie...it's perfect!" Penny said, kissing her son once more before the young man faced his sister.

"Big sister, I'm sorry too." William said, pulling another bouquet of flowers for the young lady.

"Oh my god...thank you little brother!" Sarah exclaimed while hugging the young boy tight. "I love it..." she added as William gave her another box of chocolates.

"I got this for you too." said William, pulling out a ceramic horse figurine and giving it to his sister.

Sarah saw the figurine and cried happy tears, touched at how thoughtful her little brother was. "Thank you little brother...it's so beautiful!" she said, looking at the figurine before hugging her brother once more. "Ugh...you're so sweet!" she added.

"Good job buddy...you did it." said Leonard, proud of his son.

"So does this mean that you and mommy will forgive me now?" William asked the girls, making them all laugh.

Sarah and Penny gave each other a sly look. "Almost." Sarah said, slightly surprising the young boy.

"But..." said William before turning to face his father. "Daddy, you said it was gonna work!"

Leonard sighed, knowing that Penny and Sarah are just messing with them, "Come on guys...can't you give him a break?" he said.

Penny pulled her son to sit between her and their daughter. "Oh we've already forgiven this young man...it's you who still has to make it up to us!" said Penny.

"What did I do now?" asked Leonard, surprised at why his girls are turning on him.

"So, William got us flowers and chocolates and you got us nothing?" Sarah asked, quickly seeing her mother's agenda.

"But I didn't do anything!" Leonard protested.

"Exactly!" Penny said, laughing with her daughter.

"Daddy I think you're gonna have to get bigger flowers for them...or maybe a nice dinner in a fancy place..." William butted in, making the girls laugh.

"Good call little brother." Sarah said.

"Really buddy!? I thought we were a team?" Leonard asked his son.

"We are daddy...it's just between you and mommy, I'd rather not make her angry again..." said William, making Penny laugh.

"Well?" Penny asked her husband.

Leonard sighed, knowing that he won't win. "Fine...we'll go to a nice dinner tonight...why don't you guys start preparing." he said, making the girls excited.

"Come on sweetheart, you need to take a bath so I can dress you up to make you look smart and handsome!" said Penny, pulling her son off the couch.

"Can I wear my Star Wars t-shirt?" William asked.

"I'm sorry sweetie, but you have to wear your button-up shirt and your soft pants for this one...okay?" Penny said.

"Okay mommy...whatever you say." William said while walking beside his mother.

"Mom can I borrow some of your make-up?" Sarah asked, following close behind them.

"Sure sweetheart...I'll even help you put them on..." said Penny as they went upstairs, leaving Leonard alone in the living room.

Leonard sighed, still trying to make sense of what just happened before sitting on the couch and leaning his head back after removing his glasses, hoping to relieve some stress as he massaged his temples. "Leonard...what have you gotten yourself into?" he asked himself as he sat alone in the couch.